CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OF COURTS

A. Criminal Jurisdiction of the Municipal

(Trial Court, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, and Metropolitan Trial Court)

1. except in cases falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the RTC; bsed on Art. 27 of
the RPC, the MTC has jurisdiction over offenses punishable by up to the maximum of prision
correccional which shall not exceed 6 yrs. There are however, offenses which even if
punishable by prision correccional are not cognizable by the MTC because of an express
provision of law; like, libel (Art. 355)

2. except in cases falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of Sandiganbayan

some forms of direct bribery (Art. 210); indirect bribery (Art. 211)

3. all violations of city or municipal ordinances (Batas Pambansa Blg. 129; RA No. 7691)

4. all offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding 6 yrs irrespective of the amount
of fine, and regardless of other imposable or accessory penalties; but not when the offense
is punishable by fine only

5. where the only penalty provided for by law is a fine of not more than 4,000 pesos

6. involving damage to property through criminal negligence

7. Bouncing check laws (BP 22

8. Summary procedures in the following cases:

a. Traffic laws
b. Rental laws
c. Municipal/ City Ordinances
d. Criminal cases where the penalty prescribed by law for the offense charges is
imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or a fine not exceeding 1,000 pesos, or both,
irrespective of other imposable penalties, accessory or otherwise, or of the civil liability
arising therefrom.
e. Offenses involving damages to property through criminal negligence where the
imposable fine does not exceed 10,000 pesos
f. Special jurisdiction to decide on applications for bail in criminal cases in the absence of
all RTC judges

B. Criminal Jurisdiction of Regional Trial Court

1. Cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body
2. Appellate jurisdiction over all cases decided by the MTC within its territorial jurisdiction
3. Criminal cases as designated by the SC
4. Specific laws:
 a. writte
5.

C.