The Judiciary

Prof. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, PhD

Department of Political Science

Ateneo de Manila University

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

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)

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’.

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)

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;

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

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

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.

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.

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)

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

The Special Courts…

Sandiganbayan

Court of Tax Appeals

Shari’a District Courts

Shari’a Circuit

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