JURISDICTION REVIEWER
all criminal cases in which the penalty
Supreme Court (SC)
1) Original Jurisdiction over cases affecting
ambassadors, other public ministers and
consuls, and over petitions for certiorari,
prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto and
habeas corpus.
2) Appelate Jurisdiction to review, revise,
reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or
certiorari final judgments and order of lower
courts in:
i. 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;
ii. cases involving the legality of any tax,
impost, assessment, or toll, or any
penalty imposed in relation thereto;
iii. cases involving the jurisdiction of lower
courts;
iv.
imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher;
and
v. all cases in which only an error or
question of law is involved.
Court of Appeals (CA)
1) Exclusive Original Jurisdiction over
actions for annulment of judgments of
Regional Trial Courts;
2) 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; and
3) Exclusive Appellate Jurisdiction over all
final judgements, resolutions, orders or
awards of Regional Trial Courts and quasi-
judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or
commission, Except those falling within the
appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in
accordance with the Constitution, and the
Labor Code.
Regional Trial Courts (RTC)
Exclusive Original Jurisdiction
1) civil actions in which the subject of the
litigation is incapable of pecuniary
estimation;
2) civil actions which involve the title to, or
possession of, real property, or any interest
therein, where the assessed value of the
property involved exceeds P20,000 (or
P50,000 in Metro Manila);
3) actions in admiralty and maritime
jurisdiction where the demand or claim
exceeds P300,000 (or P400,000.00 in Metro
Manila);
Original Jurisdiction
4) matters of probate, both testate and
intestate, where the gross value of the estate
exceeds P300,000 (or P400,000 in Metro
Manila);
5) actions involving the contract of marriage and
marital relations in areas where there are no
Family Courts;
6) cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of
any court, tribunal, person or body exercising
jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or
body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial
functions;
7) civil actions and special proceedings falling
within the exclusive original jurisdiction of a
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and of
the Court of Agrarian Relations as now
provided by law;
8) intra-corporate controversies; and
9) all other cases in which the demand,
exclusive of interest, damages of whatever
kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and
costs or the value of the property in
controversy exceeds P300,000 (or P400,000
in Metro Manila).
1) issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition,
mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus
and injunction which may be enforced in any
part of their respective regions; and
2) actions affecting ambassadors and other
public ministers and consuls.
Appellate Jurisdiction
1) all cases decided by lower courts in their
respective territorial jurisdiction.
Metropolitan Trial Courts (MTC)
Delegated Jurisdiction
Exclusive Original Jurisdiction
1) actions involving personal property where the
value of the property does not exceed
P300,000 (or P400,000 in Metro Manila);
2) actions for claim of money where the demand
does not exceed P300,000 (or P400,000 in
Metro Manila);
interest therein does not exceed P20,000.00
(or P50,000 in Metro Manila; and
7) cases falling under the 1991 Rules on
Summary Procedure and the Rule of
Procedure for Small Claims Cases;
1) cadastral and land registration cases covering
lots where:
i. there is no controversy or opposition;
or
ii. contested lots the value of which does
not exceed P100,000.

3) maritime claims where the demand or claim Special Jurisdiction

does not exceed P300,000 (or P400,000 in
Metro Manila); 1) petitions for a writ of habeas corpus in the
absence of all the Regional Trial Court judges
4) probate proceedings, testate or intestate, in the province or city.
where the value of the estate does not exceed
P300,000 (or P400,000 in Metro Manila);

5) cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer;

6) actions which involve title to, or possession

of, real property, or any interest therein
where the assessed value of the property or
What is Jurisdiction?
It is the power and authority of a court to try, hear,
and decide a case.
How is Jurisdiction over the Plaintiff acquired?
It is acquired from the moment of filing of the
complaint, petition or initiatory pleading.
How is Jurisdiction over the Defendant
acquired?
It is acquired either:
i. by his voluntary appearance in court and his
submission to its authority;
ii. by service of summons; or
iii. other coercive process upon him.
What is the Doctrine of Primary Jurisdiction?
Courts will not resolve a controversy involving a
question which is within the jurisdiction of an
administrative tribunal, especially where the
question demands the exercise of sound
administrative discretion requiring the special
knowledge and experience of said tribunal in
determining technical and intricate matters of fact
(Villaflor v. CA, G.R. No. 95694, Oct. 9, 1997).
What is the Doctrine of Ancillary Jurisdiction?
It involves the inherent or implied powers of the
court to determine issues incidental to the exercise
of its primary jurisdiction.
What is the Doctrine of Adherence to
Jurisdiction (Continuity of Jurisdction)?
Jurisdiction, once attached, cannot be ousted by
subsequent happenings or events although of a
character which would have prevented jurisdiction
from attaching in the first instance, and the court
retains jurisdiction until it finally disposes of the
case.
What is the Totality Rule?
Under the totality rule, where there are several
claims or causes of actions between the same or
different parties, embodied in the same complaint,
the amount of the demand shall be the totality of
the claims in all the causes of action, irrespective of
whether the causes of action arose out of the same
or different transactions (Sec. 33[1], B.P. 129, as
amended)
What is the Omnibus Motion Rule?
When a motion to dismiss is filed, all the objections
or defenses available to the movant, at the time of
the filing of the same, shall be invoked. Those not
invoked despite their unavailability, shall be
deemed waived.