The First-Level Courts
The Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTC), Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCC), Municipal Trial Courts (MTC), and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTC) form the courts of the first level. The MeTCs are established in Metropolitan Manila while the MTCCs are established in every city not forming part of Metropolitan Manila. The MTCs are established in each of the other cities or municipalities while the MTCCs are created in each circuit comprising such cities and/or municipalities as grouped by law. The decisions of the courts of the first level are appealable to the courts of the second level, or the RTCs.
Within the first level are the Shari’ah Circuit Courts (SCC).
Shari’ah Circuit Courts have been established in the Autonomous Regions of Muslim Mindanao to interpret and apply the Code of Muslim Personal Laws provided under Presidential Decree No. 1083. Their decisions are appealable to the Shari’ah District Court which, however, has yet to be organized.