Designation of Certain Branches of the Regional Trial Courts as Family Courts

February 1, 2000

A.M. No. 99-11-07-SC

DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS AS FAMILY COURTS

Gentlemen :

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of the Court En Banc dated 1 February 2000:

"A.M. No. 99-11-07-SC. — Re: Designation of certain branches of the Regional Trial Courts as Family Courts. — The Court Resolved to APPROVE the draft resolution designating certain branches of the Regional Trial Court as Family Courts, to wit:

To implement the provisions of Section 17 of Republic Act No. 8369, otherwise known as the "Family Courts Act of 1997," and in the interest of the expeditious, effective and efficient administration of justice, and subject to the guidelines herein set forth, the following branches of the Regional Trial Courts are hereby designated as Family Courts which shall exclusively try and decide the cases subject of Section 5 of said Act:

NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION

Manila

(1) Br. 29, Judge Cielito M. Grulla

(2) Br. 37, Judge Vicente A. Hidalgo

(3) Br. 48, Judge Nimfa C. Vilches

Quezon City

(4) Br. 94, Judge Romeo F. Zamora

(5) Br. 106, Judge Natividad G. Dizon

(6) Br. 107, Judge Rosalina L. Pison

Pasay City

(7) Br. 109, Judge Lilia Cruz Lopez

Kalookan City

(8) Br. 130, Judge Jaime T. Hamoy

Makati City

(9) Br. 140, Judge Leticia P. Morales

(10) Br. 144, Judge Candido P. Villanueva

Pasig City

(11) Br. 159, Judge Rodolfo R. Bonifacio

(12) Br. 162, Judge Erlinda P. Uy

(13) Br. 261, Judge Agnes R. Carpio

Malabon

(14) Br. 169, Judge Emmanuel D. Laurea

Valenzuela City

(15) Br. 172, Judge Floro P. Alejo

Las Piñas City

(16) Br. 254, Judge Manuel B. Fernandez, Jr.

Parañaque City

(17) Br. 260, Judge Helen Bautista-Ricafort

FIRST JUDICIAL REGION

Baguio City

(18) Br. 4, Judge Amado S. Caguioa

La Trinidad, Benguet

(19) Br. 9, Judge Francis A. Buliyat

Laoag City

(20) Br. 11, Judge Perla B. Querubin

San Fernando, La Union

(21) Br. 66, Judge Adolfo F. Alagar

Dagupan City

(22) Br. 43, Judge Silverio Q. Castillo

Urdaneta City

(23) Br. 49, Judge Rodrigo G. Nabor

Lingayen, Pangasinan

(24) Br. 68, Judge Salvador P. Vedaña

SECOND JUDICIAL REGION

Tuguegarao City

(25) Br. 4, Judge Lyliha A. Aquino

Santiago City

(26) Br. 21, Judge Fe Albano Madrid

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

(27) Br. 29, Judge Gil L. Valdez

THIRD JUDICIAL REGION

Malolos, Bulacan

(28) Br. 13, Judge Andres B. Soriano

Cabanatuan City

(29) Br. 26, Judge Johnson L. Ballutay (APJ)

Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija

(30) Br. 88, Judge Cholita B. Santos

Angeles City

(31) Br. 60, Judge Ofelia T. Pinto

San Fernando, Pampanga

(32) Br. 45, Judge Adelaida Ala Medina

Olongapo City

(33) Br. 73, Judge Alicia Lumboy Santos

FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION

Batangas City

(34) Br. 1, Judge Conrado C. Genilo, Jr.

Lipa City

(35) Br. 85, Judge Avelino G. Demetria

Cavite City

(36) Br. 17, Judge Manuel A. Mayo (APJ)

San Pablo City

(37) Br. 30, Judge Marivic B. Umali

Sta. Cruz, Laguna

(38) Br. 26, Judge Pablo B. Francisco

Puerto Princesa City

(39) Br. 50, Judge Nelia Y. Fernandez

Lucena City

(40) Br. 54, Judge Abello M. Marte

Antipolo City

(41) Br. 72, Judge Rogelio L. Angeles

FIFTH JUDICIAL REGION

Legaspi City

(42) Br. 9, Judge Antonio C. Alfane

Tabaco, Albay

(43) Br. 16, Judge Cesar A. Bordeos

Naga City

(44) Br. 20, Judge Marino Bodiao

Masbate, Masbate

(45) Br. 48, Judge Jacinta B. Tambago

Sorsogon, Sorsogon

(46) Br. 51, Judge Jose L. Madrid

SIXTH JUDICIAL REGION

Kalibo, Aklan

(47) Br. 3, Judge Sheila Martelino Cortez

Roxas City

(48) Br. 14, Judge Salvador S. Gubaton

Iloilo City

(49) Br. 27, Judge Ma. Elena G. Opinion

(50) Br. 30, Judge Adriano S. Savillo

Bacolod City

(51) Br. 52, Judge Anastacio B. Rufon

San Carlos City

(52) Br. 58, Judge Abraham D. Caña

SEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION

Tagbilaran City

(53) Br. 1, Judge Teofilo D. Baluma

Cebu City

(54) Br. 22, Judge Pampio A. Abarintos

(55) Br. 24, Judge Olegario R. Sarmiento, Jr.

Dumaguete City

(56) Br. 31, Judge Rogelio L. Carampatan

EIGHTH JUDICIAL REGION

Tacloban City

(57) Br. 7, Judge Leonilo B. Apita

Catbalogan, Samar

(58) Br. 27, Judge Sinforiano A. Monsanto

NINTH JUDICIAL REGION

Dipolog City

(59) Br. 7, Judge Soledad A. Acaylar

Pagadian City

(60) Br. 22, Judge Harun B. Ismael

Zamboanga City

(61) Br. 15, Judge Vicente L. Cabatingan

TENTH JUDICIAL REGION

Butuan City

(62) Br. 1, Judge Marissa Macaraig Guillen

Oroquieta City

(63) Br. 13, Judge Ma. Nimfa Penaco-Sitaca

Cagayan de Oro City

(64) Br. 22, Judge Francisco L. Calingin

(65) Br. 37, Judge Jose L. Escobido

ELEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION

Davao City

(66) Br. 8, Judge Salvador M. Ibarreta, Jr.

(67) Br. 12, Judge Paul T. Arcangel

TWELFTH JUDICIAL REGION

Iligan City

(68) Br. 2, Judge Maximo B. Ratunil

Marawi City

(69) Br. 9, Judge Amer R. Ibrahim

The following guidelines shall be observed:

Section 1. In stations where no branches of the Regional Trial Court are herein designated as Family Courts, the cases falling within the jurisdiction of the Family Courts shall be raffled among the branches of the Regional Trial Court within the same station which then shall try and decide such cases according to existing issuances. However, the branches of the Regional Trial Court in these stations which have previously been designated to try and decide juvenile and domestic relations cases and cases involving youthful offenders shall continue to take cognizance of such cases.

Sec. 2. In stations where branches of the Regional Trial Court are herein designated as Family Courts, all the judges of the Regional Trial Court shall cause the conduct of an inventory of all pending cases within ten (10) working days from receipt of a copy of this Resolution. Two (2) lists (see enclosed forms) shall be prepared during the inventory: (a) a list of cases falling within the jurisdiction of the Family Court; and (b) a list of cases outside the jurisdiction of the Family Court. The lists shall indicate the docket number and the status of each case — whether for pre-trial, trial or submitted for decision.

A. The judge of the branch designated as Family Court shall:

(1) Retain the cases falling within the jurisdiction of the Family Court; and

(2) Submit the list of cases outside the jurisdiction of the Family Court, except the cases where the trial has already begun as provided for in Section 3 hereof, to the Executive Judge for the redistribution of the listed cases among the remaining branches of the Regional Trial Court within the same station. The redistribution of the cases shall be effected through raffle, and after notice to the parties. Thereafter, the records of the cases shall be transmitted to the branches of the Regional Trial Court to which they have been raffled.

Copies of the lists of the segregated cases and the minutes and the results of the raffle shall be submitted within ten (10) days after the raffle to the Court Management Office of the Office of the Court Administrator.

B. The judges of the remaining branches of the Regional Trial Court shall:

(1) Retain the cases outside the jurisdiction of the Family Court; and

(2) Submit the list of cases falling within the jurisdiction of the Family Court, except the cases where the trial has already begun as provided for in Section 3 hereof, to the Executive Judge for the unloading of the listed cases to the branch which has been designated as Family Court. However, in stations where two (2) or more branches of the Regional Trial Court have been designated as Family Courts, the cases falling within the jurisdiction of the said courts shall be raffled among such designated branches. The records of the cases shall then be transmitted to such designated branch or branches, as the case may be.

Copies of the lists of the segregated cases and the minutes and the results of the raffle shall be submitted within ten (10) days after the raffle to the Court Management Office of the Office of the Court Administrator.

Sec. 3. Cases where trial has already begun shall continue to be heard by the respective branches to which they have been originally assigned. For purposes hereof, the trial of a criminal case is considered to have already begun when the accused or any of them had already been arraigned. The trial of a civil case is considered to have already begun when pre-trial had already been conducted and a pre-trial order issued.

Sec. 4. The branches of the Regional Trial Court designated as Family Courts shall continue to perform their duties and functions as such within the purview of this Resolution even after they shall have become vacant due to the retirement, death, incapacity, dismissal, resignation, transfer, detail or promotion of the incumbent judges appointed/designated to preside over them; and their successors, whether permanent or temporary, shall act as Presiding Judges of these designated Family Courts, until the Family Courts shall have been actually established in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8369 unless such authority is sooner revoked by the Supreme Court.

Sec. 5. In stations where two (2) or more branches of the Regional Trial Court have been designated as Family Courts, in case of temporary incapacity, absence or disability of the judge of the designated Family Court to perform his duties or his inhibition, the pairing system for multiple sala stations subject of Circular No. 7 dated 23 September 1974, as amended, shall apply.

In case the judge of the designated Family Court should be penalized in the appropriate administrative disciplinary proceedings with suspension for a period of more than three (3) months or in case of any permanent vacancy by reason of the resignation, retirement, death, dismissal from the judicial service, transfer or promotion of the judge of the designated Family Court, the pairing system herein adverted shall likewise apply.

In stations where only one (1) branch of the Regional Trial Court has been designated as Family Court, whenever any of the designated branch becomes vacant, temporarily or permanently, for any of the reasons stated herein, the Chief Justice shall designate a judge to temporarily preside over the said Family Court.

Sec. 6. This Resolution amends or supersedes any resolution, order, circular, memorandum or issuance inconsistent herewith.

Sec. 7. This Resolution shall take effect on 1 March 2000, and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation not later than 15 February 2000.

APPROVED this 1st day of February 2000."

Very truly yours,

LUZVIMINDA D. PUNOClerk of Court

By:

(SGD.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMAAssistant Clerk of Court