Criminal Procedure Assignment
1. How jurisdiction over the subject matter is conferred?
- Jurisdiction over a subject matter is conferred by the Constitution or the law, and rules of procedure yield to
substantive law. Otherwise stated, jurisdiction must exist as a matter of law. Only a statute can confer
jurisdiction on courts and administrative agencies.
- Subject matter jurisdiction is a court's or tribunal's power to hear and determine cases of a general class or
type relating to specific subject matters. This jurisdiction is conferred by law.
*What is an example of jurisdiction over the subject matter?
-Subject matter jurisdiction is the authority of a court to hear a case based on the type of issue or subject
matter involved. For example, a family court has subject matter jurisdiction over cases involving family issues,
such as adoption or divorce.
2. How jurisdiction over the subject matter is determined?
- To determine a court's or an administrative body's jurisdiction over a subject matter, allegations in the
complaint must be examined. The nature of the action, as reflected in the allegations in the complaint, and the
reliefs sought determine jurisdiction over the subject matter.
- Jurisdiction over the subject-matter is the power to hear and determine cases of the general class to which
the proceedings in question belong (C. J. S. p. 36) and is conferred by the sovereign authority which organizes
the court and defines the court and defines its powers
3. Jurisdiction of MTC
- Metropolitan Trial Courts (MTCs) in the Philippines have jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases.
Criminal jurisdiction
-MTCs have jurisdiction over minor offenses, such as traffic violations and local ordinance violations
-MTCs have jurisdiction over crimes that are punishable by a fine or imprisonment, up to a certain limit
-MTCs have jurisdiction over crimes that are punishable by a fine of up to ₱4,000
Civil jurisdiction
-MTCs have jurisdiction over civil actions and probate proceedings
-MTCs have jurisdiction over cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer
-MTCs have jurisdiction over cases where the value of the personal property, estate, or amount of the demand
does not exceed ₱20,000
Another...
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 6 years
regardless of the line and other accessory penalties and civil liability
3. Offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence
4. Where the only penalty provided by law is a fine: exclusive original jurisdiction over offenses punishable with
a fine not exceeding P4,000
5. Election offenses: Failure to register or failure to vote
6. Special Jurisdiction to hear and decide petitions for a writ of habeas corpus or application for bail in the
province or city where the RTC judge is absent
7. BP 22 (?)
4. Jurisdiction of RTC
1. Exclusive original jurisdiction in all criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or
body, except those falling under the exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. → All criminal
cases where the penalty is higher than 6 years, including government-related cases wherein the accused is
not one of those falling under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.
2. Other laws which specifically lodge jurisdiction in the RTC:
a. Law on written defamation or libel
b. Decree on Intellectual Property
c. Dangerous Drugs Cases except where the offenders are under 16 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
Another...
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, or The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, and Republic Act No. 7691, or An Act
Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts of 1994, as amended, gave the Regional Trial Courts the following jurisdiction:
Civil
1. In all civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is incapable of pecuniary estimation;
2. In all civil actions that involve the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein, where the
assessed value exceeds ₱400,000, except for forcible entry into and unlawful detainer of lands or buildings,
original jurisdiction over which is conferred upon the Metropolitan Trial Courts, and Municipal Trial Courts in
Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.
3. In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand or claims exceeds ₱2,000,000.
4. In all matters of probate, both estate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds ₱2,000,000.
5. In all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations.
6. In all 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. In all 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. In 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 ₱2,000,000.
Criminal
Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction in all criminal cases not within the
exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body, except those now falling under the exclusive and
concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan which shall hereafter be exclusively taken cognizance of by the
latter. RTC Criminal Courts typically try cases of serious crimes like murder and robbery, as opposed to petty
crimes, which reduce the burden of court cases.
Original and special jurisdiction
Regional Trial Courts shall exercise original jurisdiction:
1. In the issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus and injunction
which may be enforced in any part of their respective regions.
2. In actions affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls.
The Supreme Court may designate certain branches of the Regional Trial Courts to handle exclusively
criminal cases, juvenile and domestic relations cases, agrarian cases, urban land reform cases that do not fall
under the jurisdiction of quasi-judicial bodies and agencies, and/or such other special cases as the Supreme
Court may determine in the interest of a speedy and efficient administration of justice.
5. What is the jurisdiction over the person of the defendant?
- In civil cases, jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is acquired either by his voluntary appearance in
court and his submission to its authority or by service of summons.
