HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, _5793

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The percentage of drug-related cases, having breached the 70% mark, has effectively
caused severe clogging of cases in most of our courts in the various regional areas and
administrative regions of the country. This is cause for alarm and calls for no less than a viable
mechanism or structure in place in order to effectively de-clog this increasing number of
dangerous drugs or drugs-related cases and to mitigate certain un-intended consequences (i.e.
delay or bungling of cases).

Since the effectivity of Republic Act 9165 (i.e. Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act). a
rather unprecedented and a very huge volume of drug cases have been filed in the courts
throughout the country. There has been dismal failure to properly address this problem of
clogging in the court’s dockets. This situation is even aggravated when such cases are pending
with the courts for a much longer period of time than prescribed or required under the
provisions of Article XI Section 90 of RA 9165.

Under said provisions of law, it is noteworthy to state that, “The Supreme Court shall
designate special courts from among the existing Regional Trial Courts in each judicial region to
exclusively try and hear cases involving violations of the Act. The number of courts designated
in each judicial region shall be based on the population and the number of cases pending in
their respective jurisdiction.”

While it is true that the Supreme Court may just issue appropriate administrative
circular to designate the various regional trial courts in the country to the role of Dangerous
Drugs Courts, perhaps, it is incumbent upon the High Tribunal to submit an Executive Annual
Report to Congress outlining the strict compliance of concerned courts in declogging these drug
related cases in their court’s dockets up to the point when it would have already reduced it
from 70% to more manageable and rational level like 20% if not toward a desired zero backlog,
whenever possible.

It is also proposed that there should be formed an interagency council between and
amongst the five pillars of the criminal justice system in order to effectively streamline and


operationalize the provisions set forth under this Act. For instance, this provision shall always
be borne in mind, namely:

“SECTION 92. Delay and Bungling in the Prosecution of Drug Cases. Any government officer or
employee tasked with the prosecution of drug related cases under the Act, either as prosecutor,
prosecution witness, or as law enforcement agent, who, through patent laxity, inexcusable neglect,
unreasonable delay or deliberately causes the unsuccessful prosecution and/or dismissgl-of the said
drug cases, shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from twelve (12) years apxfone (1) day to
‘twenty (20) years without prejudice to his/her prosecution under the pertinent proyjsfons of the Revised
Penal Code.”

The urgent passage of this bill is therefore earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _579 3

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

‘AN ACT
MANDATING DANGEROUS DRUGS COURTS TO STRICTLY ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF
REPUBLIC ACT 9165 OR THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002 AND TO
EFFECT A REDUCTION OF DRUG-RELATED CASES, DECLOGGING OF THE SAME IN COURT'S
DOCKETS, AND STREAMLINING THE FIVE PILLARS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1, This Act shall be known as the ‘Dangerous Drugs Courts Streamlining
Program of 2015",

SEC. 2. The Dangerous Drugs Courts mandated under appropriate provisions of Republic
Act NO. 9165 also known as the ‘Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002’ shall hereby
strictly enforce the provisions of said law and to effect a reduction of drug-related cases,
declogging of the same in court’s dockets, and a streamlining of the five pillars of the criminal
justice system.

SEC. 3. Under this Act, the Supreme Court shall insure the submission of an Executive
Summary Report to Congress outlining the strict compliance of Dangerous Drugs Courts in
declogging these drug related cases in their court’s dockets up to the point when it would have
already reduced it from 70% to more manageable and rational level like 20% if not toward a
desired zero backlog, whenever possible.

Provided Further That, it shall be within its authority to create an ‘Inter-Agency Council’
from between and amongst the five pillars of the criminal justice system in order to effectively
streamline and operationalize the provisions set forth under this Act.

SEC. 4. The other provisions of RA 9165 not inconsistent with this Act shall likewise
henceforth remain in force and effect.


SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon approval, publication in the Official Gazette and in
at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

Republic of the Philippines