Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 7918

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE FUNCTION OF THE LUPONG TAGAPAMAYAPA, THEREBY
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT No. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

The Katarungang Pambarangay is an important arm in the local government level to
promote the speedy administration of justice and help in the decongestion of cases at the
judicial level.

In Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", the
jurisdiction of the Katarungang Pambarangay exempts offenses punishable by
imprisonment exceeding (one) year from Barangay Conciliation proceedings.

This bill seeks to expand the jurisdiction of the Katarungang Pambarangay by increasing
the scope of its subject matter to include cases whose imposable penalty do not exceed
two (2) years and other offenses that are often brought before members of the Lupong
Tagapamayapa, without regard to the imposable penalty such as libel, qualified theft,
estafa and adultery.

Litigation at trial is usually prohibitive because of occasional delays in settling motions
and long queues of cases. It is lengthy and the adversarial atmosphere is exhausting.
Increasing the jurisdiction of the Katangungang Pambarangay allows the tried and tested
ways of settling disputes peacefully and amicably to operate more effectively. Moreover,
increasing the coverage of what can be amicably settled will prevent parties from rushing
the filing of cases and wasting both their resources and that of the courts.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is most earnestly sought.

Lf ford

LUIS RA’ IND “LI ” F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7518

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE FUNCTION OF THE LUPONG TAGAPAMAYAPA, THEREBY
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT No. 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 408 of R.A. No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 408. Subject Matter for Amicable Settlement; Exception Thereto, — The
lupon of each barangay shall have authority to bring together the parties actually
residing in the same city or municipality for amicable settlement of all disputes except:
a. Where one party is the government, or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof;

b. Where one party is a public officer or employee, and the dispute relates to the
performance of his official functions;
¢. Offenses punishable by imprisonment exceeding [one (1)]_ TWO (2) years or a fine
exceeding Five thousand pesos P5,000.00)[;] PROVIDED, THAT THE LUPON
SHALL EXERCISE AUTHORITY OVER THE FOLLOWING CASES, IRRESPECTIVE
OF THE IMPOSABLE PENALTY ANDIOR FINE:

1, DISCOVERING SECRETS;

2. QUALIFIED THEFT;
3. SWINDLING (ESTAFA);

4. FENCING (PURSUANT TO PRESIDENTAIL DECREE NO.
1612);

5. MALICIOUS MISCHIEF;
6. LIBEL;

7. ADULTERY; AND.

8. CONCUBINAGE.


d. Offenses where there is no private offended party;

e. Where the dispute involves real properties located in different cities or municipalities
unless the parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable settlement by
an appropriate lupon;

f. Disputes involving parties who actually reside in barangays of different cities or
municipalities, except where such barangay units adjoin each other and the
parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable

settlement by an appropriate lupon[;]. PROVIDED, THAT DISPUTES
INVOLVING PARTIES WHO ACTUALLY RESIDE IN BARANGAYS OF
DIFFERENT PROVINCES, CITIES OR MUNICIPALITIES MAY BE BROUGHT
BY THE OFFENDED PARTY TO THE I-UPON OF THE BARANGAY WHERE
THE OFFENDING PARTY RESIDES;

g. Such other classes of disputes which the President may determine in the
interest of justice or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Justice. The
court in which non-criminal cases not falling within the authority of the lupon under
this Code are filed may, at any time before trial, motu proprio refer the case to the
lupon concermed for amicable settlement.

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause - All general and special laws, acts, city charters, decrees,
executive orders, proclamations and administrative regulations, or part or parts thereof
which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Code are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. Separability Clause. —|f, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this

Code shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which
are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. — This Code shall take effect on January first, Nineteen
Hundred Ninety-Two, unless otherwise provided herein, after its complete publication in at
least one (1) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,