Republic of the Philippines
Bouse of Representatives

‘Constitution Fxlls, Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
Second Regutar Session

nex
House Bim Wo, O09

Introduced by HON. ROMEO M. ACOP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘Justice delayed is justice denied.’ Passe as the cliché goes but remains very
much relevant in the present times.

Article Ill, Section 16 of the Constitution provides that, “all persons shall have the
right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasijudicial, or
administrative bodies.’ However, because of the increases in the population and in the
volume of cases filed, court dockets have been clogged resulting in the delay in the
disposition of cases.

In the case of Antipolo City, records of the Office of the Court Administrator show
a combined caseload of the eight (8) existing branches of the Regional Trial Court
(RTC) at 10,415, with an average caseload of 1,302 per branch. Gleaned from the
manageable caseload of 300-450 for an RTC branch, computation indicates that the
ideal number of RTC branches for the city is at least 23, or 15 branches short of the
present number. In the case of the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCC) in Antipolo
City, the same data show that 2,715 cases have been filed before its four (4) branches.
With a yardstick of 500-600 cases as manageable caseload per branch, there is need
to create at least an additional branch.

The establishment of courts is provided for under Batas Pambansa 129 or the
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980. The law allocated the corresponding number of
‘courts per judicial region based on the existing exigencies at that time. Initially, under
BP 129, four (4) RTC branches and two (2) Municipal Trial Courts (MTC) were


established in Antipolo which was then a municipality of Rizal. On September 4, 1991,
Republic Act No. 7154 was passed amending BP 129. However, no additional RTC or
MTC courts were established for the Municipality of Antipolo. On February 13, 1998,
Republic Act No. 8508 was passed making the Municipality of Antipolo a component
city of the Province of Rizal, thus converting the existing Municipal Trial Courts (MTC)
into Municipal Trial Courts in Cities. Finally, on March 6, 2007, Republic Act No. 9377
was enacted further amending BP 129 and providing for four (4) additional RTC
branches and two (2) additionat MTCC branches in the City of Antipolo.

But with the unabated geometric growth in population and its consequential
effect on the volume of court caseloads, the recent increases in court branches in
Antipolo City have never been enough. Thus, the number of courts still needs to be
increased in order to improve the disposition and administration of justice and to ensure
the night to speedy trial

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is eamestly
recommended.

TDY-ROMEO Mi AGOP WNBA


Republic of the Philippines
Bouse of Representatives

Constitution Bills, Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, DOOG

Introduced by HON. ROMEO M. ACOP

AN ACT
CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN
CITIES AND FIFTEEN (15) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF
ANTIPOLO, PROVINCE OF RIZAL, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘THE JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980’, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

8e it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled :

SECTION 1. There are hereby created in the Fourth Judicial Region additional fifteen
(15) Regional Trial Court branches and one (1) additional Municipal Trial Court in Cities
branch for Antipolo City, Province of Rizal, with seats thereat.

SECTION 2. The Supreme Court shail issue the necessary rules and regutations for

the effective implementation of this Act and if warranted, the realignment of the seats of
existing branches and their territorial jurisdictions.


SECTION 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the
Secretary of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include in the Court's program
the impiementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act

SECTION 4. Sections 14 (e) and 29 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise
known as the ‘Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980’, as amended, as well as other
laws, rules and regulations that May be inconsistent herewith, are hereby deemed
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
'n the Officiat Gazette or two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,

Approved.