0%12&2.2+& The 1987 Constitution pioviues foi the scope of juuicial powei, which incluues the uuty of the couits of justice to settle actual contioveisies involving iights which aie legally uemanuable anu enfoiceable. 1 These aie the cases biought to the couits foi iesolution. Bowevei, befoie a couit can iesolve a contioveisy, it neeus to have juiisuiction. }uiisuiction is uefineu as the powei anu authoiity of a couit to heai anu ueciue a case. 2 It is confeiieu by the statute in foice at the time of the institution of the action S , unless such statute pioviues foi ietioactive application. 4 This is puisuant to the constitutional piovision that gives Congiess "the powei to uefine, piesciibe anu appoition the juiisuiction of vaiious couits". S
34'2/52,.2+& (&5 6%&4% Theie aie some couits, such as the Nunicipal anu the Regional Tiial Couits, which aie limiteu by teiiitoiial juiisuiction. Bowevei, this teiiitoiial limitation shoulu not be confuseu with the concept of venue with iegaiu to civil cases. }uiisuiction ielates to the couit's powei ovei the subject mattei, while venue ielates meiely to place wheie that juiisuiction is to be exeiciseu. 6 Bence, it has been helu that a Couit of Fiist Instance may valiuly issue oiueis when the saiu oiuei is to be implementeu within its teiiitoiial juiisuiction. 7
In the case of !"#$% '() *+,-,..,(/ 0',-1 2(3$,4/4 56 7'(, the Couit uiffeientiateu juiisuiction fiom venue in the following mannei:
"(a) }uiisuiction is the authoiity to heai anu ueteimine a case; venue is the place wheie the case is to be heaiu oi tiieu; (b) }uiisuiction is a mattei of substantive law; venue, of pioceuuial law; (c) }uiisuiction establishes a ielation between the couit anu the subject mattei; venue, a ielation between plaintiff anu uefenuant, oi petitionei anu iesponuent; anu, (u) }uiisuiction is fixeu by law anu cannot be confeiieu by the paities; venue may be confeiieu by the act oi agieement of the paities." 8
78%& ,+4'./ (,942'% :4'2/52,.2+& ueneially, a case is ueemeu fileu only upon the payment of the piesciibeu uocket fee, iegaiuless of the uate of actual filing in couit. 9 Bence, a couit uoes not acquiie juiisuiction upon the filing of the complaint unless the coiiect amount of uocket fees has been paiu.
1 Const, Ait. vIII, Sec. 1. 2 BPI v. Bong, u.R. No. 161771, Febiuaiy 1S, 2u12. S Iu. 4 Figueioa v. People, u.R. No. 1474u6, }uly 14, 2uu8. S Const, Ait. vIII, Sec. 2. 6 Nanila Railioau Co. v. Attoiney ueneial, u.R. No. 6287, Becembei 1, 1911. 7 Becano v. Euu, u.R. No. L-Suu7u, August 29, 198u. 8 Nocum anu Philippine Baily Inquiiei v. Tan, u.R. No. 14Su22, Septembei 2S, 2uuS. 9 Nanchestei Bevelopment Co. v. CA, u.R. No. 7S919, Nay 7, 1987. Bocket fees foi ieal actions aie ueteimineu in accoiuance with the value of the ieal piopeity involveu. This value is ueteimineu on the basis of the faii maiket value of the ieal piopeities involveu, as stateu in the Tax Beclaiation oi the Zonal valuation of the BIR, whichevei is highei, oi the stateu value of the ieal piopeities. It is this value that shoulu be useu in computing foi uocket fees foi cases involving ieal piopeities. 1u
In the case of 8$( 2(9$4'(#/ 56 :9$(#,"(, the Couit laiu uown the geneial guiuelines with iegaiu to the payment of uocket fees, as follows:
1. It is not only the filing of the complaint oi initiatoiy pleauing but also the payment of the piesciibeu uocket fee that vests a couit with juiisuiction ovei the subject mattei oi natuie of the action. If filing is not accompanieu by payment, the couit may allow its payment within ieasonable time but in no case beyonu the applicable ieglementaiy peiiou. 2. This also applies to peimissive countei-claims, thiiu paity claims, anu similai pleauings. S. If plaintiff files the appiopiiate pleauing anu pays the coiiect uocket fee, but the couit awaius a claim not specifieu in the pleauing, oi the claim has been left foi the couit's ueteimination, the auuitional filing fee shall constitute a lien on the juugment. It is the Cleik of Couit's uuty to enfoice the lien anu collect the auuitional fee. 11
ueneially, couits auheie to the piinciple of stiict constiuction with iegaiu to the payment of uocket fees. Bowevei, the Couit has applieu this iule libeially upon a showing of willingness to abiue by the iules. 12
78%& .+ (//(2) :4'2/52,.2+& The geneial iule is that lack of juiisuiction may be iaiseu at any stage of the pioceeuing, even on appeal. This is because an eiioi of juiisuiction ienueis an oiuei oi juugment voiu oi voiuable. 1S Eiiois of juiisuiction aie ieviewable only by ceitioiaii. 14
Bowevei, this iule also aumits of exceptions, one of which is estoppel by laches, oi the uoctiine of "stale uemanus." In the case of 7,;'% 56 8,<"(=+'("1, the Couit explaineu laches as a "failuie oi neglect, foi an unieasonable anu unexplaineu length of time, to uo that which, by exeicising uue uiligence, coulu oi shoulu have been uone eailiei; it is negligence oi omission to asseit a iight within a ieasonable time, waiianting a piesumption that the paity entitleu to asseit it eithei has abanuoneu it oi ueclineu to asseit it." 1S
Laches is not a meie question of time, but a question of the inequity oi unfaiiness of peimitting a iight oi claim to be asseiteu. 16 Since it is against public policy to iaise the objection with iegaiu to juiisuiction so belateuly, couits will not allow such objection.
1u Ruby Sheltei v. Foimaian, u.R. No. 17S914, Febiuaiy 1u, 2uu9. 11 Sun Insuiance v. Asuncion, u.R. Nos. 799S7-799S8, Febiuaiy 1S, 1989. 12 Iu. 1S Feinanuo v. vasquez, u.R. No. L-26417, }anuaiy Su, 197u. 14 Iu. 1S Tijam v. Sibonghanoy, u.R. No. L-214Su, Apiil 1S, 1968. 16 Iu.
;# 34'2/52,.2+& +1 5211%'%&. ,+4'./
<4-'%=% *+4'. The juiisuiction of the Supieme Couit is piimaiily goveineu by S, Ait. vIII of the Constitution. 17 That piovision, as it ielates to the Supieme Couit's substantive subject mattei, anu limiteu to civil cases, gives the saiu Couit the powei to:
(1) Exeicise oiiginal juiisuiction ovei cases affecting ambassauois, othei public ministeis anu consuls, anu ovei petitions foi ceitioiaii, piohibition, manuamus, quo waiianto, anu habeas coipus. (2) Review, ievise, ieveise, mouify, oi affiim on appeal oi ceitioiaii, as the law oi the Rules of Couit may pioviue, final juugments anu oiueis of lowei couits in: (a) All cases in which the constitutionality oi valiuity of any tieaty, inteinational oi executive agieement, law, piesiuential ueciee, pioclamation, oiuei, instiuction, oiuinance, oi iegulation is in question. (b) All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, oi toll, oi any penalty imposeu in ielation theieto. (c) All cases in which the juiisuiction of any lowei couit is in issue. (u) All ciiminal cases in which the penalty imposeu is ieclusion peipetua oi highei. (e) All cases in which only an eiioi oi question of law is involveu. 18
It is impoitant to note, howevei, that if cases falling unuei subpaiagiaphs 2, (a)-(c) above involve questions of facts oi mixeu questions of fact anu of law, the aggiieveu paity shall appeal to the Couit of Appeals. 0nly when a final uecision fiom the lattei couit is appealeu fiom may the Supieme Couit then take cognizance of such cases. 19
The juiisuiction of the Supieme Couit is unique in that it is in laige pait gianteu by the Constitution. As such, the Supieme Couit's juiisuiction enjoys piotection in the foim of some limitations on the legislatuie's powei to uefine, piesciibe, anu appoition the juiisuiction of the vaiious couits, in that Congiess may not inciease the appellate juiisuiction without the Couit's auvice anu concuiience 2u , noi may it uepiive the Supieme Couit of its juiisuiction ovei cases enumeiateu in S, Ait. vIII 21 . By implication, howevei, if the Congiess has incieaseu the appellate juiisuiction of the Supieme Couit via a statute, it may subsequently iemove such auuitional appellate juiisuiction even without the auvice anu concuiience of the Supieme Couit.
"#$%&%'( )*+%*, An impoitant featuie of the juiisuiction of the Supieme Couit is its powei of juuicial ieview. This powei is gianteu in S(2)(a)(b) of the Constitution, anu incluues the uuty of
17 Consti, Ait. vIII, S. 18 Iu. 19 R.A. 296, "The }uuiciaiy Act of 1948," 17, as amenueu. It is impoitant to note that while BP 129 has iepealeu most of RA 296's piovisions, being inconsistent with the lattei, BP 129 has no piovisions as iegaius the Supieme Couit, anu so this piovision is still applicable. 2u Consti, Ait. vI, Su. 21 Consti, Ait. vIII, 2. the couits of justice to settle actual contioveisies involving iights which aie legally uemanuable anu enfoiceable, anu to ueteimine whethei oi not theie has been a giave abuse of uiscietion amounting to lack oi excess of juiisuiction on the pait of any bianch oi instiumentality of the uoveinment. 22
Bowevei, while this powei to ueciue on the constitutionality of laws, tieaties, etc. is vesteu in the Supieme Couit, 2S it may only be exeiciseu upon the concuiience of the ff. iequisites: 1. Theie must be an actual case oi contioveisy; 2. The question of constitutionality must be iaiseu by the piopei paity; S. The question must be iaiseu at the eailiest oppoitunity; 4. The ueteimination of the constitutionality of the statute is the -,9 %">' of the case. 24
0f these iequiiements, the iequiiement that a question be iaiseu at the eailiest oppoitunity is most peitinent to a uiscussion of the subject mattei juiisuiction of the Supieme Couit. As uiscusseu in */".-/ 56 ?/4'@ AB as a geneial iule, the question of constitutionality must be iaiseu at tiial anu, if not iaiseu in the tiial couit, will not be consiueieu on appeal. Thus, a question of constitutionality must have been iaiseu in pioceeuings in a lowei couit befoie being iaiseu, along with the iest of the issues, on appeal to the Supieme Couit. Bowevei, this iule aumits of ceitain exceptions. Wheie the statute being challengeu is one upon which the juiisuiction of a couit uepenus, the Couit may inquiie into its constitutionality. Fuithei, as the question of juiisuiction may oiuinaiily be iaiseu at any stage of the pioceeuings, the couit may take cognizance of lack of juiisuiction at any point in the case wheie that fact uevelopeu. Anothei exception is wheie the issue of constitutionality is of tianscenuental impoitance. While the geneial iule is that the Supieme Couit only exeicises appellate juiisuiction ovei cases involving constitutionality of laws, oiueis, etc., in some cases the Supieme Couit, in the exeicise of its uiscietion, has tieateu the petition as one foi piohibition, ovei which it has oiiginal juiisuiction 26 , in oiuei to pass upon the issue of constitutionality. 27
-.&(#/%+* 01%2%3'( "#1%/$%&4%536 78*&%'( 9%+%& :&4%53/ '2'%3/4 953/4%4#4%53'( 95;;%//%53/ '3$ 4<* 95#14 5= :88*'(/ The Supieme Couit has been gianteu oiiginal juiisuiction ovei the extiaoiuinaiy wiits of ceitioiaii, piohibition, anu manuamus by the Constitution. 28 Bowevei, in the exeicise of this juiisuiction, the Supieme Couit's exclusive oiiginal juiisuiction has been limiteu to the issuance of the saiu wiits ielative to actions oi pioceeuings befoie the Couit of Appeals oi befoie constitutional, oi othei tiibunals oi agencies whose acts, foi some ieason oi anothei, aie not contiollable by the Couit of Appeals. 29 This is uue to the
22 Consti, Ait. vIII, 1. 2S Consti, Ait. vIII, 1. 24 People v. veia, 6S Phil. S6 (19S7) 2S 6S Phil S6 (19S7) 26 Consti, Ait. vII, S(1) 27 Be la Llana v. Alba, 16S SCRA S71. 28 Consti, Ait. vIII, S. 29 Beiieia, C/%/),'- D'E (2uu7 eu.) 16u. Beieinaftei iefeiieu to as Beiieia. enactment of BP 129, as well as the piomulgation of the Reviseu Rules on Civil Pioceuuie anu juiispiuuence.
953*34 01%2%3'( "#1%/$%&4%53 The Supieme Couit's constitutional powei to issue the extiaoiuinaiy wiits of ceitioiaii, manuamus, piohibition, quo waiianto, anu habeas coipus has been maue concuiient with lowei couits by the enactment of BP 129. Thus, the Supieme Couit's powei to issue these wiits against the Regional Tiial Couits, the National Laboi Relations Commission, anu the Civil Seivice Commission, Couit of Tax Appeals, anu quasi-juuicial agencies is now concuiient with the Couit of Appeals. Noieovei, this powei has also been maue concuiient with both the Couit of Appeals anu the Regional Tiial Couits when exeiciseu against lowei couits anu othei bouies, anu in the issuance of the wiits of quo waiianto anu habeas coipus. Finally, the Supieme Couit's oiiginal juiisuiction ovei actions affecting ambassauois, public ministeis anu consuls has been maue concuiient with the Regional Tiial Couit. Bowevei, concuiience of juiisuiction uoes not mean that paities aie fiee to choose the couit with which to file a ceitain petition. As helu in the case of F4$G 56 H,;'4/9@ IJ while the juiisuiction may be concuiient, the hieiaichy of couits must still be iespecteu. Thus, wheie the petition lies against the Regional Tiial Couit, it is piopeily biought befoie the couit of Appeals. Special mention must be maue in two cases. Fiist, while the Supieme Couit has concuiient juiisuiction with the Couit of Appeals ovei petitions foi ceitioiaii against the National Laboi Relations Commission (NLRC), it has been helu in the case of 8>6 H'4>,( K$(/4'- L"%/ 56 F: that the petition foi ceitioiaii must be fileu with the Couit of Appeals, not the Supieme Couit. Seconu, as pioviueu by Section 4 of Rule 6S, petitions foi ceitioiaii against the Civil Seivice Commission, Cential Boaiu of Assessment Appeals, Couit of Tax Appeals, anu quasi-juuicial agencies must be fileu with the Couit of Appeals.
:88*(('4* "#1%/$%&4%53 The Supieme Couit has exclusive appellate juiisuiction ovei appeals via Petition foi ieview on ceitioiaii in accoiuance with Rule 4S fiom the Couit of Appeals anu the Sanuiganbayan. This juiisuiction is limiteu only to questions of law. The couit may also take cognizance of Special Civic Actions foi Ceitioiaii fiom the Commission on Elections anu the Commission on Auuit. Bowevei, appeals fiom the C0NELEC to the Supieme Couit must be a final uecision oi iesolution of the C0NELEC /( <'(#6 Thus, inteilocutoiy oiueis oi uecisions of a uivision of the C0NELEC aie not within the juiisuiction of the Supieme Couit. S1 The juiisuiction of the Supieme Couit ovei C0NELEC uecisions is fuithei limiteu to final uecisions within the juiisuiction of the C0NELEC, i.e. with ielation to election uisputes.
>8% *+4'. +1 "--%()/ The juiisuiction of the Couit of Appeals is goveineu by Section 9 of BP 129, as amenueu. This section pioviues:
Su u.R. No. 1S4464, Septembei 11, 2uu8. S1 Beiieia, at 1S7.
Section 9. }uiisuiction. - The Couit of Appeals shall Exeicise: 1. 0iiginal juiisuiction to issue wiits of manuamus, piohibition, ceitioiaii, habeas coipus, anu quo waiianto, anu auxiliaiy wiits oi piocesses, whethei oi not in aiu of its appellate juiisuiction; 2. Exclusive oiiginal juiisuiction ovei actions foi annulment of juugments of Regional Tiial Couits; anu S. Exclusive appellate juiisuiction ovei all final juugments, iesolutions, oiueis oi awaius of Regional Tiial Couits anu quasi-juuicial agencies, instiumentalities, boaius oi commission, incluuing the Secuiities anu Exchange Commission, the Social Secuiity Commission, the Employees Compensation Commission anu the Civil Seivice Commission, Except those falling within the appellate juiisuiction of the Supieme Couit in accoiuance with the Constitution, the Laboi Coue of the Philippines unuei Piesiuential Beciee No. 442, as amenueu, the piovisions of this Act, anu of subpaiagiaph (1) of the thiiu paiagiaph anu subpaiagiaph 4 of the fouith paiagiaph ou Section 17 of the }uuiciaiy Act of 1948. The Couit of Appeals shall have the powei to tiy cases anu conuuct heaiings, ieceive eviuence anu peifoim any anu all acts necessaiy to iesolve factual issues iaiseu in cases falling within its oiiginal anu appellate juiisuiction, incluuing the powei to giant anu conuuct new tiials oi Appeals must be continuous anu must be completeu within thiee (S) months, unless extenueu by the Chief }ustice. (as amenueu by R.A. No. 79u2.) S2
01%2%3'( "#1%/$%&4%53 The Couit of Appeals has exclusive oiiginal juiisuiction ovei annulment of juugments of the Regional Tiial Couits. Asiue fiom this exclusive juiisuiction, it shaies juiisuiction with the Supieme Couit anu the Regional Tiial Couit, as pieviously uiscusseu.
:88*(('4* "#1%/$%&4%53 The Couit of Appeals may take cognizance of appeals in two ways. Fiist, it may pass on appeals fiom the Regional Tiial Couit by meie notice of appeal in all civil cases. It may also take cognizance by notice of appeal in cases involving constitutional, tax, anu juiisuictional questions if the case also involves questions of facts. Finally, a notice of appeal is sufficient foi the Couit of Appeals to take cognizance of uecisions anu final oiueis of Family Couits. Seconu, appeals may be taken to the Couit of Appeals by a Petition foi Review. The couits anu bouies that may be appealeu fiom in this mannei aie the Civil Seivice Commission, the Regional Tiial Couit in the exeicise of its appellate juiisuiction, the Couit of Tax Appeals, anu the National Commission on Inuigenous Peoples.
:88*'(/ =15; >#'/%?"#$%&%'( :2*3&%*/ Bowevei, a question aiises as to when an appeal may be maue fiom a quasi-juuicial agency. The test to ueteimine wheie the appeal is to be maue is whethei the quasi-juuicial agency is consiueieu to be co-equal with the Regional Tiial Couits in teims of iank anu statuie. SS Typically, only those quasi-juuicial agencies whose uecisions aie expiessly maue
S2 BP 129, "The }uuicial Reoiganization Act of 198u." 9, as amenueu. SS Beiieia, at 17u. appealable to the Couit of Appeals by law will fall unuei the appellate juiisuiction of the Couit of Appeals. S4
In any case, in oiuei to invoke the exclusive appellate juiisuiction of the Couit of Appeals, theie must be a final oiuei oi iuling iesulting fiom pioceeuings wheie the auministiative bouy involveu exeiciseu its quasi-juuicial functions. SS 0n the othei hanu, when what is assaileu is not the iuling, but a iule oi iegulation issueu by the agency, the iegulai couits have juiisuiction. S6
>8% ?%@2+&() >'2() *+4'./ Piioi to the enactment of the }uuiciaiy Reoiganization Act (BP 129), the Regional Tiial Couits hau similai functions as the Couits of Fiist Instance. Cuiiently, unuei BP 129, theie aie 1S Regional Tiial Couits, one foi each juuicial iegion as uefineu in Sec. 1S. Sec. 14 fuithei appoitioneu the numbei of Regional Tiial Couit juuges pei bianch of each juuicial iegion. The Supieme Couit was given the authoiity to uefine the teiiitoiy ovei which a Regional Tiial Couit bianch shall exeicise its authoiity. This teiiitoiial juiisuiction shall be useu to ueteimine the venue of all suits, pioceeuings oi actions, as well as the lowei couits (Netiopolitan Tiial Couits, Nunicipal Tiial Couits anu Nunicipal Ciicuit Tiial Couits) ovei which saiu bianch may exeicise appellate juiisuiction. (Sec. 18, BP 129) While the oiiginal anu appellate juiisuictions of the Regional Tiial Couits aie uefineu in Secs. 19-22 of BP 129, Sec. 2S empoweis the Supieme Couit to uesignate ceitain Regional Tiial Couit bianches to exclusively hanule ciiminal cases, juvenile anu uomestic ielation cases, agiaiian cases, uiban lanu iefoim cases which uo not fall unuei the juiisuiction of quasi-juuicial bouies anu agencies, anu othei such special cases as the Supieme Couit may ueteimine in the inteiest of a speeuy anu efficient auministiation of justice. The bases foi the juiisuiction of the Regional Tiial Couits aie 1) the natuie of the action; 2) the value of the uemanu; oi S) the value of the piopeity involveu. S7
In C$99/--@ /> '-6@ 56 ?/9>,-@ /> '-6, the Couit helu that in ueteimining whethei an action is one the subject mattei of which is not capable of pecuniaiy estimation, the natuie of the piincipal action oi iemeuy sought must fiist be asceitaineu. If it is piimaiily foi the iecoveiy of a sum of money, the claim is consiueieu capable of pecuniaiy estimation, anu juiisuiction ovei the action will uepenu on the amount of the claim. Bowevei, wheie the basic issue is something othei than the iight to iecovei a sum of money, wheie the money claim is puiely inciuental to, oi a consequence of, the piincipal ielief sought,
S4 Iu. SS Lupangco v. CA,u.R. No. 77S72, Apiil 29, 1988. S6 Beiieia, at 172. S7 Beiieia, Remeuial Law vol. 1, p. 192. the action is one wheie the subject of the litigation may not be estimateu in teims of money, which is cognizable exclusively by Regional Tiial Couits. S8
Examples of actions wheie the subject was incapable of pecuniaiy estimation aie expiopiiation, specific peifoimance, suppoit, foieclosuie of moitgage, annulment of juugment, actions questioning the valiuity of a moitgage anu annulment of ueeu of conveyance. Bowevei, in ueteimining if the subject of the action is capable of pecuniaiy estimation, couits look at the allegations in complaint anu the chaiactei of the ielief sought. S9 Theiefoie, the Supieme Couit has iuleu that an action foi a bieach of contiact of lease 4u , complaint foi injunction of an application foi titling of lanu 41 , accion publiciana when the paities have conflicting claims of owneiship ovei a iesiuential lot 42 , specific peifoimance of a contiactual obligation to pay a uebt unuei specific conuitions 4S anu unlawful uetainei in which the complaint also piays that the piopeity involveu be foifeiteu in favoi of the plaintiff 44 weie all actions incapable of pecuniaiy estimation, anu theiefoie cognizable by Regional Tiial Couits.
Regaiuing the value of the uemanu oi the piopeity, the Automatic Expansion Clause in RA 7691 Sec. S incieaseu the amounts mentioneu in Secs. 19 (S), (4) anu (8) five yeais aftei the effectivity of the Republic Act (Apiil 1S, 1994).
S8 C')," F"%%$(,#'>,"(9 "M >+/ *+,-,..,(/9 5 F"$4> "M :../'-9, u.R. No. 1S61u9, August 1, 2uu2. S9 Iu. 4u Iu. 41 N"O,(=" 5 F"$4> "M :../'-9, u.R. No. 1617S9, Nay 4, 2uu6. 42 C/1/9 5 8>' H'4,', u.R. No. L-SS21S, }une 29, 1979. 4S P4>,='9 Q F" 5 L/44/4', u.R. No. S6u88, }anuaiy21, 198S. 44 P4>,='9 Q F" 5 F"$4> "M :../'-9, u.R. No. S2488, }uly 2S, 1981. The exclusion of "uamages of whatevei kinu" in Sec. 19 (8) applieu to "cases wheie the uamages aie meiely inciuental to oi a consequence of the main cause of action. Bowevei, in cases wheie the claim foi uamages is the main cause of action, oi one of the causes of action, the amount of such claim shall be consiueieu in ueteimining the juiisuiction of the couit." 4S
The powei of juuicial ieview of oiueis oi iesolutions of quasi-juuicial oi auministiative bouies exeicising iegulatoiy oi auministiative functions may be exeiciseu by the Regional Tiial Couits whenevei the law uoes not expiessly pioviue that they aie appealable to the Supieme Couit of Couit of Appeals. 46
A%.'+-+)2.(& >'2() *+4'./B A4&2,2-() >'2() *+4'./B A4&2,2-() *2',42. >'2() *+4'./ The juiisuiction of the Netiopolitan Tiial Couits, Nunicipal Tiial Couits, anu Nunicipal Ciicuit Tiial Couits aie piimaiily goveineu by SS of BP 129, as amenueu by RA 7691. That piovision states:
4S Supieme Couit Auministiative Ciiculai No. u9-94, 14 }une 1994. 46 Beiieia, at p. 19S.
Section SS. }uiisuiction of Netiopolitan Tiial Couits, Nunicipal Tiial Couits anu Nunicipal Ciicuit Tiial Couits in civil cases. - Netiopolitan Tiial Couits, Nunicipal Tiial Couits, anu Nunicipal Ciicuit Tiial Couits shall exeicise: (1) Exclusive oiiginal juiisuiction ovei civil actions anu piobate pioceeuings, testate anu intestate, incluuing the giant of piovisional iemeuies in piopei cases, wheie the value of the peisonal piopeity, estate, oi amount of the uemanu uoes not exceeu Thiee hunuieu thousanu pesos (PSuu,uuu.uu) oi, in Netio Nanila wheie such peisonal piopeity, estate, oi amount of the uemanu uoes not exceeu Foui hunuieu thousanu pesos (P4uu,uuu.uu) exclusive of inteiest uamages of whatevei kinu, attoiney's fees, litigation expenses, anu costs, the amount of which must be specifically allegeu: Pioviueu, That wheie theie aie seveial claims oi causes of action between the same oi uiffeient paities, embouieu in the same complaint, the amount of the uemanu shall be the totality of the claims in all the causes of action, iiiespective of whethei the causes of action aiose out of the same oi uiffeient tiansactions; (2) Exclusive oiiginal juiisuiction ovei cases of foicible entiy anu unlawful uetainei: Pioviueu, That when, in such cases, the uefenuant iaises the question of owneiship in his pleauings anu the question of possession cannot be iesolveu without ueciuing the issue of owneiship, the issue of owneiship shall be iesolveu only to ueteimine the issue of possession. (S) Exclusive oiiginal juiisuiction in all civil actions which involve title to, oi possession of, ieal piopeity, oi any inteiest theiein wheie the assesseu value of the piopeity oi inteiest theiein uoes not exceeu Twenty thousanu pesos (P2u,uuu.uu) oi, in civil actions in Netio Nanila, wheie such assesseu value uoes not exceeu Fifty thousanu pesos (PSu,uuu.uu) exclusive of inteiest, uamages of whatevei kinu, attoiney's fees, litigation expenses anu costs: Pioviueu, That value of such piopeity shall be ueteimineu by the assesseu value of the aujacent lots. (as amenueu by R.A. No. 7691) 47
Section S4 of the same act also states:
Section S4. Belegateu juiisuiction in cauastial anu lanu iegistiation cases. - Netiopolitan Tiial Couits, Nunicipal Tiial Couits, anu Nunicipal Ciicuit Tiial Couits may be assigneu by the Supieme Couit to heai anu ueteimine cauastial oi lanu iegistiation cases coveiing lots wheie theie is no contioveisy oi opposition, oi contesteu lots the wheie the value of which uoes not exceeu 0ne hunuieu thousanu pesos (P1uu,uuu.uu), such value to be asceitaineu by the affiuavit of the claimant oi by agieement of the iespective claimants if theie aie moie than one, oi fiom the coiiesponuing tax ueclaiation of the ieal piopeity. Theii uecisions in these cases shall be appealable in the same mannei as uecisions of the Regional Tiial Couits. (as amenueu by R.A. No. 7691) 48
-.&(#/%+* 01%2%3'( "#1%/$%&4%53 As pioviueu by Section SS of BP 129, the Nunicipal anu Netiopolitan Tiial Couits have exclusive oiiginal ovei the following cases:
47 BP 129, SS, as amenueu. 48 Iu, S4. 1. Actions involving peisonal piopeity valueu at not moie than PSuu,uuu oi P4uu,uuu in Netio Nanila 2. Actions uemanuing sums of money not exceeuing PSuu,uuu oi P4uu,uuu in Netio Nanila S. Actions involving title oi possession of ieal piopeity wheie the assesseu value uoes not exceeu P2u,uuu oi PSu,uuu in Netio Nanila. Section SS of the same act gives these couits a special juiisuiction to heai anu ueciue petitions foi the issuance of a wiit of habeas coipus in the absence of all Regional Tiial }uuges in a piovince oi city. Neanwhile, Section S6 theieof gives the Netiopolitan anu Nunicipal Tiial Couits juiisuiction ovei cases coveieu by the Reviseu Rules of Summaiy Pioceuuie. Thus, these couits have juiisuiction ovei: 1. Foicible entiy anu unlawful uetainei actions, iiiespective of the amount of uamages oi unpaiu ientals sought to be iecoveieu. 2. 0thei civil cases, except piobate pioceeuings, wheie the total claim uoes not exceeu P1uu,uuu oi P2uu,uuu in Netio Nanila. With iegaiu to ejectment suits, the couits only have juiisuiction to iesolve the issues of owneiship when necessaiy to ueteimine the issue of possession, anu wheie attoiney's fees aie to be awaiueu, they shall not exceeu P2u,uuu. In these cases, what is impoitant is the allegations maue in the complaint, which shoulu not involve issues of owneiship oi of possession foi longei than 1 yeai. 49
In auuition, AN No. u8-8-7-SC, "The Rule of Pioceuuie foi Small Claims Cases" gives the Nunicipal Tiial Couit juiisuiction ovei the puiely civil actions of sepaiate civil actions in ciiminal cases wheie the value of the claim uoes not exceeu P1uu,uuu. Taking this in haimony with Section 19 of BP 129 goveining the juiisuiction of the Regional Tiial Couits, the Nunicipal anu Netiopolitan Tiial Couits have exclusive oiiginal juiisuiction ovei: 1. Piobate pioceeuings, testate oi intestate, wheie gioss value of the estate uoes not exceeu PSuu,uuu oi P4uu,uuu in Netio Nanila 2. Aumiialty anu Naiitime cases wheie the uemanu oi claim uoes not exceeu PSuu,uuu oi P4uu,uuu in Netio Nanila Finally, the municipal anu metiopolitan couits may issue piovisional iemeuies in cases within theii juiisuiction, incluuing wiits of pieliminaiy attachment anu pieliminaiy injunction. Su
W5, :;5#34/ 9'(&#('4*$ In ueteimining the juiisuictional amount in civil cases, the totality of the claims must be consiueieu. S1 The test of juiisuiction is the aggiegate sum of all the money uemanus, exclusive only of inteiest anu costs, iiiespective of whethei oi not the sepaiate claims aie oweu by oi uue to uiffeient paities. If any uemanu is foi uamages in a civil action, the amount theieof must be specifically allegeu.
49 Reyes v. Sta. Naiia, u.R. No. L-SS21S, }une 29, 1979; 0itigas & Co. v. CA, u.R. No. S2488, }uly 2S, 1981; Neia v. vacante, u.R. No. L-1S72S. Su Beiieia, at 2SS. S1 Beiieia, at 229.. An impoitant uiscussion is the exclusion of uamages, as pioviueu in BP 129. S2 The Supieme Couit, in an Auministiative Ciiculai, claiifieu that the exclusion only applies to cases wheie the uamages aie meiely inciuental to oi a consequence of the main cause of action. Bowevei, wheie the claim foi uamages is the main cause of action, oi one the causes of action, the amount of such claim will be consiueieu in ueteimining the juiisuiction of the couit. SS
S*(*2'4*$ "#1%/$%&4%53 5+*1 9'$'/41'( '3$ X'3$ )*2%/41'4%53 9'/*/ Section S4 of BP 129 alloweu the Supieme Couit to uelegate to the Nunicipal anu Netiopolitan Tiial Couits juiisuiction ovei cauastial anu lanu iegistiation cases so assigneu by the Supieme Couit wheie theie is no contioveisy oi opposition oi, wheie lanu is contesteu, the value uoes not exceeu P1uu,uuu. The Supieme Couit uelegateu such juiisuiction on Nov. 1S, 199S thiough Supieme Couit Ciiculai No. 6-9S. S4
<-%,2()2C%5 *+4'./
:A Y';%(D 95#14/
Sec. 19 (7) of BP 129 vesteu the Regional Tiial Couit with juiisuiction ovei all civil actions anu pioceeuings falling within the exclusive anu oiiginal juiisuiction of the }uvenile anu Bomestic Relations Couit. Sec. S establisheu Family Couits in eveiy piovince anu city in the countiy. This iesuiiecteu the foimei }uvenile anu Bomestic Relations Couit. SS
The Family Couits have the following exclusive oiiginal juiisuiction, baseu on BP 129 as amenueu by RA 8S69:
1. Petitions foi guaiuianship, custouy of chiluien, +'</'9 #"4.$9 in ielation to the lattei. 2. Petitions foi auoption of chiluien anu the ievocation theieof. S. Complaints foi annulment of maiiiage, ueclaiation of nullity of maiiiage anu those ielating to maiital status anu piopeity ielations of husbanu anu wife oi those living togethei unuei uiffeient status anu agieements, anu petitions foi uissolution of conjugal paitneiship of gains. 4. Actions foi suppoit anu acknowleugment. S. Summaiy juuicial pioceeuings biought unuei the Family Coue of the Philippines (E0 2u9). 6. Petitions foi ueclaiation of status of chiluien as abanuoneu, uepenuent oi neglecteu chiluien, petitions foi voluntaiy oi involuntaiy commitment of chiluien; the suspension, teimination oi iestoiation of paiental authoiity anu othei cases iecognizable unuei PB 6uS, E0 S6 (Seiies of 1986), anu othei ielateu laws. 7. Petitions foi the constitution of the family home.
S2 BP 129, SS(1) SS Auministiative Ciiculai u9-94, }une 14, 1994 S4 Supieme Couit Ciiculai No. 6-9S, Nov. 1S, 199S. SS Beiieia, at p. 2u7.
Becisions of Family Couits aie appealable to oiuinaiy Regional Tiial Couits. S6
The Supieme Couit has helu that RA 8S69 uiu not uivest the Supieme Couit oi Couit of Appeals of theii juiisuiction ovei petitions foi +'</'9 #"4.$9 involving custouy of minois. S7 Rathei, the Family Couit has concuiient juiisuiction with these two couits, as stateu in Auministiative Nattei No. uS-uS-u4-SC. If the petition foi +'</'9 #"4.$9 is fileu with the Family Couit, it shall be enfoiceable within the juuicial iegion to which the Family Couit belongs, while the wiit if gianteu by the Supieme Couit oi the Couit of Appeals shall be enfoiceable anywheie in the Philippines, anu may be maue ietuinable to the Family Couit oi any iegulai couit wheie the petitionei iesiues oi the minoi may be founu. S8
0nuei Auministiative Nattei No. u2-11-1u-SC, petitions foi ueclaiation of absolute nullity of voiu maiiiages anu annulment of voiuable maiiiages unuei the Family Coue shall be fileu in the Family Couit S9 . The venue shall be the Family Couit of the piovince oi city wheie the petitionei oi iesponuent has been iesiuing foi at least six months piioi to the uate of filing. 6u Similaily, petitions foi legal sepaiation shall be fileu in the Family Couit. 61
The Family Couit may also issue the following piovisional anu piotection oiueis upon ieceipt of a veiifieu petition foi ueclaiation of absolute nullity of voiu maiiiage oi foi annulment of voiuable maiiiage, oi foi legal sepaiation: holu uepaituie oiuei auuiesseu to the Buieau of Immigiation anu Bepoitation uiiecting it not to allow the uepaituie of a chilu of the paities to the petition fiom the Philippines without the peimission of the couit 62 , oiueis of piotection on the chilu's behalf 6S oi piovision oiueis appointing the applicant oi a thiiu peison as ieceivei oi sole auministiatoi of the common piopeity when a spouse without just cause abanuons the othei oi fails to comply with his oi hei obligations to the family. 64
;# *+==%',2() *+4'./
Sec. S.2 of the Secuiities Regulation Coue, oi RA 8799, tiansfeis the juiisuiction of the Secuiities anu Exchange Commission ovei cases enumeiateu unuei PB 9u2-A Sec. S to the Regional Tiial Couit, the bianches exeicising which juiisuiction shall be uesignateu by the Supieme Couit. PB 9u2-A Sec. S states:
Sec. S. In auuition to the iegulatoiy anu aujuuicative functions of the Secuiities anu Exchange Commission ovei coipoiations, paitneiships anu othei foims of associations iegisteieu with it as expiessly gianteu unuei existing laws anu ueciees, it shall have oiiginal anu exclusive juiisuiction to heai anu ueciue cases involving.
S6 Sec. 14, RA 8S69. S7 7+"4(>"( 5 7+"4(>"(, u.R. No. 1S4S98, August 16, 2uu4. S8 AN No uS-uS-u4-SC, Sec. 2u. S9 AN No u2-11-1u-SC, Secs. 2(b) anu S(b). 6u Iu., Sec. 4. 61 AN No u2-11-11-SC. 62 Iu., Sec. 6. 6S Iu., Sec. 7. 64 Iu., Sec. 8. (a) Bevices oi schemes employeu by oi any acts, of the boaiu of uiiectois, business associates, its officeis oi paitneiship, amounting to fiauu anu misiepiesentation which may be uetiimental to the inteiest of the public anuoi of the stockholuei, paitneis, membeis of associations oi oiganizations iegisteieu with the Commission; (b) Contioveisies aiising out of intia-coipoiate oi paitneiship ielations, between anu among stockholueis, membeis, oi associates; between any oi all of them anu the coipoiation, paitneiship oi association of which they aie stockholueis, membeis oi associates, iespectively; anu between such coipoiation, paitneiship oi association anu the state insofai as it conceins theii inuiviuual fianchise oi iight to exist as such entity; anu (c) Contioveisies in the election oi appointments of uiiectois, tiustees, officeis oi manageis of such coipoiations, paitneiships oi associations.
Bowevei, RA 8799 Sec. S.2 fuithei pioviueu that the Commission shall ietain juiisuiction ovei penuing cases involving intia-coipoiate uisputes submitteu foi final iesolution which shoulu be iesolveu within one yeai fiom the enactment the Coue. It shall also ietain juiisuiction ovei penuing suspension of paymentiehabilitation cases fileu as of }une Su, 2uuu, until finally uisposeu. The Supieme Couit issueu AN No u1-2-u4-SC on Naich 1S, 2uu1, on the inteiim iules of pioceuuie goveining intia-coipoiate contioveisies unuei RA 8799. Apait fiom the cases enumeiateu unuei PB 9u2-A Sec. S, the iules also covei ueiivative suits anu inspection of coipoiate books. The venue foi these actions shall be the Regional Tiial Couit which has juiisuiction ovei the piincipal office of the coipoiation, paitneiship oi association conceineu. If the piincipal office is iegisteieu in the Secuiities anu Exchange Commission as Netio Nanila, the action must be fileu in the city oi municipality wheie the heau office is locateu. 6S
The Couit fuithei claiifieu in AN No u4-9-u7-SC the moue of appeal in cases foimeily cognizable by the Secuiities anu Exchange Commission. It iesolveu that all uecisions anu final oiueis in cases falling unuei the Inteiim Rules of Coipoiate Rehabilitation anu the Inteiim Rules of Pioceuuie uoveining Intia-Coipoiate Contioveisies unuei RA 8799 shall be appealable to the Couit of Appeals thiough a petition foi ieview unuei Rules of Couit Rule 4S within 1S uays fiom notice of the uecision oi final oiuei of the Regional Tiial Couit. 66
9A V34*((*&4#'( G158*14D 95#14/
0nuei AN No u2-1-u6-SC, an application foi the wiit of seaich anu seizuie in civil actions foi infiingement of intellectual piopeity iights unuei RA 829S shall be fileu with any of the Regional Tiial Couits of the juuicial iegion uesignateu to tiy violations of intellectual piopeity iights stationeu at the place wheie the allegeu violation occuiieu oi is to occui. Bowevei, when the complaint foi infiingement hau alieauy been fileu, the application shall be maue in the couit wheie the case is penuing. 67
6S AN No u1-2-u4-SC, Rule 1 Sec. S. 66 AN No u4-9-u7-SC 67 AN No u2-1-u6-SC, Sec. S. The Couit in AN No uS-uS-uS-SC uesignateu Regional Couits pieviously uesignateu as SEC Couits in AN No uu-11-uS-SC, AN No u1-S-298-RTC anu AN No u1-12-6S6-RTC as Special Commeicial Couits to tiy anu ueciue cases involving violations of intellectual piopeity iights which fall within the juiisuiction anu those cases foimeily cognizable by the Secuiities anu Exchange Commission. It also ievokeu the uesignation of Intellectual Piopeity Couits unuei Auministiative 0iuei No 11S-9S, as amenueu, anu AN No u2-1-11- SC. All intellectual piopeity cases shall be tiansfeiieu to the uesignateu Special Commeicial Couits upon }uly 1, 2uuS, when the Supieme Couit iesolution was to take effect.
D.8%' .'2E4&()/ (&5 (@%&,2%/ The juiisuiction of quasi-juuicial tiibunals, oi agencies exeicising quasi-juuicial poweis, aie geneially goveineu by the laws that cieateu them.
7*%4%*/ '3$ -.&<'32* 95;;%//%53 Z7-9[ Section S.1(a) pioviues that the SEC shall have "juiisuiction anu supeivision ovei all coipoiations, paitneiships oi associations who aie the giantees of piimaiy fianchises anuoi a license oi a peimit issueu by the uoveinment." 68
In auuition to this, Section S of PB 9u2-A pioviues that the SEC shall have oiiginal anu exclusive juiisuiction to heai anu ueciue cases involving any of the following:
a) Bevices anu schemes employeu by oi any acts, of the boaiu of uiiectois, business associates, its officeis oi paitneis, amounting to fiauu anu misiepiesentation which may be uetiimental to the inteiest of the public anuoi the stockholueis, paitneis, membeis of associations oi oiganizations iegisteieu with the Commission; b) Contioveisies aiising out of intia-coipoiate oi paitneiship ielations, between anu among stockholueis, membeis oi associates; between any oi all of them anu the coipoiation, paitneiship, oi association of which they aie stockholueis, membeis oi associates, iespectively; anu between such coipoiation, paitneiship oi association anu the state insofai as it conceins theii inuiviuual fianchise oi iight to exist as such entity; c) Contioveisies in the election oi appointments of uiiectois, tiustees, officeis oi manageis of such coipoiations, paitneiships oi associations. 69
In the case of 0nion ulass & Containei Coip. v. SEC, the Couit explaineu that "auministiative agencies, like the SEC, aie tiibunals of limiteu juiisuiction anu, as such, coulu wielu only such poweis as aie specifically gianteu to them by theii enabling statutes." 7u In effect, the Couit helu that the enumeiation is an exclusive list, anu anything outsiue of the list consequently falls outsiue of the SEC's juiisuiction.
\'4%53'( X'B51 )*('4%53/ 95;;%//%53 Z\X)9[ Aiticle 217 of the Laboi Coue pioviues foi the juiisuiction of the Laboi Aibiteis of the NLRC. Accoiuing to the saiu piovision, the Laboi Aibitei has oiiginal anu exclusive
68 RA 8799, S.1 69 PB 9u2-A, S 7u 0nion ulass & Containei Coip. v. SEC, u.R. No. L-64u1S, Novembei 28, 198S. juiisuiction ovei the following cases involving all woikeis, whethei agiicultuial oi non- agiicultuial:
0nfaii laboi piactice cases; Teimination uisputes; If accompanieu with a claim foi ieinstatement, those cases that woikeis may file involving wages, iates of pay, houis of woik anu othei teims anu conuitions of employment; Claims foi actual, moial, exemplaiy anu othei foims of uamages aiising fiom the employei-employee ielations; Cases aiising fiom any violation of Aiticle 264 of this Coue, incluuing questions involving the legality of stiikes anu lockouts; anu Except claims foi Employees Compensation, Social Secuiity, Neuicaie anu mateinity benefits, all othei claims aiising fiom employei-employee ielations, incluuing those of peisons in uomestic oi householu seivice, involving an amount exceeuing five thousanu pesos (PS,uuu.uu) iegaiuless of whethei accompanieu with a claim foi ieinstatement. 71
The same piovision states that the NLRC has "exclusive appellate juiisuiction ovei all cases ueciueu by Laboi Aibiteis."
V3/#1'3&* 95;;%//%53 ZV9[ The juiisuiction of the Insuiance Commissionei is pioviueu in Section 416 of the Insuiance Coue, which states, in pait:
Section 416. The Commissionei shall have the powei to aujuuicate claims anu complaints involving any loss, uamage oi liability foi which in insuiei may be answeiable unuei any kinu of policy oi contiact of insuiance, oi foi which such insuiei may be liable unuei a contiact of suietyship, oi foi which a ieinsuiei may be sueu unuei any contiact of ieinsuiance it may have enteieu into; oi foi which a mutual benefit association may be helu liable unuei the membeiship ceitificates it has issueu to its membeis, wheie the amount of any such loss, uamage oi liability, excluuing inteiest, cost anu attoiney's fees, being claimeu oi sueu upon any kinu of insuiance, bonu, ieinsuiance contiact, oi membeiship ceitificate uoes not exceeu in any single claim one hunuieu thousanu pesos. 72
-3*12D )*2#('451D 95;;%//%53 Z-)9[ Section 4S(v) of RA 91S6 pioviues the ERC's juiisuiction ovei cases. The saiu piovision states:
(v) The ERC shall have the oiiginal anu exclusive juiisuiction ovei all cases contesting iates, fees, fines anu penalties imposeu by the ERC in the exeicise of the abovementioneu poweis, functions anu iesponsibilities anu ovei all cases involving
71 PB 442, Ait. 217 72 PB 612, 416 uisputes between anu among paiticipants oi playeis in the eneigy sectoi. All notices of heaiings to be conuucteu by the ERC foi the puipose of fixing iates oi fees shall be publisheu at least twice foi two successive weeks in two (2) newspapeis of nationwiue ciiculation. 7S
F(.('4&@(&@ G(=E('(&@(H
The Reviseu Auministiative Coue (RA 716u) cieateu the lupong tagapamayapa, oi lupon, in each baiangay, which shall be composeu of the punong baiangay as chaiiman anu 1u to 2u membeis who aie peisons actually iesiuing oi woiking in the baiangay who aie not otheiwise uisqualifieu by law 74 . Among the functions of the lupon as enumeiateu in Sec. 4u2 is to exeicise auministiative supeivision ovei the conciliation panels, known as the pangkat ng tagapagkasunuo. The lupon shall have the authoiity to biing togethei the paities of a uispute actually iesiuing in the same city oi municipality foi amicable settlement, with exceptions. 7S Conciliation befoie the lupon is a pieconuition to filing the complaint, petition, action oi pioceeuing in couit oi any othei goveinment office. In Auministiative Ciiculai No. 14-6S, the Supieme Couit claiifieu the iules on baiangay conciliation. It enumeiateu the following exceptions to the iequiiement that all uisputes be subjecteu to baiangay conciliation:
1. Wheie one of the paities is the goveinment oi any subuivision oi instiumentality theieof. 2. Wheie one paity is a public officei oi employee anu the uispute is ielateu to the peifoimance of official functions. S. Wheie the uispute involves ieal piopeities locateu in uiffeient cities oi municipalities unless paities agiee to submit uiffeience to amicable settlement by an appiopiiate lupon. 4. Wheie the complaint is against a coipoiation, paitneiship, juiiuical entities; as only inuiviuual paities may be subjecteu to baiangay conciliation. S. Wheie the paities iesiue in baiangays in uiffeient city municipality except when they agiee to submit theii uiffeience to amicable settlement by an appiopiiate lupon. 6. Wheie it involves offenses wheie the law piesciibes a maximum penalty of impiisonment exceeuing one yeai oi a fine ovei PS,uuu. 7. Wheie theie is no piivate offenueu paity. 8. Wheie uigent legal action is necessaiy to pievent injustice fiom being committeu: a. Ciiminal cases wheie the accuseu is unuei police custouy oi uetention. b. Babeas coipus c. Actions which involve piovisional iemeuies u. Actions which may be baiieu by statute of limitations 9. Wheie the Piesiuent may ueteimine in the inteiest of justice oi upon iecommenuation of the Bepaitment of }ustice.
7S RA 91S6, 4S 74 RA 716u, Sec. S99. 7S Iu, Sec. 4u8. 1u. Bisputes aiising fiom the Compiehensive Agiaiian Refoim Law. 11. Laboi uisputes aiising fiom employei -employee ielations. 12. Actions to annul juugment unuei a compiomise .
Actions fileu in couits that uo not show compliance with baiangay conciliation may be uismisseu foi failuie to state a cause of action oi piematuiity. As the lupong tagapamayapa is vesteu with conciliation functions anu is not a couit of law 76 , the action shoulu not be uismisseu foi lack of juiisuiction. Baiangay conciliation is not a juiisuictional iequiiement. 77