Republic of the Phil
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

ifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3654

HOUSE BILL NO.

introduced by HON. DAISY AVANCE-FUENTE!

Article Ill, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution guarantees that all persons shall be
entitled to a speedy disposition of cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative
bodies. Twenty-three years after the ratification of said Constitution and the stated provision,
there persists the general observation that the wheels of justice continues to grind so slowly in
. to the detriment of both the victims and the accused.

Article Il, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution also declares that the maintenance of peace
rotection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general welfare
are essential for all Filipinos to truly enjoy the blessings of democracy. This representation views
that the fulfillment of this basic democratic principles depend not just on effective law
enforcement, but also on having an efficient judicial system marked by speedy and prompt
administration of justice.

Considering said Constitutional principles, this measure has been filed to prescribe a five
(5) year period for the completion and termination of any civil and/or criminal case from the date
of filing in the proper court, to the promulgation and effectivity of the final judgment
Consequently, it also seeks to provide for charges of inefficiency or dereliction of duty for failure
to comply thereto.

L enjoin all my honorable colleagues of the 15 Congress to ensure swift passage of this
measure. The goal of this bill goes beyond the standing issue of judicial reform. Indeed, there
remains the fundamental need for Congress to operationalize the Constitutional principles on the
swift administration and dispensation of justice.

rele

DAISY AVANCE-FUENTES


Republic of the Phili
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL.

Introduced by Honorable Daisy Avance-Fuentes

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING A MAXIMUM FIVE (5) YEAR PERIOD.
FOR THE COMPLETION AND TERMINATION OF ANY CIVIL AND / OR
CRIMINAL CASE

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

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, all civil
and criminal cases must be completed and terminated within five (5) years from the date
a civil or criminal case is filed before the proper office or judicial body with the
appropriate jurisdiction. For purposes of this Act, completion and/or termination of a case
refer to the promulgation and effectivity of the final judgment of the courts and/or the
Supreme Court, if such case appealed

The mandatory period hereof shall not prejudice the provision of Article VIII,
Section 15(1) of the 1987 Constitution

SECTION 2. INEFFICIENCY OR DERELICTION OF DUTY. Should there
be failure to complete and terminate a case upon the expiration of the mandatory period
as prescribed in Section | hereof, the prosecutor, lawyer and judge involved in the case
shall be liable for charges of inefficiency or dereliction of duty as the case be. For
purposes of this Act, prima facie evidence of inefficiency or dereliction of duty such as
dilatory tactics shall be a sufficient basis for the imposition of administrative or civil
penalties including disbarment as may be determined by the Supreme Court

SECTION 3. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. The
Supreme Court shall issue and publish the rules and regulations necessary for the
ve implementation of this Act



SECTION 4. REPEALING CLAUSE. Any law. decree, order, mule or
regulation which is inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby
amended or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 5. EFI
afier its publication in
ulation

‘CTIVITY CLAUSE. This Act shall take effect fifteen days
ilipino and English in at least two (2) newspapers of general

ci

APPROVED,