Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._23'76

Introduced by Rep. Gabriel Luis R. Quisumbing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Illegal drugs and substance abuse, and its proliferation has indeed grown

into a socio-political menace gnawing at society's existence.

The Philippines, as shown in recent reports from different intelligence
communities has become a major exporter of marijuana and transshipment
point in the global traffic in illegal drugs. What is happening is that this seems to
be the only industry where the country has a growing “competitiveness”. It is
nothing to be proud of.

It is a big problem in Metro Manila, other urban centers, and even in rural
areas such as the Sixth District of Cebu Province. The youth whom Rizal has
called “ the hope of the land”, have fallen prey to drug pushers. In most parts of
the country, the illegal drugs industry is thriving with the protection of police
officers and influential people. A large percentage of heinous crimes committed
daily happen while under the influence of drugs, or under the compulsion to
raise money to satisfy the cravings for drugs. This has also prompted the

enactment of the law providing for death penalty for heinous crimes.

Due to the vast ill-gotten resources of drug syndicates, the sophistication
with which they ply their illicit trade, and the threats they pose to society, it is
imperative that there must be a separate judicial body tasked to address the
situation with dispatch.


‘Taking the foregoing into consideration the creation and establishment of
a special drug court with the end in view to facilitate and hasten the filing and

disposition of drug related cases, is timely called for.

Hence, the early approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

GABRIEL I/UIs R. QUISUMBING
istrict,Cebu

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._2.3°76

Introduced by Rep. Gabriel Luis R. Quisumbing

“AN ACT DESIGNATING A REGIONAL TRIAL COURT WITHIN THE CITY OR
PROVINCE TO SIT AS SPECIAL DRUG COURT, AMENDING FOR THIS
PURPOSE ARTICLE X, SECTION 39 OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SIX
THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE”

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

SECTION 1. Section 39, Article X (10) of Republic Act No. 6425 is hereby
amended to read as follows:

JURISDICTION OVER DANGEROUS DRUG CASES

“SEC. 39. JURISDICTION [OF THE CIRCUIT CRIMINAL COURT] - THE
[CIRCUIT CRIMINAL] REGIONAL TRIAL COURT ESPECIALLY DESIGNATED AS
SPECIAL DRUG COURT SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
OVER ALL CASES INVOLVING OFFENSES PUNISHABLE UNDER THE
DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 1972 AS AMENDED: PROVIDED, THAT IN CASES

WHERE THE ACCUSED HAD ALREADY BEEN ARAIGNED AFTER THE
El 'Y_OF TI SAME SHALL CONTINUE E_ HEARD
UNTIL THIS TERMINATION.”

THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF CASES FILED UNDER THIS ACT
SHALL BE TERMINATED WITHIN A PERIOD OF SEVEN (7)]DAYS FROM THE
DATE OF [TERMINATION OF THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION] ITS FILING.
IF TI RELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IS CONDUCTED BY A JUDGE AND
[WHERE] A PRIMA FACIE CASE IS [ESTABLISHED] FOUND TO EXIST, THE


CORRESPONDING INFORMATION SHALL BE FILED [IN COURT] BY THE
PROPOER PROSECUTING OFFICER WITHIN TWENTY FOUR (24) HOURS FROM
THE DATE OF RECEIPT OF RECORDS OF THE CASE. TRIAL OF THIS CASES
UNDER THIS SEI SHALL BE FI Y THE COURT NOT LATER
THAN NINETY (90) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF FILING OF INFORMATION.
DECISION ON SAID CASES SHALL BE RENDERED WITHIN A PERIOD OF
[FIFTEEN (15)] TEN (10) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SUBMISSION OF THE CASE.

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette.

Approved,