What is jurisdiction?

Black’s Law Dictionary: Jurisdiction.

- A term of comprehensive import embracing every kind of judicial action. It is the power of the
court to decide a matter in controversy and presupposes the existence of a duly constituted
court with control over the subject matter and the parties.
- Jurisdiction defines the powers of courts to inquire into facts, apply the law, make decisions,
and declare judgment.
- The legal right by which judges exercise their authority.
- It exists when court has cognizance of class of cases involved, proper parties are present, and
point to be decided is within powers of court
- Power and authority of a court to hear and determine a judicial proceeding; and power to
render particular judgment in question
- The right and power of a court to adjudicate concerning the subject matter in a given case.
- The term may have different meanings in different contexts.

Who confers jurisdiction?

ART VIII SECTION 2. The Congress shall have the power to define, prescribe, and apportion the
jurisdiction of various courts but may not deprive the Supreme Court of its jurisdiction over cases
enumerated in Section 5 hereof.

No law shall be passed reorganizing the Judiciary when it undermines the security of tenure of its
Members.

Jurisdiction of the Courts

Supreme Court

ART VIII SECTION 5. The Supreme Court shall have the following powers:

(1) Exercise original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and
consuls, and over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus.

(2) Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law or the Rules of Court
may provide, final judgments and orders of lower courts in:

(a) All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive
agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in
question.

(b) All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any penalty imposed in
relation thereto.

(c) All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue.

(d) All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher.

(e) All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved.

(3) Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations as public interest may require. Such
temporary assignment shall not exceed six months without the consent of the judge concerned.

(4) Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

(5) Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading,
practice, and procedure in all courts, the admission to the practice of law, the Integrated Bar, and
legal assistance to the underprivileged. Such rules shall provide a simplified and inexpensive
procedure for the speedy disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts of the same grade, and
shall not diminish, increase, or modify substantive rights. Rules of procedure of special courts and
quasi-judicial bodies shall remain effective unless disapproved by the Supreme Court.

(6) Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil Service Law.

Court of Appeals

"Sec. 9. Jurisdiction. — The Court of Appeals shall exercise:

"(1) Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, and quo
warranto, and auxiliary writs or processes, whether or not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;

"(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgment of Regional Trial Courts;
and

"(3) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgments, decisions, resolutions, orders or
awards of Regional Trial Courts and quasi-judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or
commissions, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Social Security Commission,
the Employees Compensation Commission and the Civil Service Commission, except those falling
within the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in accordance with the Constitution, the Labor
Code of the Philippines under Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, the provisions of this Act,
and of subparagraph (1) of the third paragraph and subparagraph (4) of the fourth paragraph of
Section 17 of the Judiciary Act of 1948.

"The Court of Appeals shall have the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence and
perform any and all acts necessary to resolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its original
and appellate jurisdiction, including the power to grant and conduct new trials or further proceedings.
Trials or hearings in the Court of Appeals must be continuous and must be completed within three (3)
months, unless extended by the Chief Justice."

Regional Trial Court

Section 5. After five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the jurisdictional amounts mentioned in
Sec. 19(3), (4), and (8); and Sec. 33(1) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 as amended by this Act, shall be
adjusted to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00). Five (5) years thereafter, such jurisdictional
amounts shall be adjusted further to Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00): Provided,
however, That in the case of Metro Manila, the abovementioned jurisdictional amounts shall be
adjusted after five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act to Four hundred thousand pesos
(P400,000.00).
The case of Zamora vs. CA (183 SCRA 279) defines jurisdiction as "the power to hear, try and decide
a case." If the court has no jurisdiction, the case isn't in its control. While jurisdiction is the power to
hear and decide a case, procedure is the manner or process of hearing and deciding a case. There
are 4 kinds of jurisdiction:

1.) As to cases tried: General (all cases) and limited (specific cases.)

2.) As to nature of cause: Original (where the case began) and appellate (when brought to a higher
court for review; higher courts won't entertain problems unless the lower courts can't solve them first -
but there are exceptions, like habeas corpus.)

3.) As to extent of exercise: Exclusive (limited to a particular court) and concurrent (when different
courts can try the same subject matter at the same time and place; the court whose jurisdiction was
first called on takes over the case and the other courts won't touch it.)

4.) As to situs: territorial (limited to the area) and extra-territorial (extends beyond the territorial limits.)

Jurisdiction falls into 2 groups: civil and criminal. The kinds of jurisdiction have their respective places
within the 2 groups. ex. Family courts, Sandiganbayan etc.) For jurisdiction of the court to be valid it
must have jurisdiction over the parties to the case, jurisdiction over the subject matter (it must be
mentioned in the complaint,) jurisdiction over the res (property) and jurisdiction over the issue.

Civil Jurisdiction

In civil cases, it's the law at the time that governs the subject matter of the case. Jurisdiction over the
subject matter can be questioned by the defendant (or by the court, on its own initiative) any time,
even after judgment becomes final except if there's estoppel. The plaintiff (the complaining party)
comes under the jurisdiction of the court when he sues the defendant. The defendant comes under
the court's jurisdiction only if summons were properly served on him or if he appears in court
voluntarily. The defendant can question the court's jurisdiction, but only at the proper time -and if he
doesn't he waives the right to question the jurisdiction.) Jurisdiction over the res happens when the
property in question is seized, either actually or constructively. Jurisdiction over the issue comes
either through the parties' consent or through their pleadings. Also, payment of the docket fees (with
certain exceptions) completes the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

Now for the specifics:

1.) First-level courts (MTC, MeTC, MTCC, MCTC)

Exclusive Original

All cases where the value in question is Php300,000.00 or less (or Php400,000.00 or less in Metro
Manila;) Inclusion and exclusion of voters; Cases on real property (or any interest in them) valued at
Php20,000.00 or less (Php50,000.00 or less in Metro Manila;) Provisional remedies in principal
actions within their jurisdiction; those covered by the Rules on Summary procedure (like Forcible
Entry and Unlawful Detainer;) and, all other civil cases except probate ones where the maximum
claim of the plaintiff is Php100,000.00 (Php200,000.00 in Metro Manila) not including interest and
costs.

Delegated

The SC may designate it to hear land cases with no controversy or, if there is a controversy, the value
is Php100,000.00 or less.

Special

Habeas corpus cases or applications of bail if there's no RTC judge.

2.) The RTC

Exclusive Original

If the action has no pecuniary estimation (no money involved;) if the real property (or interest in it) is
higher than Php20,000.00 (Php50,000.00 in Metro Manila;) All cases where the value in question is
higher than Php300,000.00 (Php400,000.00 in Metro Manila;) Family court cases; cases that aren't in
the exclusive jurisdiction of any court or quasi-judicial body; Civil actions and special proceedings
falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and the
Court of Agrarian Relations as now provided by law; and, all other cases where the value of the
property in question is higher than Php300,000.00 (Php400,000.00 in Metro Manila) not including
damages, costs, attorney's fees, etc.

Concurrent

With the SC: cases involving ambassadors, public ministers and consuls. With the SC and CA:
issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition, quo warranto, mandamus and injunction against lower
courts. With the Insurance Commissioner: claims with a maximum of Php100,000.00.

Special

Certain branches may be designated by the SC to try exclusively criminal cases, juvenile and
domestic violence cases, agrarian cases, urban land reform cases not 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 territorial jurisdiction.

3.) The CA

Exclusive
Cases for the annulment of an RTC judgment

Concurrent

With the SC: petitions for certiorari, mandamus and prohibition against the RTC, NLRC and quasi-
judicial agencies. With the SC and RTC: petitions of certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the
lower courts and other bodies and petitions for habeas corpus and quo warranto.

Appellate

All final judgments, decisions, etc. of the RTC and quasi-judicial agencies except those under the
exclusive appellate jurisdiction of the SC mentioned in the law and constitution.

4.) The SC

Exclusive Original

Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the CA, COMELEC, COA and
Sandiganbayan.

Concurrent

With the CA: petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the RTC, quasi-judicial
agencies and NLRC (for NLRC and quasi-judicial agencies, this must first go to the CA.) With the CA
and RTC: petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against lower courts and petitions for
habeas corpus and quo warranto. With the RTC: Actions against ambassadors, public ministers and
consuls.

Appellate

On appeal or certiorari, review, reverse revise, affirm or modify the following: errors or questions of
law; cases where the penalty is reclusion perpetua or higher; where the jurisdiction of a lower court is
questioned; the legality of taxes, tolls, imposts, assessments or related penalties; or any case where
the constitutionality or validity of a treaty, law order, agreement, proclamation, instruction or
presidential decree is questioned.

Criminal Jurisdiction

There are only 3 requisites for acquiring jurisdiction: over the subject matter, which is determined by
the facts in the complaint; over the territory, which is where the crime was committed, generally (there
are exceptions;) and, over the accused which either happens through arrest or voluntary appearance
in court by either posting bail, filing a motion to quash or appearing at arraignment or entering trial.
The exceptions to jurisdiction over territory are the following:

1.) The crime is committed in a moving plane, ship, train or private vehicle passing through several
territories (any of the territories can be the place of trial.)

2.) Cases of piracy, which is an international crime and can be tried anywhere in the world.
3.) Libel cases.

4.) If the SC orders a transfer to prevent injustice.

5.) Complex or continuing crimes (the place may be where the accused is found and the venue is
where any part of the crime was committed; for a complex crime, the court with the jurisdiction to
impose the highest penalty for the crime.)

6.) Where the law provides

The specifics are:

1.) The SC

All cases where only errors or questions of law are involved; automatic review of criminal cases
where reclusion perpetua is imposed by the RTC or Sandiganbayan (we don't have the death penalty
anymore;) all criminal cases from the RTC or Sandiganbayan whose penalties are life imprisonment
or reclusion perpetua and those which, even if they're not punished with those penalties, came from
the same occurrence or were committed by the accused on the same occasion.

2.) The CA

Appeals from the RTC, including cases of automatic review.

3.) The Sandiganbayan

Violations of the Anti-graft Law and other offenses committed by public officials in relation to their
office if their salary grade is G 27 or higher and over private individuals collaborating with these
officials as principals, accomplices or accessories.

4.) The RTC

Criminal cases whose penalty exceeds 6 years' imprisonment regardless of the fine; but if the penalty
is only a fine, if it's more than Php4,000.00; crimes where the accused is a public official or private
individual working with him with a salary grade lower than G 27, or if the crime wasn't committed in
relation to the office of the official; family courts cases; and, all cases decided by the first-level courts.

5.) The First-level courts (MTC, MCTC, MTCC, MeTC)

All violations of city and municipal ordinances committed within their jurisdictions; all crimes
punishable by imprisonment of 6 years or less, regardless of fine and other penalties or if the penalty
is only a fine that is Php4,000.00 or less; crimes involving damage to property through criminal
negligence regardless of the fine; and, all offenses where the accused is a public official with salary
grade less than G 27 or any private person collaborating with him, or if the crime wasn't committed in
relation to his office.

Also the first-level courts can entertain applications for bail if there are no RTC judges present.