JURISDICTION
I. CIVIL CASES METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, etc.
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL 1. Actions involving personal property, whose value does NOT
exceed P300,000 or in Metro Manila the amount does NOT
exceed P400,000 2.
NOTE: The adjusted
jurisdictional amount is 2. Demand for Money NOT exceeding P300,000 or in Metro
based on Sec. 5 of R.A. Manila P400,000
7691, this year being the 2nd 3.
5-year period mentioned NOTE: Exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind,
therein. attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, and costs (Code:IDALEC),
the amount of which must be specifically alleged but the 4.
filing fees thereon shall be paid.
3. Probate proceedings (testate or intestate) where the gross
value of the estate does NOT exceed P300,000 or in Metro
Manila the value does NOT exceed P400,000
4. Actions involving title to or possession of real property, or
any interest therein where the assessed value does NOT
exceed P20,000 or in Metro Manila P50,000.
5. Provisional remedies in principal actions w/in their
jurisdiction
6. Inclusion and exclusion of voters (BP 881, Sec.138)
7. Admiralty and maritime cases where demand or claim DOES
NOT EXCEED P300,000 or in Metro Manila P400,000.
NOTE: Exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind,
attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, and costs (Code:IDALEC),
the amount of which must be specifically alleged but the
filing fees thereon shall be paid.
REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS
1. Action is incapable of pecuniary estimation.
Title to or possession of real property or any interest
therein, the assessed value EXCEEDS P20,000 or P50,000 in
Metro Manila
Admiralty and maritime cases where demand or claim
EXCEEDS P300,000 or P400,000 in Metro Manila
Matters of Probate (testate & intestate) where gross value
of estate EXCEEDS P300,000 or P400,000 in Metro Manila
5. Family Courts now have exclusive original jurisdiction (RA
8369) over:
Petitions for:
a. Guardianship, custody of children, habeas corpus in
relation to the latter;
b. Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation
thereof;
c. Annulment and declaration of nullity of marriage,
matter relating to marital status and property relating
to husband & wife or those living together under
different status or agreement;
d. Support and/or acknowledgment;
e. Summary judicial proceedings under the Family Code;
f. Declaration of Status of children, voluntary
commitment of children, matter relating to parental
authority and other cases cognizable under PD 603, EO
56 (series of 1996) and other related laws;
g. Violations of RA 7610, otherwise known as the “Special
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation
and Discrimination Act” as amended by RA 7658; and
h. Cases of domestic violence against women and children
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8. Those covered by the Rules on Summary Procedure: Special Provisional Remedies:

a. Forcible entry and Unlawful Detainer (FEUD)
o with jurisdiction to resolve issue of ownership to
determine ONLY the issue of possession,
o irrespective of the amount of damages or unpaid
rentals sought to be recovered.
Where attorney’s fees are awarded, the same shall NOT
exceed P20,000.
b. Other civil cases, EXCEPT probate proceedings, where the
total amount of the plaintiff’s claim does NOT exceed
P100,000 or P200,000 in Metro Manila, exclusive of
interests and costs (as amended by A.M. No. 02-11-09-SC, 6. Cases NOT w/in exclusive jurisdiction of any court,
effective November 25, 2002).
a. In cases of violence among the family members living in
the same domicile or household, the Family Court may
issue a restraining order against the accused or
defendant upon verified application by the complainant
or the victim for relief from abuse;
b. The court may order the temporary custody of children
in all civil actions for their custody, support pendente
lite, including deduction from the salary, and use of
conjugal home and other properties in all civil actions
for support.
tribunal, person or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial
functions.

7. Civil actions and special proceedings falling w/in the

exclusive original of Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
and of Court of Agrarian Relations as now provided by law.

8. All other cases where demand EXCLUSIVE of IDALEC or the

value of the property in controversy EXCEEDS P200,000 or
P400,000 in Metro Manila

9. Under Sec. 5.2 of the Securities and Regulations Code to

hear and decide:
a. Cases involving devices or schemes employed by or
any acts of the board of directors, business
associates, its officers or partnership, amounting to
fraud and misrepresentation which may be
detrimental to the interest of the public and/ot of
the stockholders, partners, members of
associations or organizations registered with the
SEC
b. Controversies arising out of intra-corporate or
partnership relations
c. Controversies in the elections or appointments of
directors, trustees, officers or managers of such
corporations, partnerships or associations
 9. Petitions of corporations, partnerships or associations to be
declared in the state of suspension of payments in cases where
the entity possesses sufficient property to cover all its debts
but foresees the impossibility of meeting them when they fall
due or in cases where the entity has no sufficient assets to
cover its liabilities but is under the management of a
Rehabilitation Receiver or Management Committee
CONCURRENT With RTC – none With SC – Actions affecting ambassadors, public ministers and
consuls

With SC and CA – Issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition,

mandamus, quo warranto, injunction against lower courts.

With MTC, etc. – NONE

With Insurance Commissioner – Claims NOT exceeding P100T

DELEGATED May be assigned by the SC to hear

cadastral or land registration cases where there is no controversy
over the land or in case of contested lands, the value does NOT
exceed P100,000

SPECIAL Petition for Habeas Corpus OR application for bail in criminal
cases in the absence of all RTC judges in the province or city
SC may designate certain branches of RTC to try exclusively
criminal cases, juvenile and domestic relations cases, agrarian
cases, urban land reform cases not falling w/in the jurisdiction
of any quasi-judicial body and other special cases in the
interest of justice.

APPELLATE All cases decided by the lower courts in their respective

territorial jurisdiction.

CIVIL CASES SUPREME COURT COURT OF APPEALS

EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus against: Actions for annulment of judgment of the RTC.
a. CA
b. COMELEC
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c. COA
d. Sec. of DOLE/Sandiganbayan

CONCURRENT With Court of Appeals (CA) With Supreme Court (SC)

NOTE: While the Rules
provide for concurrent
jurisdiction among the RTC,
CA, and SC, the same is still
subject to the principle of
HIERARCHY OF COURTS,
pursuant to Sec 4 of Rule 65.
a. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus (CPM)
against RTC;
b. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus against
the NLRC (however, this should be filed with the CA first
– see St. Martin Funeral Home vs. CA, G. R. 130866
September 16, 1998)
c. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus against
quasi-judicial agencies (like CSC, CBAA, CTA, etc.)
(however, this should be filed with the CA – see Section
4, Rule 65)
a. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus (CPM)
against RTC;
b. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus
against the NLRC (however, this should be filed with
the CA first – see St. Martin Funeral Home vs. CA, G. R.
130866 September 16, 1998)
c. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus
against quasi-judicial agencies (like CSC, CBAA, CTA,
etc.) (however, this should be filed with the CA – see
Section 4, Rule 65)

With the CA and RTC With the SC and RTC

a. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus against a. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus
inferior courts and other bodies; against inferior courts and other bodies; and
b. Petitions for habeas corpus and quo warranto. b. Petitions for habeas corpus and quo warranto.

With RTC
Actions against ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls

II. CRIMINAL
MTC RTC SANDIGANBAYAN
CASES

EXCLUSIVE  Offenses punishable with imprisonment NOT
ORIGINAL exceeding six (6) years irrespective of the
amount of fine, and regardless of other
imposable accessory or other penalties,
including the civil liability arising from such
offenses or predicated thereon, irrespective
 Offenses the imposable penalty 
for which exceeds 6 years
imprisonment and not within the
exclusive jurisdiction of any
court, tribunal or body except
those falling under the exclusive
Violations of RA 3019, RA 1379
and Arts. 210-212, RPC where
one or more of the principal
accused are occupying the
position classified as grade 27
and higher, of the Compensation
 of kind, nature, value or amount thereof.
 Offenses involving DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
through CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.
NOTE: In cases where the only penalty is a fine,
the amount thereof shall determine jurisdiction.
If the amount does NOT exceed P4,000, MTC’S
have jurisdiction (Adm. Cir. 09-94)
Offenses committed by:
 public officers/employees:
 occupying positions BELOW salary grade
27 as enumerated by RA 6758 or BELOW
PNP superintendent;
 in relation to their office, including
GOCC’s and;
 by private individuals charged as co-
principals, accomplices, or accessories,
punishable by imprisonment NOT exceeding
six (6) years.
Those covered by the Rules on Summary
Procedure:
a. Violations of traffic laws, rules and
regulations;
b. Violations of the rental law;
c. Violations of municipal or city
ordinances;
d. Violations of BP 22, otherwise
known as Bouncing Checks Law
(A.M. No. 00-11-01-SC, effective
April 15, 2003);
e. All other criminal cases where the penalty
is imprisonment not exceeding 6 months
jurisdiction of the and Position Classification Act of
Sandiganbayan. 1989 (R.A. 6758), whether in a
permanent, acting or interim
NOTE: If the amount of the FINE is capacity, at the time of
more than P4,000 but does NOT commission of the offense.
exceed P6,000, RTC’s have the
jurisdiction, including offenses
committed by the public officers and
employees in relation to their office.
Family Court - Criminal cases where Other offenses or felonies whether
 one or more of the accused is simple or complexed with other
below eighteen (18) years of age crimes committed
but not less than nine (9) years of  by public officials and
age, or; employees:
 where one of the victims is a  occupying positions classified
minor at the time of the as salary grade 27 and higher
commission of the offense,  in relation to their office;
subject to suspension of AND
sentence, if the minor is found  by private individuals charged as
guilty, pursuant to Presidential co-principals, accomplices, or
Decree No. 603, otherwise known accessories, punishable by
as the Child and Youth Welfare imprisonment exceeding 6 years
Code. and/or P6,000 fine.
Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant
to and in connection with Executive
Order Nos. 1, 2, 14, and 14a (filed by
PCGG)
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and/or P 1,000 fine irrespective of other

penalties or civil liabilities arising
therefrom and in offenses involving
damage to property through criminal
negligence where the imposable fine is
not exceeding P10,000.

Over petitions for the issuance of the

writs of mandamus, prohibition,
certiorari, habeas corpus, injunction
and other ancillary writs and
processes in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction: PROVIDED, that the
jurisdiction over these petitions shall
not be exclusive of the Supreme
Court.

APPELLATE All cases decided by the MTC’s in Appeals from the final judgments,
their respective territorial resolutions or orders of regular courts
jurisdiction. where all the accused are occupying
positions lower than salary grade 27
or not otherwise covered by the
preceding enumeration.
CRIMINAL SUPREME COURT COURT OF APPEALS
CASES

EXCLUSIVE Petition for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against Court Actions for annulment of judgment of the Regional Trial
ORIGINAL of Appeals and Sandiganbayan. Courts.

CONCURRENT With the CA: petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus With the SC: petitions for certiorari, prohibition and
against the RTC’s. mandamus against the RTC’s.

With the CA and RTC : petitions for certiorari, prohibition and With the SC and RTC : petitions for certiorari, prohibition and
mandamus against the MTC’s. mandamus against the MTC’s.

APPELLATE By appeal : By appeal:

 From the RTC in all criminal cases involving offenses from which From the RTC in cases commenced therein, except those appealable
 the penalty is reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment and those to the Supreme Court or the Sandiganbayan.
involving other offenses, which although not so punished arose out
of the same occurrence or which may have been committed by the
accused on the same occasion.
 Automatic review in criminal cases where the death penalty is
imposed.

By petition for review on certiorari: By petition for review:

 From the CA From the RTC in cases appealed thereto from lower courts and not
 From the Sandiganbayan appealable to the Sandiganbayan.
 From the RTC where only an error or question of law is
involved.