The document discusses the structure and functions of the Philippine judiciary. It outlines that judicial power is vested in one Supreme Court, which acts as the court of last resort. It also describes the lower courts that cases can be appealed to, including regional trial courts, sandiganbayan, court of appeals, and others. The document provides details on the composition and jurisdiction of these various courts that make up the Philippine judicial system.

1. The Judiciary
Prof. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, PhD
Department of Political Science
Ateneo de Manila University

2. The Judiciary has the
constitutional jurisdiction to…
 Resolve conflicts arising between the state
& citizens over basic liberties;
 Ruling whether specific laws are
constitutional; and
 Resolving conflicts between different
institutions or levels of government

3. Given the constitutional jurisdiction, the
judiciary has the societal function of…
 Maintaining social control;
 Legitimizing the regime; and
 Indirectly involving itself in public policy
(as judicial decisions may influence public
opinion)

4. In the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
judicial power was vested to one
Supreme Court; the Supreme Court
was the only court created by the
Constitution and thereby CANNOT
be abolished by any law/legislation. It
is the highest Court in the Philippines
and thus called the ‘Court of Last
Resort’.

5. Structure of Supreme Court
 15 appointed justices (with 1 Chief Justice and
14 Associate Justices)
 No fix term of office (Art. VIII, Sec. 11); stay in
office based on good conduct and behavior &
until they reach the age of 70
 Appointed by the President from a list 3
nominees prepared by the Judicial & Bar
Council
 Appointment NOT subject to confirmation by the
Commission on Appointments (Art. VIII, Sec. 9)
 SC members can only be removed by
impeachment (Art. XI, Sec. 2)

6. Cases filed/appealed to/in the
Supreme Court
 The Supreme Court “has the power to review,
revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on
appeal…final judgments and orders of lower
courts in:
- all cases in which constitutionality or validity of
any treaty, international or executive agreement,
law, presidential decree, proclamation, order,
instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in
question;

7. Cases filed/appealed to/in the
Supreme Court
- all cases involving the legality of any tax,
impose, assessment, or toll or any penalty
imposed in relation thereto;
- all cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower
court is in issue;
- all criminal cases in which the penalty imposed
is reclusion perpetua or higher; and
- all cases in which only an error or question of
law is involved

8. The Lower Courts…
 Court of Appeals: composed of 1 Presiding Justice and
68 Associate Justices is vested with jurisdiction over
appeals from the decisions of the Regional Trial Courts
and certain quasi-judicial agencies, boards or
commissions
 Sandiganbayan: composed of a Presiding Justice and 8
Associate Justices, has exclusive jurisdiction over
violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA
3019), the Unexplained Wealth Act (RA 1379), and or
other crimes or felonies committed by public officials and
employees in relation to their office, including those
employees in government-owned or controlled
companies

9. The Lower Courts…
 Court of Tax Appeals: composed of 1 Presiding Judge
and 2 Associate Justices is vested with exclusive
appellate jurisdiction over appeals from the decisions of
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the
Commissioner of Customs
 Regional Trial Courts: The law provides for 720 RTCs.
The Philippines is divided into 13 regions – the National
Capital Region (NCR) and Regions I to XII. In these
regions are found many RTCs to which decided cases
coming from the MTC, MCTC, MTCC and MetroTC are
appealed.

10. The Lower Courts…
 Shari’a Courts and Shari’a Circuit Courts: in some
provinces in Mindanao where the Muslim Code on
Personal Laws is enforced, the law provides for 5 Shari'a
District Courts which are equivalent to the Regional Trial
Courts in rank and for 51 Shari'a Circuit Courts in the
municipalities therein which gave the rank and level of
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.
 Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts: every municipality has its own Municipal Trial
Court. It is referred to as such if it covers only 1
municipality; it is called Municipal Circuit Trial Court if it
covers 2 or more municipalities.

11. The Lower Courts…
 Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial Courts
in Cities: Municipal Trial Courts in towns and cities in
the Metropolitan Manila area, as distinguished from
other political subdivisions in the Philippines, are
referred to as Metropolitan Trial Courts. In cities outside
of the Metropolitan Area, the equivalent of the Municipal
Trial Courts are referred to as Municipal Trial Courts in
Cities.
 NOTE: The Supreme Court can decide on cases that
have not been tried in the lower courts (see Art. VIII,
Sec. 5 of 1987 Constitution)

12. The Regular Courts…
 Supreme Court
 Court of Appeals
 Regional Trial Courts
 Metropolitan Trial Courts
 Municipal Trial Courts in Cities
 Municipal Trial Courts
 Municipal Circuit Trial Courts

13. The Special Courts…
 Sandiganbayan
 Court of Tax Appeals
 Shari’a District Courts
 Shari’a Circuit

14. Closing remarks…
 Judicial independence or freedom from the
intrusion by the 2 branches of government
 It is possible to file charges against specific
offices, personnel, offices or Justices of the
Supreme Court.
 If a party wishes to question a Supreme Court
decision, it may file a motion for
reconsideration.
 In a so called ‘democracy’, then actual test of
liberty is an EFFICIENT and CLEAN judiciary