CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OF THE TRIAL COURTS
Municipal Trial Court, Municipal Circuit Trial
Court, and Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC)
Except in cases falling within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the RTC and Sandiganbayan
(jurisdiction is vested by law), the MTC shall
exercise the following criminal jurisdiction:
Exclusive original jurisdiction:
 All violations of city or municipal ordinances
commtted within their respective territorial
jurisdiction.
 All offenses punishable with imprisonment
not exceeding six (6) years irrespective of
the amount of fine, and regardless of other
imposable or accessory penalties, including
the civil liability arising from such offenses
irrespective of kind, nature, value or
amount.
 Over offenses involving damage to property
through criminal negligence.
Special jurisdiction:
 To decide on applications for bail in criminal
cases in the absence of all RTC judges in a
province or city.
Jurisdiction over cases falling under
summary procedure committed within their
jurisdiction:
 Violations of traffic laws, rules and
regulations.
 Violations of the rental law.
 BP 22 cases.
 Violation of municipal or city ordinances.
 All criminal cases where the penalty is
imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months
or fine not exceeding P1000, or both.
Regional Trial Court
Exclusive original jurisdiction:
 In all criminal cases not within jurisdiction of
any court, tribunal or body, except those
now falling under the exclusive and
concurrent jurisdiction of the
Sandiganbayan which shall be exclusively
take cognizance of by the latter.
 In case where none of the accused are
occupying positions corresponding to Grade
“27” or higher, jurisdiction shall be vested in the RPC (refer to the law on bribery in all its
the proper RTC pursuant to their respective
jurisdictions as provided in BP129, as
amended.
Original Jurisdiction:
 Issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition,
mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus
and injunction enforceable in any part of
their respective regions
Appellate Jurisdiction:
 All cases decided by the MTC within its
territorial jurisdiction
Special Jurisdiction:
 Certain branches to handle exclusively
criminal cases as may be determined by the
Supreme Court
Sandiganbayan
The jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan is set by
PD 1606, as amended (Serana vs
Sandiganbayan)
Original Jurisdiction:
 Violations of Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act RA3019, and RA 1379
(Property unlawfully acquired by any public
officer), Chapter II Sec2 Title VII BookII of
forms including corruption of public
officers), where one or more of the accused
are officials occupying the following position
in the government, whether in a permanent,
acting or interim capacity at the time of the
commission of the offense (committed by
officials in relation to their office).
 Officials of the executive branch
occupying the positions of regional
director and higher, otherwise classified
as Grade “27” and higher.
 Members of the Congress and officials
as Grade “27” and up
 Member of the judiciary without
prejudice to the provisions of the
Constitution
 Chairmen and member of Constitutional
Commissions, without prejudice to the
provisions of the Constitution
 All other national and local officials
classified as Grade “27” and higher
under the Compensation and Position
Classification Act of 1989
 CRIMINAL JURISDICTION OF THE TRIAL COURTS
Municipal Trial Court, Municipal Circuit Trial
Court, and Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC)
 Offenses involving damage to property
through criminal negligence where the
imposable fine does not exceed P10,000.
 Filing of criminal cases under summary
procedure may either be complaint or
information.
 In Metro Manila and other chartered
cities, the filing shall be by
information except when the
offenses is one which cannot be
prosecuted de officio.
 Prohibited pleadings, motions and
petitions in summary procedure in civil
and criminal cases.
 Motion to quash the complaint or
information or motion to dismiss the
complaint except if the ground is
lack of jurisdiction over the subject
matter or failure to comply with the
barangay conciliation proceedings
 Motion for bill of particulars
 MNT, or for consideration of a
judgment, or for reopening of trial
 Petition for relief from judgment
 Motion for extension of time to file
pleadings, affidavits or any paper
 Memoranda
 Petition for certiorari, mandamus, or
prohibition against any interlocutory
order issued by the court
 Motion to declare the defendant in
default
 Dilatory motions for postponement
 Reply
 3rd party complaints & interventions
Regional Trial Court
Under Special Laws:
 Criminal and civil aspects of oral
defamation
 Designated special courts over cases in
violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002
 Designated RTC branches for violations of
Intellectual Property Rights
 All cases on money laundering
 Those committed by public officers or
private persons who conspires with
public officers, shall be under
Sandiganbayan
Sandiganbayan
 Other offenses or felonies 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.
Exclusive Original Jurisdiction:
 Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to
and in connection with EO 1,2, 14 and 14-A
issued in 1986. Provided, that the
jurisdiction over these petitions shall not be
exclusive of the Supreme Court.
 Over petitions for the issuance of the writs
of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas
corpus, injunctions, and other ancillary writs
and process in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction and over petitions of similar
nature, including quo warranto, arising or
that may arise in cases filed under EO
1,2,14 and 14-A. Provided the jurisdiction
over these petitions shall not be exclusive
of the SC.
Exclusive Appellate Jurisdiction:
 Over final judgments, resolutions or orders
of regional trial courts whether in the
exercise of their own original jurisdiction or
of their appellate jurisdiction as herein
provided.