Hierarchy of Courts and Judicial Review

The MTCs (Municipal Trial Courts) have the power to handle most cases, but they are not in charge of cases dealing with forced entry, unlawful detainer, or disputes where money is not the primary issue.

The MTC has the power to handle cases involving ownership or possession of real estate, but only if the assessed value is below a certain limit: P20,000 outside Metro Manila and P50,000 inside Metro Manila. This limit doesn't include interest, damages, legal fees, and court costs.

Shari'ah Courts are special courts established for Muslims. These courts handle cases related to Muslim personal law and family issues.

Shari'ah Courts have the authority to handle cases involving the estates of deceased Muslims, such as probate of wills, distribution of property, and appointment of administrators. They also handle petitions for declaration of absence or death and correction of Muslim records. They also handle legal issues related to contracts between Muslims.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system was introduced to promote faster and fairer justice. It's like using alternatives to lawsuits, such as mediation, to resolve conflicts.

The Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) is a unit of the Supreme Court that handles mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) cases referred to it by courts. It aims to help resolve conflicts outside of formal court proceedings.

The Sandiganbayan specializes in handling criminal cases involving corruption and public officials.

The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has the authority to review decisions related to disputed assessments, refunds, penalties, or matters under tax laws.

The Central Board of Assessment Appeals (CBAA) reviews decisions on real property assessment and taxation.

The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has exclusive original jurisdiction over all criminal offenses related to tax and customs laws, regardless of the amount claimed.

The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has the authority to review tax collection cases decided by the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) upon appeal.

The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has the authority to hear appeals regarding decisions made by Municipal Trial Courts in tax collection cases.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) has exclusive authority to handle cases where the value of the dispute cannot be measured in money.

The CTA has exclusive authority to judge cases related to maritime and admiralty matters, where the amount in question meets a certain standard.

The RTC has exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions and special proceedings traditionally handled by Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts and the Court of Agrarian Relations.

The RTC has exclusive authority to handle civil cases, except for certain specific types of cases.

The CTA does NOT have the right to review decisions made by the Regional Trial Courts (RTC) in tax collection cases.

The RTC has exclusive authority over family law matters, including contracts of marriage and issues related to marriage.

The RTC is NOT the court of jurisdiction for cases falling under the authority of other specialized courts or tribunals.

The first level courts in each city and municipality. Their jurisdiction is defined by Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 and expanded by laws like Republic Act Nos. 9276, 9252, 9305, 9306, and 9308.

These courts handle cases where the assessed value of the property in question is less than P20,000 (or P50,000 in Metro Manila).

This refers to cases where someone forcefully takes possession of a property or refuses to give up possession after their right to it ends.

The MTCs have exclusive original jurisdiction over probate proceedings, testate or intestate, involving property with an assessed value that does not exceed 50,000 pesos.

There are 7 Sharia District Courts in the Philippines.

There are 41 Sharia Circuit Courts in the Philippines.

Presidential Decree No. 1083, specifically Section 137, created Shari’a courts.

These courts handle matters related to personal and family issues within the Islamic faith, such as inheritance, marriage, divorce, and child custody.

They must be well-versed in both Islamic law (Sharia) and Philippine law, ensuring legal knowledge in both systems.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) takes the leading role in resolving cases involving marriage contracts and marital relationships.

The Constitution sets a maximum age of 70 years for the Chief Justice and Associate Justices to serve on the Supreme Court.

This provision establishes the foundation of our judicial system, ensuring that justice is administered through a hierarchy of courts.

The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has the authority to review decisions made by Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) in cases related to tax collection, regardless of the RTC's location.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) is the appropriate court for a lawsuit involving a promissory note seeking payment of P1,500,000 plus damages and attorney's fees, as the claim exceeds the jurisdiction of the Municipal Trial Court.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) is the correct venue for a lawsuit regarding the annulment of a real estate sale, as the property's assessed value exceeds the MTC's jurisdiction.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) has the power to hear cases involving disputes that are not explicitly assigned to other specialized courts, such as Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts and the Court of Agrarian Relations.

In addition to its original powers, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) also has jurisdiction over appeals from decisions made by lower courts, such as the Municipal Trial Courts.

The Shari'a District Court is responsible for handling cases related to the sale of land in areas where the Muslim personal law applies, which is why it is the appropriate court for Ms. Maritess's case.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) has the authority to hear appeals from decisions made by the Municipal Trial Courts (MTCs) in certain situations, such as cases involving real estate exceeding the MTC's jurisdiction.