Re: The Rules of Procedure for Admiralty Cases [Designation of Pilot Admiralty Courts to Hear, Try, and Decide Admiralty Cases]

November 26, 2019

A.M. No. 19-08-14-SC

RE: THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR ADMIRALTY CASES [DESIGNATION OF PILOT ADMIRALTY COURTS TO HEAR, TRY, AND DECIDE ADMIRALTY CASES]

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court approved The Rules of Procedure for Admiralty Cases in its September 17, 2019 Resolution in A.M. No. 19-08-14-SC, which shall take effect on January 1, 2020;

WHEREAS, among the objectives of the said Rules is "to provide parties in Admiralty cases a fast, reliable and efficient means of recourse to Philippine courts";

WHEREAS, Section 5, Rule 1, Part I thereof provides that Admiralty cases "shall be filed with the designated first- or second-level Admiralty courts, as the case may be, in accordance with their jurisdictional thresholds, as may be determined by law";

WHEREAS, in its April 12, 2005 Resolution in A.M. No. 05-4-05-SC (Re: Request for the Designation of Special Courts to Take Cognizance of Cases Involving Admiralty and Maritime Laws), the Court designated the Special Commercial Courts to try and decide cases involving Admiralty and Maritime laws;

WHEREAS, since then, the Special Commercial Courts have also been designated as Intellectual Property Courts, 1 rehabilitation, insolvency, and liquidation courts under the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010 (FRIA), 2 and Cybercrime Courts; 3

WHEREAS, most recently, the Special Commercial Courts were authorized to issue inspection orders for administrative investigations of alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10667, otherwise known as the Philippine Competition Act; 4

WHEREAS, the continued designation of the Special Commercial Courts to try and decide Admiralty and Maritime cases, given the issuance of the new rules of procedure for Admiralty cases and the complex nature of the commercial cases they handle, would further burden these already overburdened courts and run contrary to the objectives of The Rules of Procedure for Admiralty Cases;

WHEREAS, there is a need to revoke the designation of the Special Commercial Courts to try and decide cases involving admiralty and maritime laws and instead, designate other first- and second-level courts as pilot Admiralty courts to hear, try, and decide Admiralty cases;

WHEREAS, one (1) first-level court and one (1) second-level court in five (5) areas where major commercial courts are located may be initially designated as pilot Admiralty courts to hear, try, and decide Admiralty cases, which may be increased should there be a rapid influx of Admiralty cases;

WHEREAS, the designated Admiralty courts shall have jurisdiction over all actions in Admiralty arising within their respective judicial regions;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Court resolves to:

1. REVOKE the designation of the Special Commercial Courts to try and decide cases involving Admiralty and Maritime laws, pursuant to the April 12, 2005 en banc Resolution in A.M. No. 05-4-05-SC (Re: Request for the Designation of Special Courts to Take Cognizance of Cases Involving Admiralty and Maritime Laws), provided that pending admiralty cases and those filed before the effectivity of The Rules of Procedure for Admiralty Cases shall be retained and heard by the Special Commercial Courts having jurisdiction over them; and

2. DESIGNATE the following first- and second-level courts as pilot Admiralty courts to hear, try, and decide Admiralty cases arising within their respective judicial regions:

PORT	COURT	JUDGE
Port of Manila	Br. 37, RTC, Manila	Hon. Virgilio V. Macaraig
Br. 4, MeTC, Manila	Hon. Eriza P. Pagaling-Zapanta
San Fernando International Seaport (Poro Point Freeport Zone)	Br. 66, RTC, San Fernando City, La Union	Hon. Victor O. Concepcion
Br. 1, MTCC, San Fernando City, La Union	Hon. Imelda P. Cosalan
Port of Subic Bay (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)	Br. 75, RTC, Olongapo City, Zambales	Hon. Raymond C. Viray
Br. 4, MTCC, Olongapo City, Zambales	Hon. Esmeralda B. David
Port of Cebu	Br. 85, RTC, Mandaue City	Hon. Dalisay D. Chavez-Ohdate
Br. 3, MTCC, Mandaue City	Hon. Amy Rose A. Soller-Rellin
Port of Davao	Br. 14, RTC, Davao City	Hon. Jill Rose S. Jaugan-Lo
Br. 2, MTCC, Davao City	Hon. Marie Estrellita S. Tolentino-Rojas

These shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

November 26, 2019, Manila, Philippines.

(SGD.) DIOSDADO M. PERALTAChief Justice

(SGD.) ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABEAssociate Justice

(SGD.) MARVIC M.V.F. LEONENAssociate Justice

On wellness leaveALFREDO BENJAMIN S. CAGUIOAAssociate Justice

(SGD.) ANDRES B. REYES, JR.Associate Justice

On wellness leaveALEXANDER G. GESMUNDOAssociate Justice

(SGD.) JOSE C. REYES, JR.Associate Justice

 

Footnotes

1. June 17, 2003 Resolution in A.M. No. 03-03-03-SC (Re: Proposal to Consolidate Intellectual Property Courts with Commercial Courts).

2. June 16, 2015 and June 21, 2016 Resolutions in A.M. No. 03-03-03-SC.

3. November 15, 2016 Resolution in A.M. No. 03-03-03-SC.

4. September 10, 2019 Resolution in A.M. No. 19-08-06-SC (Rule on Administrative Search and Inspection under the Philippine Competition Act).