Extending to the Department of Mindanao and Sulu the Provisions of General Laws Providing for the Organization of Justice of the Peace Courts

July 24, 1914

ACT NO. 2409

AN ACT EXTENDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MINDANAO AND SULU THE PROVISIONS OF GENERAL LAWS PROVIDING FOR THE ORGANIZATION, JURISDICTION, PROCEDURE, AND FEES OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. The provisions of general laws providing for the organization, jurisdiction, procedure, and fees of justice of the peace courts are hereby extended and made applicable to the Department of Mindanao and Sulu except as herein provided or inconsistent with the provisions thereof. cSEDTC

SECTION 2. One justice of the peace and one auxiliary justice shall be appointed by the Governor-General, by and with the consent of the Philippine Commission, for each of the municipalities and municipal districts now existing in the provinces of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu and those to be hereafter established under the provisions of the Organic Act for the Department of Mindanao and Sulu: Provided, However, That upon the recommendation of the judge of first instance of the district, the Governor-General may appoint, by and with the consent of the Philippine Commission, one justice of the peace and one auxiliary justice for two or more of such municipalities or municipal districts.

SECTION 3. In the municipal districts of each province of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, the Governor-General may appoint, by and with the consent of the Philippine Commission, the provincial governor as ex officio justice of the peace and any assistant or deputy provincial governor as auxiliary justice of such municipal districts.

SECTION 4. The provincial governor, as ex officio justice of the peace and his assistant or deputy appointed as auxiliary justice, shall have and exercise jurisdiction only throughout the municipal districts in their province: Provided, However, That the justice of the peace or auxiliary justice first acquiring jurisdiction over any cause shall have exclusive jurisdiction thereof: And Provided Further, That the justice of the peace or auxiliary justice of municipal districts may, in their discretion, transfer any case within their jurisdiction to the justice of the peace of the nearest organized municipality in the province, directing him to try the case, if the interests of the parties, if a civil action, or the interests of the accused, if a criminal case, so require, and the justice of the peace to whom the case has been so referred will have jurisdiction over the case as if originally within his jurisdiction, and he shall try the case as soon as practicable: And Provided Further, That the process of the provincial governor as ex-officio justice of the peace and his assistant or deputy appointed as auxiliary justice may be served outside of the municipal districts over which they hold jurisdiction, in the same manner and in the same cases as the process of justice of the peace courts of organized municipalities may be served under the provisions of general law: And Provided Further, That no fees of any kind shall be taxed or awarded against the municipal districts in any actions or criminal proceedings heard by justices of the peace of said municipal districts, nor against organized municipalities in which any actions or criminal proceedings are heard on account of transfer from the justices of the peace of any municipal districts as herein provided. SDAaTC

SECTION 5. The fines imposed by a justice of the peace for infractions of provincial and municipal ordinances shall accrue to the corresponding municipal treasury if the violation have been committed within the territory of organized municipalities, and if committed outside of the territory of organized municipalities, the fines shall be covered into the corresponding provincial treasury.

SECTION 6. The justices of the peace of the capitals of each of the seven provinces of the department shall receive annual salaries not to exceed the amounts stated in the following schedule: For the justice of the peace of the capital of the Province of Zamboanga, two thousand four hundred pesos; and for the justices of the peace of the capitals of the Province of Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Jolo and Lanao, one thousand five hundred pesos each: Provided, However, That in case no qualified lawyers are available to fill the positions of justice of the peace and auxiliary justice of the capital of any province of the department, the Governor-General shall appoint temporarily, by and with the consent of the Philippine Commission, the necessary justice of the peace and auxiliary justice for the capital of such province in accordance with the provisions of general law relating to appointment and salaries of justices of the peace and auxiliary justice for municipalities not capitals of provinces, in which case the justice of the peace and auxiliary justice so appointed shall have and exercise the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as are provided by general law for justices of the peace of municipalities not capitals of provinces: And Provided Further, That no salary shall be paid to public officers appointed justices of the peace or auxiliary justices while acting in such public office.

SECTION 7. Act Numbered One hundred forty-two of the legislative council, as amended, and all Acts or parts of Acts both of the Philippine Commission and of the legislative council inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on September first, nineteen hundred and fourteen.

ENACTED, July 24, 1914.