An Act Amending the Administrative Code to Increase the Number of Judges of First Instance, to Regroup Some of the Provinces for Judicial Purposes, and Appropriating the Necessary Funds therefor

May 26, 1940

COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 545

AN ACT AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF JUDGES OF FIRST INSTANCE, TO REGROUP SOME OF THE PROVINCES FOR JUDICIAL PURPOSES, AND APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 1. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth paragraphs of section one hundred and fifty-four of the Administrative Code, as amended by Commonwealth Acts Numbered One hundred and forty-five and Three hundred and forty-eight, are further amended so as to read as follows:

"Seven judges shall be commissioned for the Third Judicial District. Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Nueva Ecija; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Pampanga; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Tarlac; and two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Bulacan.

"Eleven judges shall be commissioned for the Fourth Judicial District. Nine judges, with residence in the City of Manila, and who shall be known as judges of the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Branches, respectively, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Manila and Palawan, and two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Rizal.

"Seven judges shall be commissioned for the Fifth Judicial District. Two judges, with permanent residence in Tayabas, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Provinces of Tayabas and Marinduque; Two judges, shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Cavite; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Laguna, and another judge, with residence in the Province of Batangas, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Batangas and Mindoro.

"Five judges shall be commissioned for the Sixth Judicial District, two shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Camarines Sur; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Camarines Norte; one judge, with residence in the Province of Albay, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Albay and Catanduanes; and another, with residence in the Province of Sorsogon, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Sorsogon and Masbate.

"Five judges shall be commissioned for the Ninth Judicial District. One judge, with residence in the Province of Zamboanga, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Provinces of Zamboanga and Sulu; one judge, with residence in the Province of Davao shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Davao; one judge, with residence in the Province of Oriental Misamis, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Oriental Misamis, Occidental Misamis and Bukidnon; one judge, with residence in the Province of Cotabato, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Cotabato and Lanao; and another judge, with residence in the Province of Surigao, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Surigao and Agusan.

SECTION 2. The tenth paragraph of section one hundred and sixty-one of the Administrative Code, as amended by Commonwealth Acts Numbered One hundred and forty-five and Three hundred and forty-eight, is further amended so as to read as follows:

"In the Ninth District: At Oroquieta, Province of Occidental Misamis on the first Tuesday of December and June of each year; at Cantilan, Province of Surigao on the second Tuesday of August of each year; at Butuan, Province of Agusan, on the first Tuesday of March and October of each year; a special term of court shall also be held once a year in either the municipality of Tandag or the municipality of Hinatuan, Province of Surigao, in the discretion of the district judge; at Mambajao, Province of Oriental Misamis, on the first Tuesday of March of each year; at Malaybalay, Province of Bukidnon, on the first Tuesday of December of each year. A special term of court shall also be held once a year either in the municipality of Talisayan or in the municipality of Gingoog, Province of Oriental Misamis, in the discretion of the district judge; at Iligan, Province of Lanao, on the first Tuesday of March and September of each year, but the September term for the Province of Lanao may be held at Dansalan, Province of Lanao, in the discretion of the district judge; at Dipolog, Province of Zamboanga, on the first Tuesday of January and June of each year; at Jolo, Province of Sulu, on the first Tuesday of March and October of each year. The office of the clerk of Court of First Instance of Dapitan, Province of Zamboanga, is hereby transferred to Dipolog, same province. At Glan, Province of Cotabato, and at Baganga and Mati, Province of Davao, terms of court shall be held at least once a year on the dates to be fixed by the district judge."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the payment of the salaries of the additional judges herein provided, and the necessary personnel of their respective courts, for the purchase of supplies and equipment, and for traveling and other sundry expenses.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, May 26, 1940.