Request for the Creation of Additional Drug Courts in the RTC, Dumaguete City

February 1, 2011

EN BANC

A.M. No. 11-1-09-RTC

NOTICE

Sirs/Mesdames :

Please take notice that the Court en banc issued a Resolution dated February 1, 2011, which reads as follows:

"A.M. No. 11-1-09-RTC (Request for the Creation of Additional Drug Courts in the RTC, Dumaguete City). — The Court Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator, to:

a. NOTE Resolution No. 03, Series of 2010, dated February 24, 2010, of the Anti-Drug Abuse Council of Dumaguete City, requesting the Supreme Court through then Hon. Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, to create at least one (1) additional Drug Court in Regional Trial Court, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental;

b. DESIGNATE Regional Trial Court, Branches 34 and 31, both in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, as additional Drug Court and Family Court, respectively; and

c. OBSERVE the following guidelines in the unloading of cases:

i. Regional Trial Court, Branches 30 and 37, Dumaguete City, shall continue trying and deciding cases pending in their respective salas, where trial has already begun. For this purpose, trial has begun when the accused or any of the accused in a criminal case has been arraigned or when the pre-trial stage is terminated in civil cases; SCHATc

ii. All drug cases pending with Branch 30, where trial has not yet begun, shall be forwarded to the Office of the Clerk of Court, for assignment by the Executive Judge to Branch 34;

iii. All family cases pending with Branch 37, where trial has not yet begun, shall be forwarded to the Office of the Clerk of Court, for assignment by the Executive Judge to Branch 31;

iv. All newly filed drug cases shall be assigned to Regional Trial Court, Branch 34, Dumaguete City, until such time that the number of cases assigned to Branch 34, is equal to the cases assigned to Branch 30;

v. All newly filed family court cases shall be assigned to Regional Trial Court, Branch 31, Dumaguete City, until such time that the cases assigned to Branch 31, is equal to the cases assigned to Branch 37;

vi. Regional Trial Court, Branches 34 and 31, Dumaguete City, shall, likewise, continue trying and deciding cases pending in their respective salas, where trial has already begun. For this purpose, trial has begun when the accused or any of the accused in a criminal case has been arraigned or when the pre-trial is terminated in civil cases;

vii. All cases pending with Branches 34 and 31, where trial has not yet begun, shall be forwarded to the Office of the Clerk of Court, for raffle by the Executive Judge among the regular courts thereat; and

viii. The guidelines set forth in the resolutions of the Court in A.M. No. 00-8-01-SC, dated August 1, 2000 (Re: Designation of Certain Branches of the Regional Trial Courts as Drug Courts), and A.M. No. 99-11-07-SC, dated February 1, 2000 (Re: Designation of Certain Branches of the Regional Trial Courts as Family Courts), shall be observed in so far as they are applicable." (24a) CSIcTa

Very truly yours,

 

(SGD.) ENRIQUETA E. VIDALClerk of Court