March 10, 2015

A.M. No. 14-11-393-RTC

AUTHORIZING THE PILOTING OF ASSISTING COURTS TO HELP NEARBY OVERBURDENED COURTS DEAL WITH THEIR CASELOADS

WHEREAS, on 10 December 2014, the Court en banc issued a Resolution authorizing the piloting of "Assisting Courts from the MeTCs (Metropolitan Trial Courts) of Manila City to help Assisted Courts in the MeTCs of Makati City and Quezon City, and from the RTCs (Regional Trial Courts) of Cebu City to help Assisted Courts in the RTCs of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City;"

WHEREAS, the guidelines enumerated in the 10 December 2014 Resolution particularly catered only to the conditions existing in the MeTCs of Makati City and Quezon City and not to the RTCs of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City, as the guidelines only included newly-filed civil and Batas Pambansa Bilang 22 cases;

WHEREAS, the RTCs of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City are severely overburdened with pending criminal cases, and with a very high inflow of cases, it is highly improbable that the judges therein will be able to resolve these cases within a reasonable time;

WHEREAS, the concerned RTC judges of Cebu City have manifested their willingness to assist the RTC judges of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City in the hearing, trial and resolution of both their civil and criminal cases;

WHEREAS, the 10 December 2014 Resolution likewise does not include the lone Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) of Lapu-Lapu City, which has a caseload of 2,036 cases, and can be assisted by the adjacent Branch 2, Municipal Trial Court (MTCC) of Mandaue City, which has a caseload of only 174 cases. SIaHTD

NOW, THEREFORE, in the interest of justice, the Court Administrator is hereby authorized and directed to conduct the pilot testing of the Assisting Courts in the RTCs of Cebu City for the Assisted Courts in the RTCs of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City, and the Assisting Court in Branch 2, MTCC of Mandaue City for the Assisted Court in the MTCC of Lapu-Lapu City, in the following manner:

1. The pilot testing of Assisting Courts in the RTCs of Cebu City for the Assisted Courts in the RTCs of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City shall cover both newly-filed civil and criminal cases;

2. The pilot testing of the Assisting Court in Branch 2, MTCC of Mandaue City for the Assisted Court in the MTCC of Lapu-Lapu City shall cover newly-filed civil and BP 22 cases;

3. All matters pertaining to probation in criminal cases shall be referred by the Assisting Courts to the Probation Office of the Assisted Courts.

To fully implement this pilot testing project and realize its objectives, the Court Administrator shall issue the necessary guidelines, taking into consideration existing rules and practices, to address concerns and issues that may arise in the conduct thereof.

This Administrative Matter shall take effect on 6 April 2015, upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Manila, March 10, 2015.

(SGD.) MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENOChief Justice

(SGD.) ANTONIO T. CARPIOAssociate Justice

(SGD.) PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.Associate Justice

(SGD.) TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTROAssociate Justice

(SGD.) ARTURO D. BRIONAssociate Justice

(SGD.) DIOSDADO M. PERALTAAssociate Justice

(SGD.) LUCAS P. BERSAMINAssociate Justice

(SGD.) MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLOAssociate Justice

(SGD.) MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.Associate Justice

(SGD.) JOSE P. PEREZAssociate Justice

(SGD.) JOSE C. MENDOZAAssociate Justice

(SGD.) BIENVENIDO L. REYESAssociate Justice

(SGD.) ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABEAssociate Justice

(SGD.) MARVIC MARIO VICTOR F. LEONENAssociate Justice

(SGD.) FRANCIS H. JARDELEZAAssociate Justice

Published in The Philippine Star on April 16, 2015.