BRIEF BACKGROUND

The Constitution

The Constitution of the Philippines ordains that judicial power shall

be vested in one Supreme Court and such lower courts as may be
established by law. [Section 1, Art. VIII, 1987 Constitution).

The Law

Under Philippine laws [Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (Batas

Pambansa Bilang 129) which took effect on January 18, 1983 and
other laws] the Philippine judicial system consists of the following
courts:chanroblesv irtuallawl ib rary

Lower Courts

I. Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts

Every municipality in the Philippines has its own Municipal Trial

Court. It is referred to as such if it covers only one municipality;
otherwise, it is called Municipal Circuit Trial Court if it covers two or
more municipalities.

II. Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial Courts in

Cities

Municipal Trial Courts in the towns and cities in the Metropolitan

Manila area, as distinguished from the other political subdivisions in
the Philippines, are referred to as Metropolitan Trial Courts.

In cities outside Metropolitan Manila, the equivalent of the Municipal

Trial Courts are referred to as Municipal Trial Courts in Cities.

III. Regional Trial Courts

Regional Trial Courts were established among the thirteen regions in

the Philippines consisting of Regions I to XII and the National
Capital Region (NCR). There are as many Regional Trial Courts in
each region as the law mandates.

IV. Shari'a Courts

Equivalent to the Regional Trial Courts in rank are the Shari'a

District Courts which were established in certain specified provinces
in Mindanao where the Muslim Code on Personal Laws is being
enforced.

Equivalent to the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts are the Shari'a

Circuit Courts which were established in certain municipalities in
Mindanao.

There are five Shari'a District Courts and fifty one Shari'a Circuit
Courts in existence.

V. Court of Tax Appeals

A special court, the Court of Tax Appeals, composed of a Presiding

Judge and two Associate Judges, is vested with the exclusive
appellate jurisdiction over appeals from the decisions of the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the Commissioner of
Customs on certain specific issues.

VI. Sandiganbayan

A special court, the Sandiganbayan, composed of a Presiding Justice

and eight Associate Justices, has exclusive jurisdiction over
violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act [Republic Act
No. 3019], the Unexplained Wealth Act [Republic Act No. 1379] and
other crimes or felonies committed by public officials and employees
in relation to their office, including those employees in government-
owned or controlled corporations.

VII. Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals, composed of one Presiding Justice and sixty

eight Associate Justices is vested with jurisdiction over appeals
from the decisions of the Regional Trial Courts and certain quasi-
judicial agencies, boards or commissions.

The Highest Court - Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest Court in the Philippines. There is

only one Supreme Court composed of one Chief Justice and fourteen
Associate Justices. It is the final arbiter of any and all judicial
issues. When so deciding, it may sit en banc or in divisions of
three, five or seven members.