BACKGROUND of the Judicial System in the Philippines

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:
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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 AntiGraft 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 siten banc or in divisions of three, five or seven
members.