JURISDICTION IN CRIMINAL CASES This Rule shall not apply to a civil case where the plaintiff’s cause of action
t apply to a civil case where the plaintiff’s cause of action is pleaded
I. MTC
Section 32. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in criminal cases. – 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) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all violations of city or municipal
ordinances committed within their respective territorial jurisdiction; and 

(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all offenses punishable with imprisonment
not 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 of kind, nature, value, or
amount thereof: Provided, however, That in offenses involving damage to
property through criminal negligence they shall have exclusive original
jurisdiction thereof. (as amended by R.A, No. 7691) 
 involving damage to property through criminal negligence, this Rule shall govern
Section 35. Special jurisdiction in certain cases. – 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.
AM No. 00-01-SC
Section 1. Scope. This rule shall govern the summary procedure in Metropolitan Trial
Courts, the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and the Municipal
Circuit Trial Courts in the following cases falling within their jurisdiction.
A. Civil Cases:
xxx
B. Criminal Cases:
xxx
4. Violations of Batas Pambansa Bilang 22 (Bouncing Checks Law);
5. All other criminal cases where the penalty prescribed by law for the offense
charged is imprisonment not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding one
thousand pesos (P1,000.00), or both, irrespective of other imposable penalties,
accessory or otherwise, or of the civil liability arising therefrom: Provided, however,
that in offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence, this Rule
shall govern where the imposable fine does not exceed ten thousand pesos
(P10,000.00).
in the same complaint with another cause of action subject to the ordinary procedure;
nor to a criminal case where the offense charged is necessarily related to another
criminal case subject to ordinary procedure.
1991 REVISED RULES OF SUMMARY PROCEDURE I. APPLICABILITY
SECTION 1. Scope- This rule shall govern the summary procedure in the
Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts, and Municipal Trial Courts in the following cases falling within their
jurisdiction: XXXXX
B. Criminal Cases:
 (1) Violations of traffic laws, rules and regulations; (2) Violations
of the rental law;
 (3) Violations of municipal or city ordinances;
(4) All other criminal cases where the penalty prescribed by law for the offense
charged is imprisonment not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding
(P1,000.00), or both, irrespective of other imposable penalties, accessory or
otherwise, or of the civil liability arising therefrom: Provided, however, that in offenses
where the imposable fine does not exceed ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00).
This Rule shall not apply to a civil case where the plaintiffs cause of action is pleaded
in the same complaint with another cause of action subject to the ordinary procedure;
nor to a criminal case where the offense charged is necessarily related to another
criminal case subject to the ordinary procedure.
The criminal and civil action for damages in cases of written defamations as provided
for in this chapter, shall be filed simultaneously or separately with the court of first
instance of the province or city where the libelous article is printed and first published
or where any of the offended parties actually resides at the time of the commission of
the offense:
. ‣ Provided, however, That where one of the offended parties is a
public officer whose office is in the City of Manila at the time of the
commission of the offense, the action shall be filed in the Court of First
Instance of the City of Manila, or of the city or province where the libelous
article is printed and first published, and in case such public officer does not
hold office in the City of Manila, the action shall be filed in the Court of First
Instance of the province or city where he held office at the time of the
commission of the offense or where the libelous article is printed and first
published and in case one of the offended parties is a private individual, the
action shall be filed in the Court of First Instance of the province or city
where he actually resides at the time of the commission of the offense or
where the libelous matter is printed and first published: 

. ‣ Provided, further, That the civil action shall be filed in the same
court where the criminal action is filed and vice versa: 

. ‣ Provided, furthermore, That the court where the criminal action
or civil action for damages is first filed, shall acquire jurisdiction to the
exclusion of other courts: And, provided, finally, That this amendment shall
not apply to cases of written defamations, the civil and/or criminal actions
which have been filed in court at the time of the effectivity of this law.

 Preliminary investigation of criminal action for written defamations as
provided for in the chapter shall be conducted by the provincial or city fiscal
of the province or city, or by the municipal court of the city or capital of the
province where such action may be instituted in accordance with the
provisions of this article. 
 No criminal action for defamation which consists
in the imputation of a crime which cannot be prosecuted de oficio shall be
brought except at the instance of and upon complaint expressly filed by the
offended party. (As amended by R.A. 1289, approved June 15, 1955, R.A.
4363, approved June 19, 1965). 

II. RTC
Section 20. Jurisdiction in criminal cases. – Regional Trial Courts shall exercise
exclusive original jurisdiction in all criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction
of any court, tribunal or body, except those now falling under the exclusive and
concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan which shall hereafter be exclusively
taken cognizance of by the latter.
Section 22. Appellate jurisdiction. – Regional Trial Courts shall exercise appellate
jurisdiction over all cases decided by Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts,
and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in their respective territorial jurisdictions. Such
cases shall be decided on the basis of the entire record of the proceedings had in the
court of origin and such memoranda and/or briefs as may be submitted by the parties
or required by the Regional Trial Courts. The decision of the Regional Trial Courts in
such cases shall be appealable by petition for review to the Court of Appeals which
may give it due course only when the petition shows prima facie that the lower court
has committed an error of fact or law that will warrant a reversal or modification of the
decision or judgment sought to be reviewed.
Section 23. Special jurisdiction to try special cases. – The Supreme Court may
designate certain branches of the Regional Trial Courts to handle exclusively criminal
cases, juvenile and domestic relations cases, agrarian cases, urban land reform
cases which do not fall under the jurisdiction of quasi-judicial bodies and agencies,
and/or such other special cases as the Supreme Court may determine in the interest
of a speedy and efficient administration of justice.
RA 9165 — COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002
Section 90. Jurisdiction. – The Supreme Court shall designate special courts from
among the existing Regional Trial Courts in each judicial region to exclusively try and
hear cases involving violations of this Act. The number of courts designated in each
judicial region shall be based on the population and the number of cases pending in
their respective jurisdiction. 
 The DOJ shall designate special prosecutors to
exclusively handle cases involving violations of this Act. 
 The preliminary
investigation of cases filed under this Act shall be terminated within a period of thirty
(30) days from the date of their filing. 
 When the preliminary investigation is
conducted by a public prosecutor and a probable cause is established, the
corresponding information shall be filed in court within twenty-four (24) hours from the
termination of the investigation. If the preliminary investigation is conducted by a
judge and a probable cause is found to exist, the corresponding information shall be
filed by the proper prosecutor within forty-eight (48) hours from the date of receipt of
the records of the case. 
 Trial of the case under this Section shall be finished by the
court not later than sixty (60) days from the date of the filing of the information.
Decision on said cases shall be rendered within a period of fifteen (15) days from the
date of submission of the case for resolution. 

RA 8369
Section 5. Jurisdiction of family Courts. - The Family Courts shall have exclusive
original jurisdiction to hear and decide the following cases:
a) Criminal cases where one or more of the accused is below eighteen (18)
years of age but not less than nine (9) years of age but not less than nine (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 Ptesidential Decree No. 603, otherwise known as the "Child and
Youth Welfare Code";
b) Petitions for guardianship, custody of children, habeas corpus in relation
to the latter;
c) Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation thereof;
d) Complaints for annulment of marriage, declaration of nullity of marriage
and those relating to marital status and property relations of husband and
wife or those living together under different status and agreements, and
petitions for dissolution of conjugal partnership of gains;
e) Petitions for support and/or acknowledgment;
f) Summary judicial proceedings brought under the provisions of Executive
Order No. 209, otherwise known as the "Family Code of the Philippines";
g) Petitions for declaration of status of children as abandoned, dependent o
neglected children, petitions for voluntary or involuntary commitment of
children; the suspension, termination, or restoration of parental authority and
other cases cognizable under Presidential Decree No. 603, Executive Order
No. 56, (Series of 1986), and other related laws;
 h) Petitions for the constitution of the family home;
i) Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs Act, as
amended;
j) Violations of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the "Special
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination
Act," as amended by Republic Act No. 7658; and
k) Cases of domestic violence against:
1) Women - which are acts of gender based violence that results, or
are likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or
suffering to women; and other forms of physical abuse such as
battering or threats and coercion which violate a woman's
personhood, integrity and freedom movement; and
2) Children - which include the commission of all forms of abuse,
neglect, cruelty, exploitation, violence, and discrimination and all
other conditions prejudicial to their development.
If an act constitutes a criminal offense, the accused or batterer shall be subject to
criminal proceedings and the corresponding penalties.
If any question involving any of the above matters should arise as an incident in any
case pending in the regular courts, said incident shall be determined in that court.
A.M. N0. 03-03-03-SC — RE: CONSOLIDATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
COURTS WITH COMMERCIAL COURTS 

1. The Regional Courts previously designated as SEC Courts through the: (a)
Resolutions of this Court dated 21 November 2000, 4 July 2001, 12 November 2002,
and 9 July 2002, all issued in A.M. No. 00-11-03-SC, (b) Resolution dated 27 August
2001 in A.M. No. 01-5-298-RTC; and (c) Resolution dated 8 July 2002 in A.M. No. 01-
12-656-RTC are hereby DESIGNATED and shall be CALLED as Special Commercial
Courts to try and decide cases involving violations of Intellectual Property Rights
which fall within their jurisdiction and those cases formerly cognizable by the
Securities and Exchange Commission XXXXXXXX 

4. The Special Commercial Courts shall have jurisdiction over cases arising within
their respective territorial jurisdiction with respect to the National Capital Judicial
Region and within the respective provinces with respect to the First to Twelfth Judicial
Regions. Thus, cases shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court in the official
station of the designated Special Commercial Court
III. SANDIGANBAYAN
PD 1606 AS AMENDED BY RA 7975, 8249, 10660 — REVISING PRESIDENTIAL
DECREE NO. 1486 CREATING A SPECIAL COURT TO BE KNOWN AS
“SANDIGANBAYAN” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Section 4. Jurisdiction. – The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive original
jurisdiction in all cases involving:
a. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, otherwise known as the Anti-
Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act No. 1379, 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:
(a) Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the sangguniang
panlalawigan, and provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers, and
other provincial department heads: 

(b) City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the sangguniang panlungsod,
city treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other city department
heads; 

(c) Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul and
higher; 

(d) Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all officers
of higher rank; 

(e) Officers of the Philippine National Police while occupying the position
of provincial director and those holding the rank of senior
superintendent and higher; 

(f) City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and
prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and special
prosecutor; 

(g) 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 higher
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 the Constitutional Commissions, without prejudice
 to the provisions of the Constitution; and 
 In case private individuals are charged as co-principals, accomplices or accessories
with the public officers or employees, including those employed in government-owned
. (5) All other national and local officials classified as Grade ’27’ and higher under or controlled corporations, they shall be tried jointly with said public officers and
the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989. 
 employees in the proper courts which shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over them.

b. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes Any provisions of law or Rules of Court to the contrary notwithstanding, the criminal
committed by the public officials and employees mentioned in subsection a. of this action and the corresponding civil action for the recovery of civil liability shall at all
section in relation to their office. times be simultaneously instituted with, and jointly determined in, the same
proceeding by the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate courts, the filing of the criminal
c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Order action being deemed to necessarily carry with it the filing of the civil action, and no
Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986. right to reserve the filing of such civil action separately from the criminal action shall
be recognized: Provided, however, That where the civil action had heretofore been
filed separately but judgment therein has not yet been rendered, and the criminal
Provided, That the Regional Trial Court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction where
case is hereafter filed with the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate court, said civil
the information: (a) does not allege
action shall be transferred to the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate
any damage to the government or any bribery; or (b) alleges damage to the
court, as the case may be, for consolidation and joint determination with the criminal
government or bribery arising from the same or closely related transactions or acts in
action, otherwise the separate civil action shall be deemed abandoned (as amended
an amount not exceeding One million pesos (P1,000,000.00).
by RA 10660)
Subject to the rules promulgated by the Supreme Court, the cases falling under the
jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court under this section shall be tried in a judicial IV. COURT OF TAX APPEALS
region other than where the official holds office.
Section 7. Jurisdiction. - The Court of Tax Appeals shall exercise exclusive
In cases where none of the accused are occupying positions corresponding to Salary appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal, as herein provided.
Grade ’27’ or higher, as prescribed in the said Republic Act No. 6758, or military and
PNP officers mentioned above, exclusive original jurisdiction thereof shall be vested (1) Decisions of the Collector of Internal Revenue in cases involving disputed
in the proper regional trial court, metropolitan trial court, municipal trial court, and assessments, refunds of internal revenue taxes, fees or other charges,
municipal circuit trial court, as the case may be, pursuant to their respective penalties imposed in relation thereto, or other matters arising under the
jurisdictions as provided in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended. National Internal Revenue Code or other law or part of law administered by
the Bureau of Internal Revenue;
The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction over final
judgments, resolutions or orders of regional trial courts whether in the exercise of their
(2) Decisions of the Commissioner of Customs in cases involving liability for
own original jurisdiction or of their appellate jurisdiction as herein provided.
customs duties, fees or other money charges; seizure, detention or release
of property affected fines, forfeitures or other penalties imposed in relation
The Sandiganbayan shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over petitions for the thereto; or other matters arising under the Customs Law or other law or part
issuance of
 the writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, of law administered by the Bureau of Customs; and
injunctions, and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction
and over petitions of similar nature, including quo warranto, arising or that may arise
in cases filed or which may be filed under Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, (3) Decisions of provincial or city Boards of Assessment Appeals in cases
issued in 1986: Provided, That the jurisdiction over these petitions shall not be involving the assessment and taxation of real property or other matters
exclusive of the Supreme Court. arising under the Assessment Law, including rules and regulations relative
thereto.
The procedure prescribed in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as well as the implementing
rules that the Supreme Court has promulgated and may hereafter promulgate, relative
to appeals/petitions for review to the Court of Appeals, shall apply to appeals and
petitions for review filed with the Sandiganbayan. In all cases elevated to the
Sandiganbayan and from the Sandiganbayan to the Supreme Court, the Office of the
Ombudsman, through its special prosecutor, shall represent the People of the
Philippines, except in cases filed pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A,
issued in 1986.