JURISDICTION OF COURTS in Civil, Administrative and Environmental cases

Type of Jurisdiction

SUPREME COURT
1. PETITIONS for CERTIORARI,
PROHIBITION and MANDAMUS via
Rule 65 against the:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Court of Appeals;
COMELEC;
COA;
Sandiganbayan; and
Court of Tax Appeals.

2. ELECTION CONTESTS involving the

position of PRESIDENT and VICEPRESIDENT.

EXCLUSIVE
ORIGINAL

3. Cases questioning the factual basis

for the DECLARATION of MARTIAL
LAW and the SUSPENSION of the
PRIVILEGE of the writ of HABEAS
CORPUS.
4. DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
against MEMBERS of the JUDICIARY
and ATTORNEYS.
5. Injunctions against the DAR.
(Carter Law, DAR vs. Cuenca,
Sept. 23, 2004)

(BETA SIGMA LAMBDA NCM, UM DAVAO CHAPTER 2013)

COURT OF APPEALS

REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

Action
for
ANNULMENT
of
JUDGMENTS of RTCs via Rule 47.

1. All civil actions in which the subject of the

litigation is INCAPABLE of PECUNIARY
ESTIMATION; (value cannot be quantified by

Miscellaneous Jurisdiction:
Issuance of written order of
Surveillance of Suspects and
Interception and Recording of
Communications. (Sec. 7, RA 9372,
Human Security Act of 2007, a.k.a

Anti-Terrorism Law.)

Note:
The court of Appeals shall have the
power to try cases and conduct
hearings, receive evidence and
perform any and all acts necessary
to resolve factual issues raised in
cases falling within its original and
appellate jurisdiction, including the
power to grant and conduct new
trials. (Sec. 9, BP 129)

money)

Ex. Specific performance, foreclosure of

mortgage, rescission of contracts,
expropriation, etc.
2. Actions involving TITLE TO or POSSESSION
of REAL PROPERTY or an INTEREST THEREIN
where the assessed value of the property
exceeds P20,000 (outside MM) or P50,000
(MM); (not market value)
3. Civil Actions where the DEMAND/CLAIM
exceeds P300,000 (outside MM) or
P400,00 (MM);
4. Actions in ADMIRALTY/MARITIME jurisdiction
where the DEMAND/CLAIM exceeds
P300,000 (outside MM) or P400,000 (MM);

The power of the CA to receive

evidence refers only to incidental
facts which were not 100 percent
touched upon, or matters which
were simply overlooked by the trial
court. (Linger and Fisher vs. IAC,

5. PROBATE PROCEEDINGS, intestate or testate,

where the gross value of the estate exceeds
P300,000 (outside MM) or P400,000 (MM);

Otherwise stated, there can be no

trial de novo with the CA.

7. All cases NOT FALLING with the jurisdiction

of any court, tribunal, person or body
exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions;

125 SCRA 522 [1983])

6. Actions involving PERSONAL PROPERTY

where value of such property exceeds
P300,000 (outside MM) or P400,000 (MM);

PAGE 1
MTC/MCTC/MeTC
1. Actions involving TITLE TO or POSSESSION
of REAL PROPERTY or an INTEREST THEREIN
where the assessed value of the property
does not exceed P20,000 (outside MM) or
P50,000 (MM); If not declared for tax purposes,

adjacent lots assessed value determines the

value of the property. (as amended by RA 7691)

2. Civil Actions where the DEMAND/CLAIM

does not exceed P300,000 (outside MM) or
P400,00 (MM);
3. Actions in ADMIRALTY/MARITIME jurisdiction
where the DEMAND/CLAIM does not exceed
P300,000 (outside MM) or P400,000 (MM);
4. PROBATE PROCEEDINGS, intestate or testate,
where the gross value of the estate does not
exceed P300,000 (outside MM) or P400,000
(MM);
5. Actions involving PERSONAL PROPERTY
where value of such property does not exceed
P300,000 (outside MM) or P400,000 (MM);

(Nos. 1-5) Exclusive of interest, damages,

Attys fees, litigation expenses, and costs;
If the amount is exact P20k, P50k, P300k
and P400k, jurisdiction is with the MTC.
The same complaint with several claims
between the same or different parties the amount of the demand shall be the
totality of the claims. (Totality Rule)

8. Intra-Corporate disputes; and

6. Forcible entry and unlawful detainer cases; and

9. Genocide and Crimes against Humanity.

7. PROVISIONAL REMEDIES where the principal

action is within their jurisdiction.

10. Annulment of judgments of MTCs.

OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE:

1. In cases of INCLUSION and EXCLUSION of voters.

(Securities Regulation Code, RA 8799) see p.4

(International Humanitarian Law)

Type of Jurisdiction

SUPREME COURT

COURT OF APPEALS

1. PETITIONS for CERTIORARI, PROHIBITION and MANDAMUS against

the:
i.
Regional Trial Court;
ii.
Civil Service Commission;
iii.
Central Board of Assessment Appeals;
iv.
NLRC (St. Martins Funeral Homes vs. NLRC, 295 SCRA 494); and
v.
Quasi-judicial Agencies.

RTC
Issuance of TPO/PPO
in VAWC cases.

(RA 9262)

SANDIGANBAYAN

MTC/MCTC/MeTC

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Issuance of
TPO/PPO in VAWC
cases. (RA 9262)

Claims for INSURANCE capable of pecuniary

estimation. (Insurance Code, PD 612)

2. PETITION for issuance of Writ of KALIKASAN. (Environmental Cases)

1. PETITIONS for CERTIORARI, PROHIBITION and MANDAMUS against lower courts and bodies; and
2. PETITIONS for QUO WARRANTO and HABEAS; and
3. PETITION for issuance of Writ of CONTINUING MANDAMUS. (Environmental Cases)

(Concerned Residents of Manila Bay vs. MMDA, et al.)

CONCURRENT
ORIGINAL

Issuance of Writ of AMPARO. (Sec. 3, A.M. no. 07-9-12-SC, Sept. 25, 2007)

(Observe the Doctrine of

Heirarchy of Courts)

Cases affecting Ambassadors,

Public Ministers and Consuls.

Cases affecting
Ambassadors, Public
Ministers and
Consuls.

Claims for
INSURANCE not
exceeding
P100,000 and those
INCAPABLE of
PECUNIARY
ESTIMATION.
(Insurance Code,
PD 612)

Claims for INSURANCE not

exceeding P100,000 and
those INCAPABLE of
PECUNIARY ESTIMATION.
(Insurance Code, PD 612)

JURISDICTION OF COURTS in Civil, Administrative and Environmental cases

Type of Jurisdiction

PAGE 3

SUPREME COURT

COURT OF APPEALS

REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS/MCTC

1. Petition for Review on Certiorari via

Rule 45. (Appeal by Certiorari)
against judgment or final order or
resolution of:

1. Ordinary Appeal via Rule 41:

Decisions of the RTC in the exercise of its
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION. (By filing a notice
of appeal with the RTC);
Decisions of Family Courts;
Decision of the RTC in cases of Genocide
and Crimes against Humanity; and

Appeal from MTC to RTC via Rule

40:
Judgment or final order of the
MTCs, MCTCs and MeTCs in
their respective territorial
jurisdictions. (Sec. 22, BP 129)

NO APPELLATE JURISDICTION

a. Court of Appeals;
b. Sandiganbayan; and
c. Regiona Trial Court.

APPELLATE

(BETA SIGMA LAMBDA NCM, UM DAVAO CHAPTER 2013)

In cases involving:
1. Constitutionality or validity of a
treaty, international or executive
agreement, law, PDs, proclamation,
order, instruction, ordinance, or
regulation.
2. Legality of a tax, impost,
assessment, toll or a penalty in
relation thereto;
3. Jurisdiction of a lower court; and
4. Only errors or questions of law;

(pure questions of law)

d. Decision of the Court of Tax

Appeals, en banc.
2. Decision of the CA in cases of Genocide
and Crimes against Humanity.

(International Humanitarian Law)

(International Humanitarian Law)

Decisions of the MTC on CADASTRAL or

LAND REGISTRATION CASES in their
delegated jurisdiction.

2. Petition for Review via Rule 42:

Decisions of the RTC in the exercise of its
APPELLATE JURISDICTION;
3. Appeal by Petition for Review via Rule 43:
Judgments or final orders of the Court of
Tax Appeals;
Awards, judgments, final orders or
resolutions of or authorized by any Quasijudicial agency in the exercise of its
QUASI-JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS.
Among these agencies are the CSC, Central
Board of Assessment Appeals, SEC, Office of
the President, LRA, Social Security
Commission, Civil Aeronautics Board, Bureau
of Patents, Trademarks and Technology
Transfer, National Electrification
Administration, ERB, NTC, DAR, GSIS,
Employees Compensation Commission,
Agricultural Inventions Board, Insurance
Commission, Philippine Atomic Energy
Commission, Board of Investments,
Construction Industry Arbitration
Commission, and voluntary arbitrators
authorized by law.

Notes:
SPECIAL JURISDICTION:
Certain branches of the RTC may be
designated by the SC to handle
EXCLUSIVELY:
Criminal cases;
Juvenile and domestic relations
cases;
Agrarian cases;
Urban and land reform cases
which do not fall under the
jurisdiction of quasi-judicial
bodies and agencies; and/or
Such other special cases as the
SC may determine in the
interest of a speedy and
efficient administration of
justice. (Sec. 233, BP 129)

Notes:
DELEGATED JURISDICTION:
CADASTRAL or LAND REGISTRATION
CASES covering lots where there is
no controversy or opposition, or

contested lots the value of which

does not exceed P100,000, as

may be assigned by the SC. (Sec. 34,

BP 129, as amended by RA 7691)

SPECIAL JURISDICTION:
Petitions for HABEAS CORPUS in the
absence of all the RTC judges in the
province or city.
SUMMARY PROCEDURE:
1. FORCIBLE ENTRY and UNLAWFUL
DETAINER cases irrespective of the
amount of damages or unpaid rentals
sought to be recovered.
- violations of traffic laws
- violations of the rental law
2. All other court cases EXCEPT
PROBATE PROCEEDINGS, where the
total claim does not exceed P10,000
(outside MM) or P20,000 (MM),
exclusive of interests and costs.
SMALL CLAIMS COURT:

(not all MTCs are Small Claims Court)

- Money claims for P100,000.00 or

less, exclusive of interest and cost.
- Decision is final and unappealable.
- Lawyers are not allowed to appear
except if he himself is the party
involved.

JURISDICTION OF COURTS in Civil, Administrative and Environmental cases

Intra-Corporate Controversies: Exclusive Original RTC

(Sec. 5.2, Securities Regulation Code, RA 8799)

Transferred jurisdiction from SEC to the RTC:

1. Controversies arising from devices and schemes employed by
the board which are detrimental or to the prejudice of the
public/stockholders;
2. Intra-corporate controversies, between
stockholder/members/associates, between any or all of them and
the corporation, or the parties and the regulations of the
corporation;
3. Controversies on election and appointments of the board, officers,
trustees or managers; and
4. Petitions of corporations on the impossibility to pay debts
because of insufficient assets.

Notes:
Pay AND vacate = Unlawful Detainer (MTC)
Pay OR vacate = Action for a sum of money (depends upon

FAMILY COURTS Jurisdiction

(RA 8369, Family Courts Act of 1997)

the amount)

Comply with the conditions of the lease AND to vacate =

Unlawful Detainer (MTC)
Comply OR vacate = Specific Performance (RTC)
Specific Performance AND Damages = RTC
Specific Performance OR damages = Depends upon the
amount of damages sought to be claimed.
Action for Replevin capable of pecuniary estimation;
thus, the value of the personal property should be
considered to determine what court has jurisdiction over the
action.

(BETA SIGMA LAMBDA NCM, UM DAVAO CHAPTER 2013)

Criminal cases involving minors;

Petitions for guardianship, custody of children, habeas
corpus in relation to the latter;
Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation thereof;
Annulment of marriage and those relating to marital status
and property relations of husband and wife;
Petitions for support and/or acknowledgement;
Summary judicial proceedings brought under the Family
Code of the Philippines;
Petitions for declaration of status of children as abandoned,
dependent or neglected;
Suspension, termination or restoration of parental
authority; and other cases cognizable by PD 603 (Child
and Youth Welfare Code);
Petitions for the constitution of the family home;
Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs
Act;
Violations of PD 7610 (Special Protection of Children
against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) as
amended by RA 7658; and
Cases of Domestic Violence against WOMEN and CHILDREN.

(RA 9262)

APPEAL same conditions as appeals from the ordinary RTCs.

PAGE 4

SANDIGANBAYAN Jurisdiction
Exclusive Original:
1. Violation of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices), RA
1379 (unlawfully acquired property), and the Revised Penal
Code (Book II, Title VII, Chapter II, Section 2); and
2. Other offenses committed by Public Employees (and GOCCs) in
relation to their office, and Private Individuals charged with
them, where one of the accused is an official occupying the
following positions (permanent or interim) at the time of the
commission of the offense:
a. Officials of the Executive Branch classified as Grade 27 or
higher;
b. Members of the Judiciary;
c. Members of the Constitutional Commissions;
d. Members of Congress; and
e. All other national and local officials classified as Grade 27 or
higher.
3. Civil and criminal cases filed under EO 1,2,14, and 14-A (RA 7975
Sec. 2, RA 8249)
Appellate Jurisdiction:
Final judgments, resolutions or orders of the RTC, whether in the
exercise of their original or appellate jurisdiction, over crimes and
civil cases falling within the original exclusive jurisdiction of the
Sandiganbayan but which were committed by Public Officers below
Salary Grade 27.
Note: The Sandiganbayan is a special court. It has both original and
appellate jurisdiction. The Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax
Appeals (CTA) are now of the same level as the Court of Appeals
(CA). It decides cases in divisions similar to the Court of Appeals.
Similar to the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan en banc cannot
decide cases unlike the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).