Section 87. Original jurisdiction to try criminal cases. —

Justices of the peace and judges of municipal courts of chartered cities shall have original jurisdiction over:

1. All violations of municipal or city ordinances committed within their respective territorial jurisdictions;

2. All criminal cases arising under the laws relating to:

   1. Gambling and management or operation of lotteries;

   2. Assaults where the intent to kill is not charged of evident upon the trial;

   3. Larceny, embezzlement and estafa where the amount or money or property stolen, embezzled, or otherwise involved, does not exceed the sum or value of two hundred pesos;

   4. Sale of intoxicating liquors;

   5. Falsely impersonating an officer;

   6. Malicious mischief;

   7. Trespass on government or private property;

   8. Threatening to take human life;

   9. Illegal possession of firearms, explosives and ammunition;

   10. Illegal use of aliases; and

   11. Concealment of deadly weapons.

3. Except violations of election laws all other offenses in which the penalty provided by law is imprisonment for not more than three years, or a fine of not more than three thousand pesos, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Said justices of the peace and judges of municipal courts may also conduct preliminary investigation for any offense alleged to have been committed within their respective municipalities and cities, which are cognizable by Courts of First Instance and the information filed with their courts without regard to the limits of punishment, and may release, or commit and bind over any person charged with such offense to secure his appearance before the proper court.

No warrant of arrest shall be issued by any justice of the peace in any criminal case filed with him unless he first examines the witness or witnesses personally, and the examination shall be under oath and reduced to writing in the form of searching questions and answers.

Justices of the peace in the capitals of provinces and sub-provinces and judges of municipal courts shall have like jurisdiction as the Court of First Instance to try parties charged with an offense committed within their respective jurisdiction, in which the penalty provided by law does not exceed prision correccional or imprisonment for not more than six years or fine not exceeding six thousand pesos or both, and in the absence of the district judge shall have like jurisdiction within the province as the Court of First Instance to hear applications for bail.

All cases filed under the next preceding paragraph with justices of the peace of capitals and municipal court judges shall be tried and decided on the merits by the respective justices of the peace or municipal judges. Proceedings had shall be recorded and decisions therein shall be appealable direct to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court, as the case may be.