Baylin, Margheri C.

ID #: 1550042
CASES COGNIZABLE IN COURTS
1. KATARUNGAN PAMBARANGAY
JURISDICTION:
Only offenses which are punishable by imprisonment NOT exceeding one (1)
year, or a fine not exceeding P 5,000.00 are covered by the Katarungan Pambarangay.
2. METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, AND
MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS (MTC, MTCC, MCTC)
JURISDICTION:
Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit
Trial Courts in Criminal Cases. 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;
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.;
3. Where the only penalty provided for by law is a fine, the amount thereof shall
determine the jurisdiction of the court under the original provisions of B.P. 129
(Sec.32[2]) which provided that the MTC shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over
offenses punishable with a fine of not more than Four Thousand (P 4,000.00) Pesos;
4. Exclusive original jurisdiction over offenses involving damage to property through
criminal negligence;
5. Violations of B.P. 22 (Bouncing Checks Law);
6. Summary Procedure in the following cases:
a. Violations of traffic laws, rules and regulations, violations of the

rental

law; and violations of municipal or city ordinances;

b. All other criminal cases where the penalty prescribed by law for the
offense charges is imprisonment not exceeding six months, or a fine
not
exceeding One Thousand (P 1,000.00) Pesos, or both,
irrespective of
other imposable penalties, accessory or otherwise, or of civil liability arising therefrom;
c. Offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence
where
the imposable fine does not exceed ten thousand pesos (P 10,000.00).
3. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT (RTC)
JURISDICTION:

1.

Exclusive original jurisdiction in criminal cases

not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court,
tribunal or body.

All criminal cases where the penalty is higher than 6 years, including governmentrelated cases wherein the accused in not one of those falling under the jurisdiction of
the Sandiganbayan is within the jurisdiction of the RTC.

2.

Other laws which specifically lodge jurisdiction in the

RTC

a. Laws on written defamation or libel

b. Decree on Intellectual Property
c. Dangerous Drugs Cases except where the offenders are below 16 years 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

4. SANDIGANBAYAN

JURISDICTION:
The jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan is set by P.D. 1606 as amended and not by R.A.
3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act as amended.
The applicable law provides:
Sec. 4 Jurisdiction - The Sandiganbayan shall exercise 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 or 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 up 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 Constitutional Commissions, without prejudice to the

provisions of the Constitution; and
"(5) All other national and local officials classified as Grade'27'and higher under the
Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989.
"b. Other offenses orfelonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes committed
by the public officials and employees mentioned in subsection a of this section in relation
to their office.
"c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Order
Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986.
"In cases where none of the accused are occupying positions corresponding to salary
grade '27' or higher, as prescribed in the said Republic Act No. 6758, or military or PNP
officers mentioned above, exclusive original jurisdiction thereof shall be vested in the
proper regional trial court, metropolitan trial court, municipal trial court and municipal
circuit trial court ' as the case may be, pursuant to their respective jurisdiction as provided
in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended.
"The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction over final judgments,
resolutions or orders or regional trial courts whether in the exercise of their own original
jurisdiction orof their appellate jurisdiction as herein provided.
"The Sandiganbayan shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over petitions for the
issuance of the writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, 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, issued in 1986: Provided, That
the jurisdiction over these petitions shall not be exclusive of the Supreme Court.
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.
"In case private individuals are charged as co-principals, accomplices or accessories with
the public officers or employees, including those employed in govemment-owned or
controlled corporations, they shall be tried jointly with said public officers and employees
in the proper courts which shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over them.
1. FAMILY COURT

JURISDICTION:
The Family Courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and decide the
following criminal cases:
1. 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";
2. Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended;
3. 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
4. Cases of domestic violence against:
a.) 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
b.) 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.

SUMMARY PROCEDURE IN CRIMINAL CASES:

The following cases are subject to summary procedure:
1.

Traffic violations;

2.

Violations of the rental law;

3.

Violations of city municipal ordinances;

4.

All other offenses where the penalty does not exceed 6 months imprisonment and/or
P1,000 fine
a.) Irrespective of other penalties or civil liabilities arising therefrom;

5.

All offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence

a.) Where the imposable fine does not exceed P10,000;