Republic Act No. 9377, enacted on March 6, 2007, creates four additional Regional Trial Court branches and two Municipal Trial Court branches in Antipolo City, amending the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980. This act specifies the allocation of judges and branches for the Fourth Judicial Region, particularly for the Province of Rizal and Antipolo City. It mandates the Chief Justice and the Department of Justice to include the operationalization of these courts in their programs, with funding to be included in the annual budget. Additionally, the Supreme Court is tasked with issuing rules for the effective implementation of this law. The act takes effect 15 days after its publication.
March 6, 2007
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9377
AN ACT CREATING FOUR ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCHES AND TWO ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT BRANCHES WITH STATION AT THE CITY OF ANTIPOLO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
SECTION 1. Section 14, paragraph (e) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the "Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows: ETDAaC
"SEC. 14. Regional Trial Courts. —
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"(e) One hundred Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Fourth Judicial Region. There shall be:
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"Eighteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Rizal, and Antipolo City, except the cities and municipalities embraced within the National Capital Judicial Region, with seats at Binangonan, San Mateo, Morong, Tanay, and Antipolo City; and
"xxx xxx xxx."
SECTION 2. Section 29 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the "Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 29. Municipal Trial Courts in cities. — In every city which does not form part of a metropolitan area there shall be a Municipal Trial Court with one branch except as hereunder provided:
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"Four branches for Antipolo City;
"xxx xxx xxx."
SECTION 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include in the court's program the operationalization of four additional regional trial court branches and two additional municipal trial court branches for the Province of Rizal with station at the City of Antipolo, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 4. The Supreme Court shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act and if warranted, the realignment of the seats of existing branches and their territorial jurisdictions.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.
Approved: March 6, 2007