Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases)
OCA Circular No. 59-2022, issued on March 21, 2022, addresses the significant backlog of pending cases in Philippine trial courts, particularly those unresolved for over five years. The circular mandates judges of first and second level courts to expedite the hearing, trial, and resolution of these cases, with specific deadlines: cases pending 5-10 years must be resolved within six months, and those over ten years within twelve months. The document also highlights compliance issues, noting that only about half of the courts have submitted required reports on pending cases. Courts failing to meet reporting deadlines face potential disciplinary action.
Quick Answers
- What is Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases) about?
- OCA Circular No. 59-2022, issued on March 21, 2022, addresses the significant backlog of pending cases in Philippine trial courts, particularly those unresolved for over five years. The circular mandates judges of first and second level courts to expedite the hearing, trial, and resolution of these cases, with specific deadlines: cases pending 5-10 years must be resolved within six months, and those over ten years within twelve months. The document also highlights compliance issues, noting that only about half of the courts have submitted required reports on pending cases. Courts failing to meet reporting deadlines face potential disciplinary action.
- What type of law is OCA Circular No. 59-2022?
- Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases) (OCA Circular No. 59-2022) is a Philippine Supreme Court Issuances enacted by the Congress of the Philippines.
- When was Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases) enacted?
- Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases) (OCA Circular No. 59-2022) was enacted on Mar 21, 2022.
- What is the citation for Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases)?
- Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases), OCA Circular No. 59-2022, Mar 21, 2022 (Philippines)
Law Information
- Reference Number
- OCA Circular No. 59-2022
- Date Enacted
- Category
- Supreme Court Issuances
- Subcategory
- Office of the Court Administrator Circulars
- Jurisdiction
- Philippines
- Enacting Body
- Congress of the Philippines
Full Law Text
March 21, 2022
OCA CIRCULAR NO. 59-2022
| TO | : | All Judges of the First and Second Level Courts |
| SUBJECT | : | Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases) |
Based on the reports submitted pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases), there is a concerning number of pending cases for more than five (5) years before the trial courts, to wit:
|
REGION |
PENDING CASES FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS |
|
|
FIRST LEVEL |
SECOND LEVEL |
|
|
NCJR |
2,095 |
8,189 |
|
REGION 1 |
321 |
1,961 |
|
REGION 2 |
185 |
1,033 |
|
REGION 3 |
1,669 |
5,759 |
|
REGION 4 |
1,337 |
16,930 |
|
REGION 5 |
211 |
1,174 |
|
REGION 6 |
299 |
2,930 |
|
REGION 7 |
1,106 |
8,337 |
|
REGION 8 |
304 |
1,618 |
|
REGION 9 |
71 |
539 |
|
REGION 10 |
60 |
1,333 |
|
REGION 11 |
600 |
2,275 |
|
REGION 12 |
143 |
913 |
|
TOTAL |
8,401 |
52,991 |
As an additional concern, the above gathered data do not show the total number of said pending cases before all the trial courts as only 50.83% of the first level courts and 52.64% of the second level courts had complied with the subject circular. Moreover, pending receipt of the required submission from the other non-compliant courts, it is expected that there will be more reports of cases pending for more than five (5) years.
In the interest of a speedy and efficient disposition of the subject cases, all concerned trial court judges are hereby DIRECTED to HEAR, TRY, and DECIDE their pending ageing cases within the following period:
|
YEARS PENDING |
PERIOD TO DECIDE |
|
Cases pending for five (5) years or more but less than ten (10) years |
within six (6) months |
|
Cases pending for ten (10) years or more |
within twelve (12) months or one (1) year |
The observance of the above-stated periods shall be reckoned from the date of this circular.
Furthermore, all first and second level trial courts which have yet to submit the report required under OCA Circular No. 21-2022 are DIRECTED to submit the same within fifteen (15) days from the date of this Circular. Failure to submit the report on or before the said deadline shall be a ground for disciplinary action.
For guidance and strict compliance.
(SGD.) RAUL BAUTISTA VILLANUEVACourt Administrator
Cite This Law
Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases), OCA Circular No. 59-2022, Mar 21, 2022 (Philippines)
Period to Hear, Try, and Decide Cases Reported as Pending Pursuant to OCA Circular No. 21-2022 Dated 21 January 2022 (Re: Inventory of Pending Cases), OCA Circular No. 59-2022 (Phil. 2022)
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