Inventory of "Inherited Cases"

July 12, 1989

SUPREME COURT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2

In line with the objective of Administrative Circular No. 7-B dated June 13, 1989 creating the Judiciary Planning Development and Implementation Office (JPDIO), to insure accurate and periodic monitoring of pending cases, including "inherited cases" as defined in memorandum Circular No. 1-89 dated June 13, 1989, please be informed that the JPDIO is presently in the process of inventorying "inherited cases" pending in all courts. In fact, it has already started with the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region, as its pilot project. The initial inventory has disclosed defects/deficiencies in the court records, such as lack of paging and sewing, and in most of the cases stenographic notes have not been transcribed notwithstanding court orders to the stenographer concerned. Needless to state, these shortcomings of the records will result in undue delay in the distribution of these "inherited cases."

To avoid this delay and loss of time and in order to attain at the earliest our objective of decongesting court dockets and speeding up the disposition of "inherited cases", all Judges of Regional Trial Courts, Shari'a District Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts and Shari'a Circuit Courts are hereby directed to conduct and submit within thirty (30) days from receipt hereof a complete physical inventory of all "inherited cases" pending in their respective courts, the original and one copy to be forwarded direct to the Judiciary Planning Development and Implementation Office of the Supreme Court, IRC Building, No. 82-Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.

In accomplishing the physical inventory, a data sheet (similar to the forms attached) should be prepared for each case in triplicate, the original copy to be attached to the case Record, one copy as annex to the inventory, and the third copy retained as file.

Meanwhile, stenographic notes not yet transcribed in these "inherited cases" should be ordered immediately transcribed by the respective stenographers who attended the hearing and took down the proceedings.

Faithful compliance herewith is enjoined.

Manila, July 12, 1989.

(SGD.) MARCELO B. FERNANChief Justice