Subject to the jurisdiction of the audiencia territorial de Manila, there were eight jusgados de termino; five jusgados de ascenso, and fourteen jusgados de entrada. Under the criminal jurisdiction of the audiencia territorial of Vigan there were three jusgados de termino, one jusgado de ascenso and sixteen jusgados de entrada. Under the audiencia territorial of Cebu there were two jusgados de termino and thirty jusgados de ascenso.
In each court of first instance there was a prosecuting attorney (promotor fiscal). In each pueblo there was a justice of the peace subject in his criminal and civil jurisdiction to the judge of first instance of the province. In criminal matters the justice of the peace courts as well as the courts of first instance were subject to the audiencia territorial of Manila.
At the present time the courts of justice of the islands consist of a supreme court, courts of first instance and justice of the peace courts.
The supreme court, which is composed of one chief justice and six associate justices, has civil and criminal jurisdiction over all the islands.
In each province there is a court of first instance. Several such courts are usually united to constitute a judicial district, but this does not hold for the court of first instance of the city of Manila, which is presided over by three judges, each in his own court room, nor for the court of first instance of Iloílo, which constitutes a district by itself. The remaining courts are divided between seventeen districts.
The courts of the thirteenth and fourteenth districts have concurrent jurisdiction over all actions arising within the district of Lanao of the Moro province, but the court first acquiring jurisdiction in any cause has exclusive jurisdiction in the same.
There are four judges at large, without territorial jurisdiction of their own, any one of whom may be assigned by the secretary of finance and justice to act in any district. He then has the same jurisdiction as its judge. The services of judges at large are necessary when the judge of any district is absent, or has vacated his position, or when the business of a court requires the aid of an assistant judge.
There further exists the court of land registration, with one judge and five auxiliary judges. It has exclusive jurisdiction over all applications for the registration of title to land or buildings or an interest therein. It also has jurisdiction to confirm the titles of persons who under the Spanish régime acquired imperfect titles to public lands, provided that such persons fulfill the requirements of law for their perfection.
There is now a justice of the peace court in each municipality and by resolution of the Philippine Commission there have been created justice of the peace courts in townships and other centres of population which have not been organized either as townships or municipalities.
In the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Mindoro, Palawan, Agusan and in the Mountain province, all of which are organized under the special provincial government act, the provincial governor, the provincial secretary, the provincial treasurer, the provincial supervisor[2] and the deputy clerk of the court of first instance are justices of the peace ex officio with jurisdiction throughout their respective provinces.