Criminal Jurisdiction

There are only 3 requisites for acquiring jurisdiction: over the subject matter,
which is determined by the facts in the complaint; over the territory, which is
where the crime was committed, generally (there are exceptions;) and, over the
accused which either happens through arrest or voluntary appearance in court by
either posting bail, filing a motion to quash or appearing at arraignment or
entering trial. The exceptions to jurisdiction over territory are the following:

1.) The crime is committed in a moving plane, ship, train or private vehicle
passing through several territories (any of the territories can be the place of trial.)
2.) Cases of piracy, which is an international crime and can be tried anywhere in
the world.
3.) Libel cases.
4.) If the SC orders a transfer to prevent injustice.
5.) Complex or continuing crimes (the place may be where the accused is found
and the venue is where any part of the crime was committed; for a complex
crime, the court with the jurisdiction to impose the highest penalty for the crime.)
6.) Where the law provides

The specifics are:

1.) The SC

All cases where only errors or questions of law are involved; automatic review of
criminal cases where reclusion perpetua is imposed by the RTC or Sandiganbayan
(we don't have the death penalty anymore;) all criminal cases from the RTC or
Sandiganbayan whose penalties are life imprisonment or reclusion perpetua and
those which, even if they're not punished with those penalties, came from the
same occurrence or were committed by the accused on the same occasion.

2.) The CA

Appeals from the RTC, including cases of automatic review.

3.) The Sandiganbayan

Violations of the Anti-graft Law and other offenses committed by public officials
in relation to their office if their salary grade is G 27 or higher and over private
individuals collaborating with these officials as principals, accomplices or
accessories.

4.) The RTC

Criminal cases whose penalty exceeds 6 years' imprisonment regardless of the

fine; but if the penalty is only a fine, if it's more than Php4,000.00; crimes where
the accused is a public official or private individual working with him with a salary
grade lower than G 27, or if the crime wasn't committed in relation to the office
of the official; family courts cases; and, all cases decided by the first-level courts.

5.) The First-level courts (MTC, MCTC, MTCC, MeTC)

All violations of city and municipal ordinances committed within their jurisdictions;
all crimes punishable by imprisonment of 6 years or less, regardless of fine and
other penalties or if the penalty is only a fine that is Php4,000.00 or less; crimes
involving damage to property through criminal negligence regardless of the fine;
and, all offenses where the accused is a public official with salary grade less than
G 27 or any private person collaborating with him, or if the crime wasn't
committed in relation to his office.

Also the first-level courts can entertain applications for bail if there are no RTC
judges present.