HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRES:
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._

Introduced by
HONORABLE IMELDA ROMUALDEZ-MARCOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 16, Article III, Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines explicitly provides that all persons shall have the right to a speedy
disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.

Republic Act no. 8493 is a means of enforcing the right of the accused to a
speedy trial otherwise known as the Speedy Trial Act, which provides, among others,
that the arraignment of an accused shall be held within thirty (30) days from filing of
information, or from the date the accused has appeared before the justice, judge, or
court in which the charge is pending whichever date last occurs. Thereafter, where a
plea of not guilty is entered, the accused shall have at least fifteen (15) days to prepare
for trial. Trial shall commence within thirty (30) days from arraignment as fixed by the
court,

The influx of cases can no longer be contained by the two (2) existing Regional
Trial Courts of Batac City which is already clogged with suits to the prejudgment of
litigants and law practitioners who are compelled to have their cases calendared and
heard only after a long period of time. Thus, in the primordial interest of promoting the
speedy dispensation of justice and human rights, Section 1, Article XIll, of the
Constitution, mandates Congress to give highest priority to the enactment of measures
designed to protect the different interests of the litigants which are,

(1) to prevent oppressive pre-trial incarceration;
(2) to minimize anxiety and concern of the accused and;
(3) to limit the possibility that the defense will be impaired.


Through the passage of this bill to establish four (4) additional Regional Trial
Courts at the City of Batac, province of Ilocos Norte, the reduction and rightful
distribution of cases from the four (4) existing Regional Trial Courts will realize the intent
and spirit of the law to give a prompt and inexpensive resolution of the cases referred
to, and would indeed build and strengthen the trust and confidence of our people in the
judiciary system, thus negating the notion that justice delayed is justice denied.

For additional information, this bill was approved by the House on the Sixteenth
Congress, and transmitted to the Senate for its action. Consequent approval by the
Senate was stalled by the sine die adjournment of the Sixteenth Congress.

In this regard, the undersigned strongly pray for the approval of this bill.

(Aa

HON. IMELDA R. MARCOS
Representative
2" District, Ilocos Norte



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bit no__“U«9

Introduced by
HONORABLE IMELDA ROMUALDEZ-MARCOS

AN ACT CREATING FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE FIRST JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF
BATAC, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE, 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. Four (4) additional Regional Trial Court branches for the City of Batac, Ilocos
Norte, with seats thereat, are hereby created in the First Judicial Region.

Section 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the
newly created branches.

Section 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary
of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include in the courts program the
implementation of this act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the courts herein
created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the
courts and the appointment of its personnel

Section 4. Section 14 (1) of Batas Pambansa Big. 129, otherwise known as “The
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980”, as amended, as well as other provisions that
may be inconsistent herewith, is hereby deemed repealed, modified, and/or further
amended.

Section 5. This act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,