Designation of Special Courts for Kidnapping, Robbery, Carnapping, Dangerous Drugs Cases and Other Heinous Crimes; Intellectual Property Rights Violations and Jurisdiction in Libel Cases
Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 104-96, issued on October 21, 1996, designates specific Regional Trial Court branches to exclusively handle cases involving heinous crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, and violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act, as well as intellectual property rights violations and libel cases. The order mandates that these cases undergo a mandatory continuous trial, concluding within 60 days, with judgments delivered within 30 days of submission. It also emphasizes the priority of these cases in trial calendars and prohibits postponements except for compelling reasons, with dilatory motions resulting in contempt. This order supersedes previous administrative orders and aims to streamline the administration of justice in the Philippines.
October 21, 1996
SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 104-96
RE : Designation of Special Courts for Kidnapping, Robbery, Carnapping, Dangerous Drugs Cases and Other Heinous Crimes; Intellectual Property Rights Violations and Jurisdiction in Libel Cases
Pursuant to Sec. 23 of B.P. Blg. 129, in the interest of a speedy and efficient administration of justice, and subject to the guidelines hereinafter set forth, the following Branches of the Regional Trial Courts, except as hereinunder provided, are hereby designated exclusively to try and decide cases of —
A
Kidnapping and/or kidnapping for ransom, robbery in band, robbery committed against a banking or financial institution, violation of the dangerous drugs act of 1972 as amended regardless of the quantity involved, violation of the anti-carnapping act of 1972, as amended, and other heinous crimes (R.A. No. 7659) committed within their respective territorial jurisdictions:
| National Capital Judicial Region | |
| MANILA | Br. 11, Judge Roberto A. Barrios |
| Br. 18, Judge Perfecto A.S. Laguio, Jr. | |
| Br. 27, Judge Edgardo P. Cruz | |
| Br. 41, Judge Rodolfo A. Ponferrada | |
| Br. 53, Judge Maximo A. Savellano, Jr. | |
| Br. 54, Judge Manuel T. Muro | |
| QUEZON CITY | Br. 76, Judge Monina A. Zeñarosa |
| Br. 102, Judge Perlita Tria-Tirona | |
| Br. 86, Judge Teodoro A. Bay | |
| Br. 103, Judge Jaime N. Salazar, Jr. | |
| Br. 95, Judge Diosdado M. Peralta | |
| Br. 219, Judge Jose C. Mendoza | |
| PASAY CITY | Br. 109, Judge Lilia C. Lopez |
| Br. 110, Judge Porfirio G. Macaraeg | |
| Br. 114, Judge Vicente L. Yap | |
| Br. 116, Judge Alfredo J. Gustilo | |
| KALOOKAN CITY | Br. 127, Judge Myrna D. Vidal |
| Br. 128, Judge Silvestre H. Bello, Jr. | |
| Br. 129, Judge Bayani S. Rivera | |
| MAKATI CITY | Br. 36, Judge Jose R. Bautista |
| Br. 62, Judge Roberto C. Diokno | |
| Br. 66, Judge Eriberto U. Rosario | |
| Br. 138, Judge Sixto C. Marella | |
| Br. 143, Judge Dennis M. Villa-Ignacio | |
| PASIG CITY | Br. 156, Judge Martin S. Villarama, Jr. |
| Br. 163, Judge Aurelio C. Trampe | |
| Br. 166, Judge Jesus G. Bersamira | |
| Br. 262, Judge Gregory S. Ong | |
| Br. 265, Judge Edwin A. Villasor | |
| MALABON | Br. 72, Judge Benjamin A. Aquino, Jr. |
| Br. 170, Judge Benjamin T. Antonio | |
| MARIKINA | Br. 272, Judge Reuben P. de la Cruz |
| PARAÑAQUE | Br. 259, Judge Zosimo V. Escano |
| LAS PIÑAS | Br. 275, Judge Bonifacio Sanz Maceda |
| MUNTINLUPA CITY | Br. 276, Judge Norma C. Perello |
| VALENZUELA | Br. 171, Judge Adriano R. Osorio |
| First Judicial Region | |
| BANGUED | Br. 2, Judge Benjamin A. Bongolan |
| BAGUIO CITY | Br. 6, Judge Ruben C. Ayson |
| LA TRINIDAD | Br. 62, Judge Fernando P. Cabato |
| LAOAG CITY | Br. 16, Judge Conrado A. Ragucos |
| BATAC | Br. 18, Judge Alejandrino C. Cabebe |
| VIGAN | Br. 20. Judge Alipio V. Flores |
| NARVACAN | Br. 22, Judge Ulpiano I. Campos |
| CANDON | Br. 23, Judge Gavino B. Balbin, Jr. |
| SAN FERNANDO | Br. 27, Judge Vicente A. Pacquing |
| AGOO | Br. 32, Judge Leo M. Rapatalo |
| BAUANG | Br. 67, Judge Jose G. Paneda |
| BONTOC | Br. 35, Judge Manuel B. Bragado |
| LINGAYEN | Br. 39, Judge Eugenio G. Ramos |
| DAGUPAN CITY | Br. 42, Judge Luis M. Fontanilla |
| URDANETA | Br. 46, Judge Modesto C. Juanson |
| TAYUG | Br. 51, Judge Ulysses R. Butuyan |
| ALAMINOS | Br. 54, Judge Jules A. Mejia |
| SAN CARLOS CITY | Br. 57, Judge Bienvenido R. Estrada |
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Second Judicial Region
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| TUGUEGARAO | Br. 3, Judge Loreto C. Purugganan |
| APARRI | Br. 8, Judge Segundo B. Catral |
| ILAGAN | Br. 17, Judge Senen O. Casibang |
| CAUAYAN | Br. 19, Judge Artemio R. Alivia |
| SANTIAGO CITY | Br. 36, Judge Efren A. Lamorena |
| BAYOMBONG | Br. 27, Judge Jose B. Rosales |
| BAMBANG | Br. 30, Judge Vincent Eden C. Panay |
| CABARROGUIS | Br. 31, Judge Wilfredo P. Ambrosio |
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Third Judicial Region
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| BALANGA | Br. 3, Judge Lorenzo R. Silva, Jr. |
| MALOLOS | Br. 11, Judge Basilio R. Gabo, Jr. |
| Br. 12, Judge Crisanto C. Concepcion | |
| CABANATUAN CITY | Br. 27, Judge Feliciano V. Buenaventura |
| GUIMBA | Br. 33, Judge Rogelio P. de Guzman |
| GAPAN | Br. 36, Judge Arturo M. Bernardo |
| STO. DOMINGO | Br. 88, Judge Cholita Balbin-Santos |
| SAN JOSE CITY | Br. 39, Judge Reynaldo A. Alhambra |
| SAN FERNANDO | Br. 47, Judge Edgar Y. Chua |
| GUAGUA | Br. 52, Judge Jose G. Montemayor |
| MACABEBE | Br. 55, Judge Reynaldo V. Roura |
| ANGELES CITY | Br. 59, Judge Eliezer R. de los Santos |
| TARLAC | Br. 65, Judge Angel J. Parazo |
| IBA | Br. 69, Judge Rodolfo V. Toledano |
| OLONGAPO CITY | Br. 75, Judge Leopoldo T. Calderon, Jr. |
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Fourth Judicial Region
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| BATANGAS CITY | Br. 4, Judge Conrado R. Antona |
| TANAUAN | Br. 83, Judge Voltaire Y. Rosales |
| BALAYAN | Br. 10, Judge Franchito N. Diamante |
| LIPA CITY | Br. 12, Judge Vicente F. Landicho |
| CAVITE CITY | Br. 88, Judge Christopher O. Lock |
| BACOOR | Br. 89, Judge Eduardo I. Tanguanco |
| IMUS | Br. 21, Judge Roy S. del Rosario |
| BIÑAN | Br. 25, Judge Pablo B. Francisco (acting) |
| STA. CRUZ | Br. 28, Judge Fernando M. Paclibon, Jr. |
| SAN PABLO CITY | Br. 32, Judge Zorayda Herradura Salcedo |
| CALAMBA | Br. 26, Judge Norberto Y. Geraldez |
| SAN PEDRO | Br. 31, Judge Stella Cabuco Andres |
| BOAC | Br. 94, Judge Rodolfo B. Dimaano |
| CALAPAN | Br. 40, Judge Arturo R. Quizon (acting) |
| PINAMALAYAN | Br. 41, Judge Normelito J. Ballocanag |
| SAN JOSE | Br. 45, Judge Ernesto P. Pagayatan (acting) |
| PUERTO PRINCESA CITY | Br. 52, Judge Filomeno A. Vergara |
| LUCENA CITY | Br. 53, Judge Guillermo R. Andaya |
| GUMACA | Br. 61, Judge Proceso K. de Gala |
| BALER | Br. 96, Judge Rebecca Reyes-Mariano |
| BINANGONAN | Br. 67, Judge Felix P. Adanzo |
| ANTIPOLO | Br. 73, Judge Mauricio M. Rivera |
| SAN MATEO | Br. 76, Judge Jose C. Reyes, Jr. |
| MORONG | Br. 79, Judge Alejandro A. Marquez |
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Fifth Judicial Region
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| LEGASPI CITY | Br. 3, Judge Wenceslao R. Villanueva, Jr. |
| LIGAO | Br. 13, Judge Jose S. Sañez |
| TABACO | Br. 15, Judge Arnulfo B. Cabredo |
| NAGA CITY | Br. 28, Judge Antonio N. Gerona |
| LIBMANAN | Br. 57, Judge Thelma Celevante Villareal |
| PILI | Br. 32, Judge Nilo A. Malanyaon |
| IRIGA CITY | Br. 35, Judge Reno R. Gonzales |
| SAN JOSE (Tigaon) | Br. 30, Judge Alfredo A. Cabral |
| DAET | Br. 38, Judge Sancho A. Dames II |
| VIRAC | Br. 42, Judge Nilo D. Barsaga |
| MASBATE | Br. 44, Judge Felimon C. Abelita |
| SORSOGON | Br. 52, Judge Honesto A. Villamor |
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Sixth Judicial Region
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| KALIBO | Br. 3, Judge Sheila M. Cortez |
| SAN JOSE | Br. 11, Judge Nery G. Duremdes |
| ROXAS CITY | Br. 19, Judge Sergio L. Pestaño |
| ILOILO CITY | Br. 23, Judge Tito G. Gustilo |
| Br. 25, Judge Bartolome M. Fanuñal | |
| Br. 35, Judge Severino C. Aguilar | |
| BACOLOD CITY | Br. 44, Judge Anastacio I. Lobaton |
| Br. 47, Judge Edgar G. Garvilles | |
| Br. 53, Judge Pepito B. Gellada | |
| HIMAMAYLAN | Br. 55, Judge Jose Y. Aguirre, Jr. |
| SAN CARLOS CITY | Br. 59, Judge Roberto S.A. Javellana |
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Seventh Judicial Region
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| TAGBILARAN CITY | Br. 2, Judge Baudilio K. Dosdos |
| LAPU-LAPU CITY | Br. 53, Judge Benedicto G. Cobarde |
| CEBU CITY | Br. 7, Judge Martin A. Ocampo |
| Br. 14, Judge Renato C. Dacudao | |
| Br. 15, Judge German G. Lee, Jr. | |
| Br. 18, Judge Galicano C. Arriesgado | |
| Br. 24, Judge Priscila S. Agana | |
| MANDAUE CITY | Br. 28, Judge Mercedes Gozo Dadole |
| TOLEDO CITY | Br. 29, Judge Gualberto P. Delgado |
| DUMAGUETE CITY | Br. 32, Judge Eleuterio E. Chiu |
| Br. 34, Judge Rosendo B. Bandal, Jr. | |
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Eighth Judicial Region
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| BORONGAN | Br. 2, Judge Paterno T. Alvarez |
| TACLOBAN CITY | Br. 6, Judge Getulio M. Francisco |
| ORMOC CITY | Br. 35, Judge Fortunito L. Madrona |
| CARIGARA | Br. 13, Judge Eriberto N. Maceda |
| CATARMAN | Br. 19, Judge Cesar R. Cinco |
| LAOANG | Br. 21, Judge Jose H. Mijares (acting) |
| MAASIN | Br. 25, Judge Numeriano R. Avila, Jr. |
| CATBALOGAN | Br. 29, Judge Auxencio C. Dacuycuy |
| CALBAYOG CITY | Br. 32, Judge Clemente C. Rosales (acting) |
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Ninth Judicial Region
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| ISABELA | Br. 2, Judge Salvador A. Memoracion |
| DIPOLOG CITY | Br. 8, Judge Pacifico M. Garcia |
| ZAMBOANGA CITY | Br. 16, Judge Jesus C. Carbon, Jr. |
| PAGADIAN CITY | Br. 20, Judge Briccio A. Almeda |
| Tenth Judicial Region | |
| BUTUAN CITY | Br. 4, Judge Cipriano B. Alvizo, Jr. |
| MALAYBALAY | Br. 8, Judge Vivencio P. Estrada |
| OROQUIETA CITY | Br. 12, Judge Celso L. Conol |
| OZAMIS CITY | Br. 15, Judge Pedro L. Suan |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY | Br. 18, Judge Nazar U. Chavez |
| Br. 19, Judge Anthony E. Santos | |
| Br. 25, Judge Noli T. Catli | |
| GINGOOG CITY | Br. 43, Judge Editho C. Lucagbo |
| SURIGAO CITY | Br. 29, Judge Andres P. Enriquez |
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Eleventh Judicial Region
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| TAGUM | Br. 30, Judge Lucilo C. Rallos |
| MATI | Br. 5, Judge Ricardo M. Berba |
| DAVAO CITY | Br. 15, Judge Jesus R. Quitain |
| Br. 17, Judge Renato A. Fuentes | |
| Br. 33, Judge Wenceslao E. Ibabao | |
| DIGOS | Br. 19, Judge Hilario I. Mapayo |
| GENERAL SANTOS CITY | Br. 35, Judge Antonio S. Alano |
| KORONADAL | Br. 25, Judge Francisco S. Ampig, Jr. |
| TANDAG | Br. 40, Judge Jesus M. Prado |
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Twelfth Judicial Region
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| ILIGAN CITY | Br. 6, Judge Valerio M. Salazar |
| MARAWI CITY | Br. 10, Judge Yusoph K. Pangadapun |
| MALABANG | Br. 12, Judge Moslemen T. Macarambon |
| COTABATO CITY | Br. 13, Judge Emmanuel D. Badoy |
| KABACAN | Br. 22, Judge Braulio L. Hurtado |
| KIDAPAWAN | Br. 17, Judge Rodolfo M. Serrano |
| MIDSAYAP | Br. 18, Judge |
B
Violations of intellectual property rights such as, but not limited to, violations of Art. 188 of the Revised Penal Code (substituting and altering trademarks, trade names, or service marks), Art. 189 of the Revised Penal Code (unfair competition, fraudulent registration of trademarks, trade names or service marks, fraudulent designation of origin, and false description), P.D. No. 49 (protection of intellectual property rights), P.D. No. 87 (an Act creating the Videogram Regulatory Board), R.A. No. 165 as amended (the Patent Law), and R.A. No. 166 as amended (the Trademark Law) shall be tried exclusively by the regional trial courts in accordance with the established raffle scheme except those covered by Administrative Order No. 113-95 dated 2 October 1995, in which case, the designated Regional Trial Courts shall continue to observe the provisions therein.
Considering that jurisdiction for violations of intellectual property rights hereinbefore mentioned is now confined exclusively to the regional trial courts, the designation of metropolitan trial courts and municipal trial courts in cities under Administrative Order No. 113-95 is deleted and withdrawn.
C
Libel cases shall be tried by the Regional Trial Courts having jurisdiction over them to the exclusion of the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.
For purposes of this administrative order, all single sala courts are considered special courts for all the cases covered under pars. A and B herein, and for this reason, shall give priority to these cases in their trial calendars.
The cases referred to herein shall undergo mandatory continuous trial and shall be terminated within sixty (60) days from commencement of the trial. Judgment thereon shall be rendered within thirty (30) days from the submission for decision unless a shorter period is provided by law or otherwise directed by this Court. aDHCAE
Where trial has already begun, the same shall continue to be heard by the respective branches to which they have been originally assigned. For purposes hereof, a criminal case is considered begun when the accused or any of them has already been arraigned; in a civil case, it is when pre-trial has already been conducted and a pre-trial order issued.
The Executive Judges of the Regional Trial Courts concerned shall exclude these designated Special Courts from the raffle of other cases, criminal and civil, whenever in their judgment the caseload of these courts shall prevent them from conducting daily trial of the special cases herein specified.
The Branches thus designated as Special Courts shall continue to perform their functions as such within the purview of this Administrative Order even after the retirement, transfer or detail of the incumbent judges appointed/designated to preside over them. Their successors, whether permanent or temporary, shall act as Presiding Judges of these Special Courts unless the Supreme Court otherwise directs.
No postponement or continuance shall be allowed except for clearly meritorious reasons. Pleadings or motions found to have been filed for dilatory purposes shall constitute direct contempt and shall be punished accordingly.
This Administrative Order amends or otherwise supersedes Adm. Order No. 173-94 dated 28 September 1994, Adm. Order No. 51-96 dated 3 May 1996, and Adm. Order No. 113-95 dated 2 October 1995, and such other orders, circulars, memoranda or issuances, if any, as may be inconsistent herewith.
This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
(SGD.) ANDRES R. NARVASAChief Justice