WHAT IS THE JURISDICTION OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CRIMINAL

CASES?

1. Exclusive original jurisdiction over all violations of city or municipal ordinances committed
within their respective territorial jurisdiction

2. Exclusive original jurisdiction over all offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding
6 years, regardless of the fine or other accessory penalties and civil liability

3. Offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence

4. In cases where the only penalty provided by law is a fine, it has exclusive jurisdiction over
offenses punishable by a fine not exceeding P4000

5. In election offenses, cases involving failure to register or failure to vote

6. Special jurisdiction to hear and decide petitioners for a writ of habeas corpus or application
for bail in the province or city where the RTC judge is absent

7. Cases involving BP 22—Bouncing Checks Law

WHAT IS THE JURISDICTION OF REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS IN CRIMINAL CASES?

1. Exclusive original jurisdiction in criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of
any court, tribunal or body, except those falling under the exclusive and concurrent
jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan,

All criminal cases where the penalty is higher than 6 years, including government-related
cases wherein the accused in not one of those falling under the jurisdiction of the
Sandiganbayan is within the jurisdiction of the RTC.

2. Other laws which specifically lodge jurisdiction in the RTC

a. Laws on written defamation or libel

b. Decree on Intellectual Property

c. Dangerous Drugs Cases except where the offenders are below 16 years and there are Juvenile
and Domestic Relations Courts in the province.

3. Appellate jurisdiction over all cases decided by MTCs in their respective territorial jurisdiction

4. In areas where there are no family courts, the cases falling under the jurisdiction of family
courts shall be adjudicated by the RTC
The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals are as follows:

1. Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus,

and quo warranto, and auxiliary writs or processes, whether or not in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction;
2. Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgements of Regional
Trial Courts; and
3. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgements, resolutions, orders or awards of
Regional Trial Courts and quasi-judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or
commission.

The Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over the following:

1. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as
amended, and Chapter II, Section 2, Title VII, Book II of the Revised Penal Code, where
one or more of the accused are officials occupying the following positions in the
government whether in a permanent, acting or interim capacity, at the time of the
commission of the offense:
1. Officials of the executive branch occupying the positions of regional director and
higher, otherwise classified as grade 27 and higher, of the Compensation and
Position Classification Act of 1989 (Republic Act No. 6758), specifically
including:
1. Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the sangguniang
panlalawigan and provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers and other
provincial department heads;
2. City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the sangguniang panlungsod, city
treasurers, assessors engineers and other city department heads;
3. Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul and
higher;
4. Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all officers of
higher rank;
5. Officers of the Philippine National Police while occupying the position of
provincial director and those holding the rank of senior superintendent or
higher;
6. City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and
prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;
 7. Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of government-owned or
-controlled corporations, state universities or educational institutions or
foundations;
2. Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as grade 27 and up under the
Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989;
3. Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the provisions of the constitution;
4. Chairmen and members of constitutional commissions, without prejudice to the
provisions of the constitution; and
5. All other national and local officials classified as Grade 27 and higher under the
Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989.
2. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes committed by
the public officials and employees mentioned in subsection a of this section in relation to
their office.
3. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Order Nos. 1,
2, 14 and 14-A, s. 1986.

The Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction. It exercises original jurisdiction
(cases are directly filed with the SC in the first instance without passing through any of the lower
courts) over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and over petitions
for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus. (Art. VIII, §5(1)). It also
has original jurisdiction over writs of amparo, habeas data and the environmental writ
of kalikasan. It exercises appellate jurisdiction to review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm final
judgments, and orders of the lower courts in:
a. All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive
agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or
regulation is in question.
b. All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any penalty
imposed in relation thereto.
c. All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue.
d. All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher.
e. All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved.
The Supreme Court has administrative supervision over all courts and court personnel. (Article
VIII, §6) It exercises this power through the Office of the Court Administrator.