WHAT IS THE BASIS IN DETERMINING THE NATURE
OF AN ACTION AND THE JURISDICTION OF THE
COURT?
Civil Procedure
It is axiomatic that the nature of an action and
whether the tribunal has exclusive jurisdiction
over such action are to be determined from:
 the material allegations of the complaint,
 the law in force at the time the complaint
is filed, and
 the character of the relief sought
irrespective of whether plaintiff is
entitled to all or some of the claims
averred.
Jurisdiction is not affected by the pleas or the
theories set up by the defendant in an answer to
the complaint or a motion to dismiss the same.
Otherwise, jurisdiction would be dependent
almost entirely upon the whims of defendants. (AC
Enterprise vs. Frabelle Properties Corp. G.R. No.
166744. Nov. 2, 2006, Callejo, J).
RA 7975
I. Jurisdiction of the SBN
1. Violations of RA 3019 – The Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act, RA 1379, Chapter II,
Sec. 2, Title VII of the RPC where one of the
principal 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, like –
a. Officials of the executive branch
occupying the positions of regional
director or higher otherwise classified as
grade 27 and up;
b. Members of Congress and officials
thereof classified as grade 27 and up;
c. Members of the judiciary without
prejudice to the provisions of the
Constitution;
d. Chairmen and Members of the
Constitutional Commissions without
prejudice to the Constitution;
e. All other national and local officials
classified as grade 27 and higher.
2. Other offense and felonies committed by the
public officials in relation to their office;
3. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in
connection with EO Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A;
II. Officers not occupying grade 27 or higher.
Jurisdiction is vested in the proper MTC, RTC as
the case may be.
1. SB has exclusive appellate jurisdiction on
appeals from the final judgments,
resolutions or orders of regular courts
where all the accused are occupying
positions lower than grade 27;
2. SB has exclusive original jurisdiction over
petitions for the issuance of the writs of
mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas
corpus, injunction and other ancillary writ
and processes in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction, provided that the jurisdiction
over these petitions shall not be exclusive of
the SC;
(Note: This means that that these petitions can be
filed directly with the SC).
3. All cases elevated to the SB and from the SB,
the office of the Ombudsman shall represent
the state, thru its special prosecutor;
4. If a private individual is charged with a public
officer, they shall be triad jointly;
a. Criminal and civil actions for the recovery
of civil liability arising from the offense
shall be filed simultaneously or be deemed
to be jointly filed;
b. No reservation of the right to file a civil
action;
c. If the civil action has been filed ahead and
no judgment yet when the criminal is filed,
the civil cases shall be transferred to the
SB or appropriate court for consolidation
and joint determination with the criminal,
otherwise, the separate civil action shall be
deemed abandoned;
III.
1. Final orders and judgments shall have findings
of facts.
2. Petition for reconsideration to be filed within 15
days from promulgation or notice of the orders,
etc.. Motion for Reconsideration to be decided
within 30 days from submission.
3. Decisions to be enforced in the manner
prescribed by law.
4. Decisions and final orders of courts appealable
within 15 days from promulgation.