Strict Compliance With Paragraph 5 of the Interim Rules Implementing B.P. Blg. 129

December 5, 1996

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 95-96

 

Numerous complaints have reached this Office about the non-compliance by some courts of the prescribed session hours under the Interim Rules implementing the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981 (BP Blg. 129).

Let this be a reminder to all concerned:

"5. Session Hours — Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall hold daily sessions from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.

6. Duty During Weekends and Holidays — All Executive Judges, whether in single sala courts or multiple sala stations shall assign, by rotation, Metropolitan Trial Judges, Municipal Trial Judges and Municipal Circuit Judges within their respective territorial areas to be on duty on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. assisted by a skeletal force, also on rotation, primarily to act on petitions for bail and other urgent matters.

On Saturday afternoons, Sundays and non-working holidays, any Judge may act on bailable offenses conformably with the provisions of Section 7, Rule 112 of the Rules of Court.

All Executive Judges, whether in single sala or multiple sala shall remain on duty on Saturday mornings.

7. Motion Day — Except those motions requiring immediate action, all motions should be scheduled for hearing on Friday afternoons, or if Friday is a non-working day, in the afternoon of the next business day."

Failure to strictly observe the above directives shall be dealt with administratively.

(SGD.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYOCourt Administrator