03 SEP 2
Republic of the Philippines | 1 3.98
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ya
Quezon City Ga [
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS,

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. a7ie

Introduced by Congresswoman Lorna Quinto Velasco

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Justice delayed is justice denied.

Presently, the Judiciary is under fire for the congested or clogged dockets of the
lower courts. The clogged dockets of the courts cause great delay in the disposition of
cases, The following are the main causes the congestions:

1. Lack of judges;

2, Heavy inflow of cases in Metro Manila and other cities; and

3. The use of regular judges as assisting or acting judges which has been proven
to be unproductive because they do not have sufficient time to devote to the
cases in vacant or congested courts since they have their own respective salas
to attend to.

‘The delay in the disposition of cases is precisely what the 1987 Constitution seeks
to avoid. Article III, Section 16 of the Constitution provides that “Alll persons shall have
the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or
administrative bodies.” ‘Thus it is imperative that new positions for the Judiciary should
be created.

The solution, therefore, is the creation of “Judges-at-Large” positions. These
Judges shall have no permanent salas and can be detailed by the Supreme Court to any
court in the Philippines, as public interest may require.

In view of the foregoing consideration, the approval of this bill is strongly

recommended.
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

¢ °
HOUSE BILL NO. e712

Introduced by Congresswoman Lorna Quinto Velasco

AN ACT AMENDING BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 129,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT REORGANIZING THE
JUDICIARY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES”

TO CREATE POSITIONS FOR JUDGES-AT-LARGE

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

Section 1. Section 14, Chapter II of B.P. Blg. 129 is hereby amended to
include section (n), which will be read as follows:

“(n) Fifty (50) positions of Regional Trial Judges-at-Large are
created. Said judges-at-large shall have no permanent salas and
can be detailed by the Supreme Court as Acting or Assisting
Judges to any Regional Trial Court in the Philippines, as public
interest may require. Said judges-at-large are entitled to the
salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments, benefits, rank and
title of a Regional Trial Judge.”

Section 2. Section 15, Chapter II of B.P. Blg. 129 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 15. Qualifications —No person shall be appointed Regional
Trial Judge or Regional Trial Judge-at-Large unless he is a natural-


born citizen of the Philippines, at least thirty-five years of age, and for
at least ten years, has been engaged in the practice of law in the
Philippines or has held a public office in the Philippines requiring
admission to the practice of law as an indispensable requisite.”

Section 3. Section 25, Chapter III of B.P. Blg. 129 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 25. Establishment of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal
‘Trial Courts, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts and Municipal Trial
Judges-at-Large.—There shall be created a Metropolitan Trial Court
in each metropolitan area established by law, a Municipal Trial Court
in each of the other cities or municipalities, and a Municipal Circuit
Trial Court in each circuit comprising such cities and/or
municipalities as are grouped together pursuant to law.

Fifty (50) positions of Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large are
created. Said judges-at-large shall have no permanent salas and
can be detailed by the Supreme Court as Acting or Assisting
Judges to any first level court in the Philippines, as public interest
may require. Said judges-at-large are entitled to the salaries and
all privileges, allowances, emoluments, benefits, rank and title of a
judge of a Municipal Trial Court in Cities.”

Section 4. Section 26, Chapter III of B.P. Blg. 129 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 26. Qualifications—No person shall be appointed judge of a
Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, or Municipal Circuit
Trial Court or a Municipal Trial Judge-at-Large unless he is a
natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least thirty years of age, and
for at least five years, has been engaged in the practice of law in the
Philippines or has held a public office in the Philippines requiring
admission to the practice of law as an indispensable requisite.”

Section 5. Section 41, Chapter IV of B.P. Blg. 129 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 41. Salaries—Intermediate Appellate Justices, Regional
Trial Judges, Regional Trial Judges-at-Large, Metropolitan Trial


Judges, Municipal Trial Judges, Municipal Circuit Trial Judges and
Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large shall receive such compensation
and allowances as may be authorized by the President along the
guidelines set forth in Letter of Implementation No. 93 pursuant to
Presidential Decree No. 985, as amended by Presidential Decree No.
1597.”

Section 6. Section 42, Chapter IV of B.P. Blg. 129, is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 42. Longevity pay and Displacement Allowance.—A
monthly longevity pay equivalent to 5% of the monthly basic pay
shall be paid to the Justices and Judges of the courts herein created for
each five years of continuous, efficient, and meritorious service
rendered in the judiciary: Provided, That in no case shall the total
salary of each Justice or Judge concerned, after this longevity pay is
added, exceed the salary of the Justice or Judge next in rank.

Regional Trial Judges-at-Large and Municipal Trial Judges-at-
Large shall receive displacement allowances, which shall cover
their housing, food, transportation, and other necessary expenses
incurred during their detail to courts which are outside their
places of residence. The Displacement allowances shall be
determined by the Supreme Court upon the recommendation of
the Court Administrator and the Plantilla Committee.”

Section 7. Repealing Clause—All laws, rules, regulations, orders,
memoranda or circulars inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved.