TATIVES
RECEIVED
pave;_27 JUL 2016
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Republic of the Philippines By.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

PATON UNIT

anaes

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session
2061
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Peter “Sr, Pedro” M. Unabia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish one additional branch of the Regional Trial Court
(RTC) to be designated by the Supreme Court as additional special drug court in
Cagayan de Oro City.

Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the
“Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” declares in part that “It is the
policy of the State to safeguard the integrity of its territory and the well-being of its
citizenry particularly the youth, from the harmful effects of dangerous drugs on
their physical and mental well-being, and to defend the same against acts or
omissions detrimental to their development and preservation. xxx”

Further, Section 90 of the same Act provides:

“Section 90. Jiirisdiction, ~ 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 violation af
this 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.

ox Axx xxx


Presently, Cagayan de Oro City has fourteen branches of Regional Trial
Courts, two of which are designated as special drug courts, three are for special
family courts and nine courts for other civil, criminal and special proceedings
cases, In 2013, the cases filed in the Regional Trial Court of Cagayan de Oro City
are as follows: 521- drug related cases, 723 cases for family courts and 1,639
cases for ali other regular courts.

With the continuous deluge of cases in the two existing drug courts, the
disposition of court cases in Cagayan de Oro City has become very slow. Thus, the
administration of justice, being one of the primordial concems and functions of the
government is oftentimes compromised. The backlog of cases has caused concem
not only for the members of the bar but also for the people of the city. It would be
a denial of due process to let the present situation continue.

‘The passage of this bill is necessary to provide impetus to Section 16 of
Article II (Bill of Rights) of the Constitution which declares that, “Ail persons shal?
have the right 10 a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-
judicial or administrative bodies.”

The court should serve the best interest of the public and respond to the
growing demands for the immediate resolution of the cases which presently clog
the dockets and slow down the dispensation of justice in Cagayan de Oro City.
Hence, the creation of an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the
Tenth Judicial Region to be designated as a special drug court is of utmost
importance not only for the people of Cagayan de Oro City but for the whole
Province of Misamis Oriental.

In view of the foregoing considerations and in order to immediately stop one

of today’s most serious ills that destroy so many lives and continuously wreck so
many families, approval of this bill is earnestly recommended.

UNABIA.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session
2061
HOUSE BILL NO. _

Introduced by Honorable Peter “Sr. Pedro” M. Unabia

AN ACT
CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL
TRIAL COURT IN THE TENTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED
AT THE CITY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO, PROVINCE OF MISAMIS
ORIENTAL, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. One (1) additional Regional Trial Court branch for
Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, with scat thereat, is hereby created in the
Tenth Judicial Region.

SEC.2. The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number for the
newly created branch.

SEC.3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with
the Secretary of Justice, shall immediately include in the Court’s program the

implementation of this Act. The funding shall likewise be included in the General


Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the court herein
created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the
court and the appointment of its personnel.

SEC. 4. Section 14 (k) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as
the “Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980" as amended, as well as other
provisions that may be inconsistent herewith, are hereby deemed repeaied,
modified or further amended.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,