Below is a comprehensive outline of the jurisdiction of Municipal Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, and Municipal Trial Courts in Cities:
Original Jurisdiction in:
I. Civil Cases
1. Exclusive
a. Actions involving personal property valued at not more than P300,000.00 or in Metro Manila not more than P400,000.00;
b. Actions demanding sums of money not exceeding P300,000.00 or in Metro Manila not more than P400,000.00; in both cases, exclusive of interest, damages, attorney’s fees, litigation expenses and costs, the amount of which must be specifically alleged, but the filing fees thereon shall be paid. These include admiralty and maritime cases;
c. Actions involving title or possession of real property where the assessed value does not exceed P20,000.00 or in Metro Manila does not exceed P50,000.00;
d. Provisional remedies in principal actions within their jurisdiction, and in proper cases such as preliminary attachment, preliminary injunction, appointment of receiver and delivery of personal property; (Rules 57, 58, 59, and 60);
e. Forcible entry and unlawful detainer, with jurisdiction to resolve issue of ownership to determine issue of possession;
f. Probate proceedings, testate or intestate, where the gross value of the estate does not exceed P300,000.00 or in Metro Manila does not exceed P400,000.00 (Sec. 33, Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended by R.A. 7691);
g. Inclusion and exclusion of voters, (Sec. 38, Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines).
2. Delegated
Cadastral and land registration cases assigned by the Supreme Court where there is no controversy or opposition and in contested lots valued at more than P100,000.00 (Sec. 34, Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended by R.A. 7691).
3. Special
Petition for habeas corpus in the absence of all Regional Trial Court judges (Sec. 35, Batas Pambansa Blg. 129).
II. Criminal Cases
1. Exclusive
a. All violations of city or municipal ordinances committed within their respective territorial jurisdictions;
b. All offenses punishable with imprisonment of not more than six (6) years irrespective of fine and regardless of other imposable accessory or other penalties and the civil liability arising therefrom; provided, however, that in offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence they shall have exclusive original jurisdiction (Sec. 32, Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended by R.A. 7691);
c. All offenses committed not falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan where none of the accused is occupying a position corresponding to salary grade “27” and higher (As amended by R.A. 7975 and R.A. 8249);
d. In cases where the only penalty provided by law is a fine not exceeding P4,000.00 (Administrative Circular No. 09-94, June 14, 1994).
2. Special
Applications for bail in the absence of all Regional Trial Court judges (Sec. 35, Batas Pambansa Blg. 129).
**Lifted from Bench Book released by Justice Magdangal M. de Leon”
