Regional Trial Court (RTC)

Second Level Courts

 13 Judicial Regions (BP blg. 129 Sec. 13 and 14)
 Special Courts
 Corporate Rehabilitation (A.M. No. 00-8-10-SC)
- Transfer from SEC to RTC
 A.M. No. 00-11-03-SC
- Cases on Sec. 5 of P.D. No. 902-A
 Special Commercial Courts (A.M. No. 03-03-03-SC)
- Intellectual Property Rights
 Jurisdiction of Regional Trial Court
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 Section 19 (amended by R.A. No. 7691)
Exclusive Original Jurisdiction
(1) All civil action in which the subject of litigation is incapable of
pecuniary estimation
(2) All civil action on Title, Possession of, Real Property, or any
interest therein, where the assessed value of the property involved
exceed P20,000.00 (P50,000.00 in Metro Manila).
-Except cases on Forcible Entry and Unlawful Detainer
(3) Demand or Claim exceeds P100,000.00 (P200,000.00 in Metro
Manila) on Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction.
(4) Gross Value of Estate Exceed P100,000.00 (P200,000.00 in
Metro Manila)
 (5) Contract of Marriage and Marital Relations
(6) Not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal,
person, or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions
(7) Exclusive original jurisdiction of Juvenile and Domestic
Relation Court and of the Court of Agrarian Reform
(8) Demand and costs or value of property exceeds P100,000.00
(P200,000.00 in Metro Manila)
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 Section 21
Original Jurisdiction
(1) Issuance of Writ of Certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo
warranto, habeas corpus and injuction
(2) Actions affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and
consuls

Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 Section 22

Appellate Jurisdiction
 First Level Courts

• Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTC)

• Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCC)
• Municipal Trial Courts (MTC)
• - Covers only one municipality
• Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTC)
• - Covers two or more municipality
 “The Lower Courts are at the first line of the people’s fight for
justice; there mostly, and not in the higher courts do the poor get a
taste of what a court case is really like. Lower courts are also the
first line of defense in the protection of people’s human rights.”
- Atty. Ricardo J. Romulo

“From the point view of rank, the Justice of the Peace (MTC judges were then
called Justices of the peace) may be the lowest in the judiciary. But from the
standpoint of maintaining the people’s faith in the administration of justice,
theirs is the most important job. It is to them that the people look for redress.
With wise decisions they bring the concept of good government to the
understanding of the people. With unfair decisions, they destroy the people’s
faith in their government and democracy.”
- Pres. Diosdado Macapagal
(January 7, 1962)
 Jurisdictions of First Level Courts
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, Section 32
Except in cases falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of
Regional Trial Courts and of the Sandiganbayan, the Metropolitan Trial
Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall
exercise:

(1) All violations of city or municipal ordinances committed within

their respective territorial jurisdiction; and

(2) All offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding six (6)
years:
 Jurisdictions of First Level Courts
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, Section 33

1. Civil actions and probate proceedings, where the value of the

personal property, estate, or amount of the demand does not
exceed P100,000.00 (P200,000in Metro Manila).

2. Cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer

3. All civil actions which involve title to, or possession of, real property, or
any interest therein where the assessed value of the property or interest
therein does not exceed P20,000.00 (P50,000.00 in Metro Manila)
 Jurisdictions of First Level Courts
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, Section 34

-May be assigned by the Supreme Court to hear and determine

cadastral or land registration cases covering lots where there is no
controversy or opposition, or contested lots the where the value of
which does not exceed P100,000.00

Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, Section 35

-In the absence of all the Regional Trial Judges in a province or city, any
Metropolitan Trial Judge, Municipal Trial Judge, Municipal Circuit Trial Judge may
hear and decide petitions for a writ of habeas corpus or applications for bail in
criminal cases in the province or city where the absent Regional Trial Judges sit.
 Jurisdictions of First Level Courts

A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC or The 2016 Revised Rules of Procedure for Small Claims.

- Payment of money where the value of the claim does not exceed
P200,000.00 exclusive of interest and costs.

-Apply this Rule in all actions which are;

(a) purely civil in nature where the claim or relief is solely for
payment or reimbursement of sum of money
(b) the civil aspect of criminal action, or reserved upon the filing
of the criminal action in court, pursuant to Rule of 111 of the Revised
Rules of Criminal Procedure.
 Shari’a Courts
 Presidential Decree No. 1083, Article 137
-Create Shari’a Courts
 Shari’a District Courts
 Shari’a Circuit Courts

 PD No. 1083, Article 140 – Shari’a Distric Judge Appointment

PD No. 1083, Article 152 – Shari’a Circuit Judge Appointment
 Shari’a District Courts Jurisdictions
PD No. 1083, Article 143
(1) The Shari'a District Court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction
over:
(a) All cases involving custody, guardianship, legitimacy, paternity
and filiation arising under this Code;
(b) Petitions for the declaration of absence and death and for the
cancellation or correction of entries in the Muslim Registries mentioned in
Title VI of Book Two of this Code;
(c) All actions arising from customary contracts in which the parties
are Muslims, if they have not specified which law shall govern their
relations; and
(d) All petitions for mandamus, prohibition, injunction, certiorari,
habeas corpus, and all other auxiliary writs and processes in aid of its
appellate jurisdiction.
(2) Concurrently with existing civil courts, the Shari'a District Court shall
have original jurisdiction over:

(a) Petitions by Muslims for the constitution of a family home, change of

name and commitment of an insane person to an asylum;

(b) All other personal and real actions not mentioned in paragraph 1(d)
wherein the parties involved are Muslims except those for forcible
entry and unlawful detainer, which shall fall under the
exclusive original jurisdiction of the Municipal Circuit Court; and

(c) All special civil actions for interpleader or declaratory relief wherein
the parties are Muslims or the property involved belongs
exclusively to Muslims.
 Shari’a Circuit Courts Jurisdictions
PD No. 1083, Article 155
The Shari'a Circuit Courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over;
(1) All cases involving offenses defined and punished under this Code.
(2) All civil actions and proceedings between parties who are Muslims or have
been married in accordance with Article 13 involving disputes relating to:
(a) Marriage;
(b) Divorce recognized under this Code;
(c) Betrothal or breach of contract to marry;
(d) Customary dower (mahr);
(e) Disposition and distribution of property upon divorce;
(f) Maintenance and support, and consolatory gifts, (mut'a); and
(g) Restitution of marital rights.
(3) All cases involving disputes relative to communal properties.