Regional Trial Court Explained
The regional trial courts (RTC; Filipino; Pilipino: Panrehiyong Hukuman sa Paglilitis)[1] are the highest trial courts in the Philippines. In criminal matters, they have original jurisdiction.
History
It was formerly called as the Court of First Instance since the Spanish era. It continued throughout its colonization under Spanish and Americans.[2] After the independence from the United States, Republic Act No. 296 or Judiciary Act of 1948 was enacted to reinforce its jurisdictional powers of the Court of First Instance. Under its law, it has the power to try civil and criminal cases, as well as appeals from the decisions made by the municipality and city Justice of the Peace courts.[3]
There were numerous cases (both civil and criminal) yet to be resolved or being delayed for years due to their nature. In addition, there were special courts made to try specialized cases like criminal, agricultural, and family to decongest cases, which ended up complicating the judiciary system. Therefore, the Interim Batasang Pambansa has passed Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, or The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, which reorganized the lower and intermediate courts in the country, which include the change of Court of First Instance to Regional Trial Court.
Jurisdiction
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:[4] [5] [6]
Civil
- In all civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is incapable of pecuniary estimation;
- In all civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein, where the assessed value exceeds Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00), 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.
- In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand or claims exceeds Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00).
- In all matters of probate, both estate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00).
- In all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00).
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:
- 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.
- 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 which 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.
Appeals from lower courts
Regional Trial Courts shall exercise appellate jurisdiction over all cases decided by Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in their respective territorial jurisdictions. Such cases shall be decided on the basis of the entire record of the proceedings had in the court of origin and such memoranda and/or briefs as may be submitted by the parties or required by the Regional Trial Courts. The decision of the Regional Trial Courts in such cases shall be appealable by petition for review to the Court of Appeals which may give it due course only when the petition shows prima facie that the lower court has committed an error of fact or law that will warrant a reversal or modification of the decision or judgment sought to be reviewed.
List
Pursuant to Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 or Judicial Reorganization Act of 1980, each province or city (in case of Metro Manila cities and other Philippine cities, chartered by law) should have a Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch. Congress can create additional RTC branches, when necessary by passing a law.
Summary
Judicial Region | Branches | Jurisdictions | Map |
---|
width=6px bgcolor=#EFE4B0 | | National Capital | 288 | | |
| First | 70 | Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province |
| Second | 38 | Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga |
| Third | 75 | Central Luzon |
| Fourth | 96 | Calabarzon, Mimaropa |
| Fifth | 65 | Bicol Region |
| Sixth | 68 | Western Visayas |
| Seventh | 66 | Central Visayas |
| Eighth | 41 | Eastern Visayas |
| Ninth | 31 | Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi |
| Tenth | 44 | Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte |
| Eleventh | 51 | Davao Region, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Surigao del Sur |
| Twelfth | 26 | Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat |
Philippines | 959 | | |
---|
Luzon
National Capital Judicial Region
City/Town | Branches | Location |
---|
| Branch 1 to 55, 173 | Manila |
| Branch 76 to 107, 215 to 227 | Quezon City |
| Branch 108 to 119, 231 | Pasay |
| Branch 120 to 131 | Caloocan |
| Branch 56 to 66, 132 to 150 | Makati |
| Branch 67 to 71, 151 to 167, 261 to 271 | Pasig |
| Branch 72 to 74, 169 to 170 | Malabon |
| Branch 156, 165, 168, 192 to 193, 263, 272 to 273 | Marikina |
| Branch 208 to 214, 277 to 281 | Mandaluyong |
| Branch 194 to 196, 257 to 260, 274 | Parañaque |
| Branch 197 to 202, 253 to 255, 275 | Las Piñas |
| Branch 203 to 207, 256, 276 | Muntinlupa |
| Branch 75, 171 to 172, 269, 270, 282 to 285 | Valenzuela |
| Branch 15-FC, 69 to 70, 153, 163, 266 to 267, 271 | |
| Branch 14-FC | San Juan |
| Branch 9-FC, 286 to 288 | Navotas | |
First Judicial Region
Second Judicial Region
Third Judicial Region
Province | Branches[7] | Location |
---|
| Branch 90 to 91, 1-FC | Baler |
| Branch 101 | Casiguran |
| Branch 1 to 3, 92 to 93, 2-FC | Balanga |
| Branch 4, 94 to 95, 3-FC | Mariveles |
| Branch 5, 96 | Dinalupihan |
| Branch 6 to 22, 76 to 85, 102 to 104, 4-FC | Malolos |
| Branch 120, 05-FC | San José del Monte |
| Branch 121 | Meycauayan |
| Branch 06-FC | Santa Maria |
| Branch 23 to 30, 86 | Cabanatuan |
| Branch 31 to 33 | Guimba |
| Branch 34 to 36, 87 | Gapan |
| Branch 37, 88 to 89 | Santo Domingo |
| Branch 38 to 39 | San Jose |
| Branch 40 | Palayan |
| Branch 41 to 48 | San Fernando |
| Branch 49 to 53 | Guagua |
| Branch 54 to 55 | Macabebe |
| Branch 56 to 62 | Angeles City |
| Branch 63 to 65 | Tarlac City |
| Branch 66 | Capas |
| Branch 67 | Paniqui |
| Branch 68 | Camiling |
| Branch 69 to 71 | Iba |
| Branch 72 to 75 | Olongapo | |
Fourth Judicial Region
Province | Branches | Location |
---|
| Branch 1 to 4, 7 to 8, 84, 1-FC | Batangas City |
| Branch 5 | Lemery |
| Branch 6, 66, 83 | Tanauan |
| Branch 9 to 11 | Balayan |
| Branch 12 to 13, 85, 2-FC | Lipa |
| Branch 14 | Nasugbu |
| Branch 86 | Taal |
| Branch 87 | Rosario |
| Branch 19, 89, 110 to 119 | Bacoor |
| Branch 109 | Carmona |
| Branch 16 to 17, 88 | Cavite City |
| Branch 90, 128 to 129 | Dasmariñas |
| Branch 20 to 22, 120 to 127, 4-FC | Imus |
| Branch 15, 132 | Naic |
| Branch 3, 18, 133 to 136, 3-FC | Tagaytay |
| Branch 5, 23, 130 to 131, 5-FC | Trece Martires |
| Branch 24 to 25, 152-157 | Biñan |
| Branch 26 to 28, 91, 176, 6-FC | Santa Cruz |
| Branch 29 to 30, 32, 7-FC | San Pablo |
| Branch 33, 166 | Siniloan |
| Branch 34 to 37, 92, 103 to 105, 8-FC | Calamba |
| Branch 31, 93, 169 to 171 | San Pedro |
| Branch 107 | Los Baños |
| Branch 108 | Cabuyao |
| Branch 101 to 102 | Santa Rosa |
| Branch 38, 94, 9-FC | Boac |
| Branch 44, 10-FC | Mamburao |
| Branch 45 to 46 | San Jose |
| Branch 39 to 40, 11-FC | Calapan |
| Branch 41 to 42 | Pinamalayan |
| Branch 43 | Roxas |
| Branch 12-FC | Naujan |
| Branch 47 to 52, 13-FC | Puerto Princesa |
| Branch 163 | Coron |
| Branch 165 | Brooke's Point |
| Branch 95, 164 | Roxas |
| Branch 14-FC | Taytay |
| Branch 53 to 60, 167 to 168, 15-FC | Lucena |
| Branch 61 to 62 | Gumaca |
| Branch 63 | Calauag |
| Branch 64 | Mauban |
| Branch 65 | Infanta |
| Branch 96 | Catanauan |
| Branch 16-FC | Sariaya |
| Branch 67 to 70 | Binangonan |
| Branch 71 to 74, 97 to 100, 137 to 151, 17-FC | Antipolo |
| Branch 75 to 77, 174-175 | San Mateo |
| Branch 78 to 80, 158-161 | Morong |
| Branch 81, 19-FC | Romblon |
| Branch 82 | Odiongan |
| Branch 106 | Cajidiocan |
|
Fifth Judicial Region
Visayas
Sixth Judicial Region
Seventh Judicial Region
Eighth Judicial Region
Mindanao
Ninth Judicial Region
Tenth Judicial Region
Eleventh Judicial Region
Province | Branches | Location |
---|
| Branch 1 to 2, 30 to 31 | Tagum |
| Branch 4, 34, 3-Family Court | Panabo |
| Branch 3 | Nabunturan |
| Branch 8 to 17, 33, 52 to 54 | Davao City |
| Branch 18 to 20 | Digos |
| Branch 21 | Bansalan |
| Branch 5 to 6 | Mati |
| Branch 7 | Baganga |
| Branch 32 | Lupon |
| Branch 38, 47 to 51 | Alabel |
| Branch 22 to 23, 35 to 37 | General Santos |
| Branch 24 to 25, 42 to 43 | Koronadal |
| Branch 26, 44 to 45 | Surallah |
| Branch 39, 62 to 63 | Polomolok |
| Branch 27, 40 | Tandag |
| Branch 28 | Lianga |
| Branch 29 | Bislig |
| Branch 41 | Cantilan | |
Twelfth Judicial Region
Notes and References
- Web site: Sangguniang Panghukuman at Pang-abogasya o Judicial and Bar Council. February 19, 2017. GOVPH.
- Pangalangan . Raul C. . Raul Pangalangan. Overview of the Philippine Judicial System . dead . Asian Law Series . 5 . March 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130213041653/http://d-arch.ide.go.jp/idedp/IAL/IAL000500_003.pdf . February 13, 2013 . January 19, 2014 . en . 2–3.
- Web site: R.A. 296. lawphil.net.
- Web site: R.A. 7691. lawphil.net.
- Web site: B.P. 129. lawphil.net.
- Web site: R.A. No. 11576 - An Act Further Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, Amending for the Purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980,” As Amended (July 30, 2021) . lawphil.net.
- Web site: Judicial and Bar Council . Judicial and Bar Council . MASTER LIST OF INCUMBENT JUDGES (As of 24 September 2012) . dead . September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020235450/https://jbc.judiciary.gov.ph/masterlist/_RTC.pdf . October 20, 2012 . August 30, 2013 . en.