BRIEF BACKGROUND

The

Constitution

The Constitution of the Philippines ordains that judicial power shall be

vested in one Supreme Court and such lower courts as may be
established by law. [Section 1, Art. VIII, 1987 Constitution).
The

Law

Under Philippine laws [Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (Batas

Pambansa Bilang 129) which took effect on January 18, 1983 and other
laws] the Philippine judicial system consists of the following courts:
chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Lower

Courts

I. Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts

Every municipality in the Philippines has its own Municipal Trial Court.
It is referred to as such if it covers only one municipality; otherwise, it
is called Municipal Circuit Trial Court if it covers two or more
municipalities.
II. Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial Courts in Cities
Municipal Trial Courts in the towns and cities in the Metropolitan Manila
area, as distinguished from the other political subdivisions in the
Philippines, are referred to as Metropolitan Trial Courts.
In cities outside Metropolitan Manila, the equivalent of the Municipal
Trial Courts are referred to as Municipal Trial Courts in Cities.
III.

Regional

Trial

Courts

Regional Trial Courts were established among the thirteen regions in the
Philippines consisting of Regions I to XII and the National Capital Region
(NCR). There are as many Regional Trial Courts in each region as the
law
mandates.
IV.

Shari'a

Courts

Equivalent to the Regional Trial Courts in rank are the Shari'a District
Courts which were established in certain specified provinces in
Mindanao where the Muslim Code on Personal Laws is being enforced.
Equivalent to the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts are the Shari'a Circuit
Courts which were established in certain municipalities in Mindanao.
There are five Shari'a District Courts and fifty one Shari'a Circuit Courts
in
existence.
V.

Court

of

Tax

Appeals

A special court, the Court of Tax Appeals, composed of a Presiding

Judge and two Associate Judges, is vested with the exclusive appellate
jurisdiction over appeals from the decisions of the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue and the Commissioner of Customs on certain specific
issues.
VI.

Sandiganbayan

A special court, the Sandiganbayan, composed of a Presiding Justice

and eight Associate Justices, has exclusive jurisdiction over violations of
the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act [Republic Act No. 3019], the
Unexplained Wealth Act [Republic Act No. 1379] and other crimes or
felonies committed by public officials and employees in relation to their
office, including those employees in government-owned or controlled
corporations.
VII.

Court

of

Appeals

The Court of Appeals, composed of one Presiding Justice and sixty eight
Associate Justices is vested with jurisdiction over appeals from the
decisions of the Regional Trial Courts and certain quasi-judicial
agencies,
boards
or
commissions.
The

Highest

Court

Supreme

Court

The Supreme Court is the highest Court in the Philippines. There is

only one Supreme Court composed of one Chief Justice and fourteen
Associate Justices. It is the final arbiter of any and all judicial issues.
When so deciding, it may sit en banc or in divisions of three, five or

seven members.