Jurisdiction of the different courts:

1. Supreme Court - The Supreme court shall exercise exclusive

and original jurisdiction over the following:

a. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus

against the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan.

It shall also exercise concurrent jurisdiction over the

following:

i. With the court of appeals: petitions for certiorari,

prohibition and mandamus against the Regional
Trial Courts.

ii. With the Court of Appeals and Regional trial

courts; petition for certiorari , prohibition and
mandamus against lower courts.

It shall exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction over cases

for

By way of appeal :

iii. From the RTC in all criminal cases involving

offenses for which the penalty is reclusion
perpetua or life imprisonment and those offenses
for which the penalty is reclusion perpetua or life
imprisonment, and those involving other offenses
which although not punished, arose out of the
same occurrence or which may have been
committed by the accused on the same occasion.

iv. Automatic review on criminal cases where the

death penalty is imposed ( as amended) by way of
petition for review under rule 45:

1. From the Court of Appeals

2. From the Sandiganbayan

3. From the RTC where only an error or

question of law is involved.

2. Court of Appeals – The Court of Appeals shall exercise

original and exclusive jurisdiction over the following:

a. Exclusive:
 i. Actions for annulment of judgments of the RTC

b. Concurrent:

i. With the Supreme Court

ii. With the Supreme Court and the RTC

It shall also exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction

over:

1. By way of appeal: from the RTC in cases

commenced therein; except those appealable to
the Supreme Court or Sandiganbayan.

2. By petition for review: From the RTC in cases

appealed thereto from the lower courts and not
appealable to the sandiganbayan.

3. Sandiganbayan – The Sandiganbayan shall exercise

exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases involving:

a. Violations of R.A. No.’s 3019, 1379 and Chapter 2,

section 2, Tittle 7 ( arts. 210 -212) Revised Penal Code.

b. Other offenses committed by public officers and

employees in relation to their office, including
government owned or controlled corporations, and by
private individuals charged as accomplices, co-principals
or accessories punishable by more than 6 years
imprisonment and/or fine of 6000php. “SALARY GRADE
27 AND UP”

It shall also exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction over:

i. By way of appeal to :

1. From the RTC in cases under P.D. 1606 as

amended by 1861 appealed thereto-lower
courts.

ii. By way of petition for review:

1. From the RTC in cases under P.D. 1606 as

amended by 1861 appealed thereto-lower
courts.

iii. By way of certirari under rule 65.

4. Regional Trial Court - 1. ) Exclusive original jurisdiction in

all 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 is not one
of those falling under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

2.) Other laws which specifically lodge jurisdiction in the RTC:

a. Law on written defamation or libel
b. Decree on Intellectual Property
c. Dangerous Drugs Cases except where the offenders are
under 16 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

5. Metropolitan/Municipal/Municipal Circuit Trial Courts :

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 and
other accessory penalties and civil liability .

3. Offenses involving damage to property through criminal

negligence .

4. Where the only penalty provided by law is a fine: exclusive

original jurisdiction over offenses punishable with a fine not
exceeding P4,000.

5. Election offenses: Failure to register or failure to vote .

6. Special Jurisdiction to hear and decide petitions for a writ of

habeas corpus or application for bail in the province or city where
the RTC judge is absent .

6. Family Courts – The Family courts as created uder the Family

courts Act of 1997 shall have exclusive original jurisdictions to
hear and decide the following cases:
a. Criminal cases where one or more of the accused is 18
years of age but not less than 9 years of age, or where
 one or more of the victims is a minor at the time of the
commission of the offense; provided, that if the minor is
found guilty, the court shall promulgate sentence and
ascertain any civil liability which the accused may have
incurred. The sentence, however, shall be suspended
without need of application pursuant to Presidential
Decree no. 603 otherwise known as the child and youth
welfare code.
b. Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous
Drugs Act, as amended;
c. Violations of R.A. 7610, otherwise known as the “Special
Protection of children against child abuse, exploitation
and discrimination act.”as amended by R.A. 7658
d. Cases of domestic violence against - children which
include the commission of all forms of abuse , neglect,
cruelty, exploitation, violence and discrimination and all
other conditions prejudicial to their development.