Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15" Congress
Third Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

FOR © THE DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL
FOR OPERATIONS

ATTENTION THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PLENARY AFFAIRS BUREAU
THE SERVICE DIRECTOR
BILLS & INDEX SERVICE

FROM THE DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL FOR
COMMITTEE AFFAIRS

SUBJECT COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 2566

RE: Additional Court Salas

We are respegffully transmitting herewith six (6) copies of the Committee Report on
House Bill (No. __§'792 in substitution of House Bill No. 750, entitled “AN ACT
CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE
PROVINCE OF BULACAN TO BE STATIONED IN SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (C) OF BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.”

For your appropriate action

ATTY. ARLENE ama reg y

yr


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

/> Recewven A
& oye 07 JAN 2013

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session

COMMITTEE REPORT NO. _2966

Submitted (py JAN Ot9mittee on Justice and the Committee on Appropriations on
—0-7JAN-2043———

Re: House Bill No. 6799
Recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill No. 750

Sponsors: _ Representatives Niel C. Tupas, Jr., Jocelyn S, Limkaichong, and Arturo B:
Robes

Mr. Speaker:

The Committee on Justice and the Committee on Appropriations, to which was
referred House Bill No. 750, introduced by Representative Arturo B. Robes , entitled:

AN ACT
CREATING A BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT (RTC)
IN THE CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, PROVINCE OF BULACAN,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 OF BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

have considered the same and recommend that the attached House Bill No.
gi7aa

i Lowa entitled:


AN ACT

CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE- THE PROVINCE OF BULACAN TO BE STATIONED
IN SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (C) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT
OF 1980, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

be approved in substitution of HB No. 750 with Representatives Arturo B. Robes, Niel
C. Tupas, Jr., and Jocelyn S. Limkajetfong , as authors thereof.

Respectfully submitted,

NEL C. TUPAS, JR.
hairperson airperson
Committee on Appropriations Committee on Justice

The Honorable

The Speaker

House of Representatives
Quezon City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._ 6799

Introduced by Representatives Arturo B. Robes, Niel C. Tupas, Jr., and
Jocelyn S. Limkaichong

AN ACT

CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
IN THE PROVINCE OF BULACAN TO BE STATIONED IN SAN JOSE DEL
MONTE CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH
(©), OF 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 I. There is hereby created a branch of the Regional Trial Court in the
‘Third Judicial Region to be stationed in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.

The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly created branch of
the Regional Trial Court in the Third Judicial Region.

SEC. 2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in coordination with the
Secretary of the Department of Justice shall immediately include in the Court’s program
the operationalization of the Regional Trial Court branch to be stationed in San Jose Del

Monte City, Province of Bulacan, the funding of which shall be included in the annual

General Appropriations Act


SEC. 3. Section 14 (c) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129 otherwise known as “The
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980” as amended, and all other laws, rules and
regulation which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO,__790

Introduced by Honorable Arturo B. Robes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The bill seeks to create a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in the City of San Jose del
Monte, Bulacan. There is no such existing Court in the City.

At present, the City has only one operating Municipal Trial Court in the City
(MTCC) with pending cases, based on current Supreme Court records, number to about
four thousand (4,000). The two additional MTCC Branches in the City created under
Republic Act No. 9450 in May 15, 2007 are not yet operational, hence, such a volume of
pending cases.

The Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) in the City of Malolos, Bulacan, at present,
exercise territorial jurisdiction over the City of San Jose del Monte. Current Supreme
Court records likewise show that 60% of the 3,100 cases pending before Malolos RTCs
originated from the City of San Jose del Monte. The significant increase in the number
of its inhabitants, now numbering to 750,000, coupled with its fast-paced social and
economic development, contributed to this load of undisposed or undecided cases
Thus, as more cases remain unheared or undecided, the more it results to delays in the
dispensation of justice.

“Justice delayed, justice denied.”

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this Billi


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

750

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Arturo B. Robes

“AN ACT CREATING A BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT (RTC)

IN THE CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, PROVINCE OF BULACAN, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 OF THE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG 129,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “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. Section 14 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The
Judiciary Re-organization Act of 1980", as amended, is hereby further amended to read
as follows:

“Sec 14. Regional trial Courts.

xxx

(c) One branch in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

XXX

SECTION 2. The Chief Justice of Supreme Court, in coordination with the
Secretary of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include in the Court's program
the operationalization of the Branch of the RTC in the City of San Jose del Monte,
Bulacan, the funding of which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations
Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval


Republic ofthe Philippines
House of Representatines
@urzon City, Meteo Mails

November 20, 2012 Me MOS ppg

HON. NIEL C. TUPAS, JR. :
Chairperson
Committee on Justice

Dear Chairperson Tapas:

Please be informed that the Committee on Appropriations in its meeting held today at
Conference Rooms 3 and 4, Ramon V. Mitra Building, approved to report out the

following bills:

1

4.

Substitute Bil to House Bill Nos. 182 and 183, titled “AN ACT CREATING FOUR (4)
ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT AND TWO (2)
ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES FOR THE
PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECWA TO BE STATIONED IN SAN JOSE CITY (2), THE
‘SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ (2), AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF RIZAL, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE SEC. 14, PARAGRAPH (C), SECTION 29, AND SECTION 30 OF
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 128, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘THE
JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS

THEREFOR’,

Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 750, titled “AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL
BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF BULACAN TO BE
STATIONED IN SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SEC.
14, PARAGRAPH (C) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG 129, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS "THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR",

Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 899, titled "AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL
BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE
STATIONED IN DANAO CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,
PARAGRAPH (H) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG 129, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE ‘JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980', AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR’;

‘Substitute Bill to House Bill Nos. 1422 and 1423, titled "AN ACT CREATING AN
ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE ISLAND GARDEN
CITY OF SAMAL, AND A MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF STO. TOMAS, DAVAO DEL NORTE, AMENDING FOR THE


PURPOSE SEC. 14, PARAGRAPH (L) AND SECTION 30 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG
129, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION
ACT OF 1980, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”,

‘Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 1906, titled “AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL
BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF MISAMIS
ORIENTAL TO BE STATIONED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TAGOLOAN, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE SEC. 14, PARAGRAPH (K) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG, 129, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘JUCIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF
1980’, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR’;

‘Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 4968, titled “AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL REGION TO BE
STATIONED AT THE CITY OF MEYCAUAYAN, PROVINCE OF BULACAN, AMENDING.
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (C) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG.
129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980',
AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5341, tied "AN ACT CREATING THREE (8) ADDITIONAL REGIONAL.
TRIAL COURT BRANCHES IN THE PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON TO BE STATIONED (2)
AT THE CITY OF MALAYBALAY AND (1) AT THE CITY OF VALENCIA, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION FOURTEEN (14), PARAGRAPH (K), OF BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE — ‘JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS

THEREFOR’;

House Bill No. 5335, titled "AN ACT CREATING TWO ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF
THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE
STATIONED AT THE CITY OF LUCENA, PROVINCE OF QUEZON, FURTHER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 129, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980', AS AMENDED, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”,

Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 6583, tilled “AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL
BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE EIGHT JUDICIAL REGION TO
BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF ORMOC, PROVINCE OF LEYTE, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (I) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980’ AS.
AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR",

|. House Bill No. 5597, titled “AN ACT CREATING TWENTY-TWO (22) ADDITIONAL

BRANCHES OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
JUDICIAL REGION FOR QUEZON CITY, WITH SEATS THEREAT, FURTHER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 129, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS 'THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, AS AMENDED, AND.
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR",

Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 5837, titled "AN ACT CREATING FOURTEEN (14)
ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT AND SEVEN (7)
ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT FOR THE PROVINCE
OF TARLAC, TO BE STATIONED AT TARLAC CITY, AND AT THE MUNICIPALITIES
OF PANIQUI, CAPAS, CAMILING, VICTORIA-LA PAZ, CONCEPCION, STA. IGNACIO-
SAN CLEMENTE, MONCADA AND GERONA, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (C), SECTION 29 AND SECTION 30 OF BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 128, . OTHERWISE KNOWN AS. ‘THE | JUDICIARY


AB.

14.

AB.

46.

47:

18.

19.

REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980’ AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR’,

Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 2306, titled “AN ACT CREATING FIVE (6) ADDITIONAL

" METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT BRANCHES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL

REGION, TO BE STATIONED IN MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE SECTION 27 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980 AS AMENDED, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR’;

Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 3372, titled “AN ACT CREATING TWO ADDITIONAL
BRANCHES OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN THE EIGHT JUDICIAL REGION
TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF CALBAYOG, PROVINCE OF WESTERN
SAMAR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 29 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG.
129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980’
AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR",

‘Substitute’ Bill to House Bill No. 2958, titled “AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ADDITIONAL
BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF ISABELA, TO BE
STATIONED IN CAUAYAN CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,
PARAGRAPH (8) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
"JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980’, AS AMENDED AND APPROPRIATING.

FUNDS THEREFOR’;

House Bill No. 4670, titled “AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH, OF THE
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF GUIHULNGAN,
PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,
PARAGRAPH (H), OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘THE
JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980' AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR",

‘Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 4708, titled “AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCHES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL
REGION, TO BE STATIONED IN PARANAQUE CITY, METRO MANILA, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (0) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG.
129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980.AS.
AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR’,

‘Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 4719, titied “AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL
BRANCHES OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES (MTCC) IN THE
PROVINCE OF QUEZON TO BE STATIONED AT LUCENA CITY, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE SECTION 30 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, AS AMENDED, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

‘Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 5566, titied "AN ACT CREATING FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL
BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT AND TWO ADDITIONAL BRANCHES
OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL
REGION, TO BE STATIONED IN MALABON CITY, METRO MANILA, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 (D) AND SECTION 27 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 139,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, AS
AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”:

‘Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 5839, titled “AN ACT CREATING FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL
BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRAIL COURT AND FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL
BRANCHES OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL


20.

JUDICIAL REGION, TO BE STATIONED IN PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 (0) AND SECTION 27 OF BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION
ACT OF 1980, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR’, and

Substitute Bill to House Bill No. 6418, tilted "AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL
BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF BONGABONG, AND FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE
MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT TO BE STATIONED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF
BANSUD, BULALACAO, GLORIA AND MANSALAY, ALL IN THE PROVINCE OF:
ORIENTAL MINDORO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 (E) AND
SECTION 30 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING

FUNDS THEREFOR”

with omnibus amendment to the proposed appropriations provisions as follows:

Delete the last sentence which reads as follows:

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.

It was also moved that the title of House Bill No. 5837 be amended to reflect the correct
name of the place from STA. IGNACIO ~ SAN CLEMENTE, MONCADA AND
GERONA TO STA. IGNACIA - SAN CLE! TE, MONCADA AND GERONA.

Committee on Appropriations

cc

Rep. Joseph Gibert F. Violago
Rep. Arturo B. Robes

Rep. Ramon “Red H. Durano Vi

Rep. Antonio F. Lagdameo, Jr.

Rep. Yevgeny Vincent B. Emano

Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Vllariea

Rep. Florencio T. Flores, J.

Reo. Inin M. Alcala

Rep. Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez

Rep. Jorge "Bolet” Banal

Rep. Enrique M. Cojuangeo

Rep, Susan A. Yap

Rep. Godofredo V. Arquiza

Rep. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento

Rep. Napoleon S. Dy

Rep. Edwin L. Olvarez

Rep. Josephine Veronique R. Lacson-Noel
Rep. Imelda Calite-Rubiano

Rep. Reynaldo V. Uma


she

the,
Sap

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE HELD ON 14 AUGUST
2012 AT CONFERENCE ROOM NOS. 9 & 10, R.V. MITRA BLDG, HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES, QUEZON CITY

INVITED GUESTS / RESOURCE PERSONS:

DEPUTY COURT ADMINISTRATOR ANTONIO EUGENIO, JR. — OFFICE OF THE COURT
ADMINISTRATOR, SUPREME COURT (OCA-SC)

PIC.SUPT. CHRISTOPHER LAXA — PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP)

ATTY.ARNALDO DIZON ~ PRESIDENT, INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES — TARLAC

MR. JOHN MANALASTAS ~ ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, NEWS PRODUCTION ~ GMA 7.

ATTY. ROY IBAY ~ SMARTISUN CELLULAR

ATTY. MICHAEL URETA — PLDT

ATTY. ALEXANDER GOZON ~ GLOBE TELECOM

1. Call to Order:

Hon. Niel C. Tupas, Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Justice, called the meeting to order at
10:00 am.

Wl. Roll Call:
Upon the duly seconded motion of Hon. Lucy Gomez, the roll call was dispensed with.

MM Preliminary Remarks:

After acknowledging the presence of some House members in the meeting, Hon. Tupas informed
the body that the first part of the meeting's agenda will deal with House Bills on the Creation of Court
Salas and those proposing an Anti-Stalking Act. Thereafter, he said the Justice Committee will
adjourn and reconvene to meet in a joint meeting with the Committee on Government Reorganization
to deliberate on the measures regarding the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).

IV. Deliberation Proper:

A. Creation of Additional Court Sal
The following measures seek to create additional court salas, to wit:

+ HB No, 182 re: 2RTC/2 MTC ( San Jose City, Nueva Ecija) by Rep. J. Violago
+ HB No, 183 re: 2 RTC (Science City of Mufioz and Rizal - Nueva Ecija)

by Rep. J. Violago
HB No. 750 re: 1 RTC (San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan) by Rep. A. Robes
HB No, 899 re: 1 RTC (Danao City, Cebu) by Rep. R. Ourano
HB No, 1422 re: 1MTC (Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte) by Rep. A. Lagdameo
HB No, 1423 re: 1 RTC (Isiand Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte )

by Rep. A. Lagdameo

HB No, 1906 re: 1 RTC (Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental) by Rep.Y. Emano
HB No. 4968 re: 1 RTC (Meycauayan, Bulacan) by Rep. L Villarica
HB No. 5341 re: 3 RTC (Malaybalay and Valencia, Bukidnon) by Rep. F. Flores
HB No, 5535 re: 2 RTC (Lucena City, Quezon) by Rep. |. Alcala
HB No. 5583 re: 1 RTC (Ormoc City, Leyte) by Rep. L. Gomez
HB No, §597 re: 22 MTC (Quezon City, Metro Manila) by Rep. J. Banal
HB No. 5837 re: 14 RTC & 7 MTC (Tarlac City, Paniqui, Capas, Camiling, Concepcion,
Victoria-La Paz, Sta. Ignacio-San Clemente, Moncada & Gerona - Tarlac) by Reps. E.
Cojuangco and S. Yap

Upon observing that many of the authors were not present to sponsor their respective measures,
the Chair nonetheless said that he will relax the Committee's policy that only those bills, whose


authors are present, will be taken up since this meeting was the first after the impeachment hearings.
He requested Justice Antonio Eugenio, Jr, Deputy Court Administrator of the Supreme Court, to
‘comment on the proposals for the creation of additional court salas.

The Deputy Court Administrator said that legislative measures seeking to create new courts are
always welcome and added that the basis of the number of court salas proposed to be created was
the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), Asked by the Chair if the
proposal under House Bill No. 5597, authored by Hon. Jorge Banal, for the creation of 22 additional
Municipal Trial Court (MTC) branches was recommended by the OCA, Justice Eugenio answered in

the affirmative

Meanwhile, Hon. Susan Yap, one of the authors of HB No. 5837, gave her sponsorship speech
‘where she emphasized the urgent need to create additional court salas in her area because of the
huge backlog of cases in the courts’ docket. Her statement was backed up by Mr. Amaldo Dizon,
President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) —Tarlac, who said that upon coordination with
the judges of Tarlac, there is a backlog of 6,000 cases still pending in the courts.

Upon hearing this, Justice Eugenio commented that the ideal caseload target is 300 cases for the
RTCs and 500 cases for the MTCs, Given the huge number of cases in the Tarlac courts, he said the
creation of new courts is imperative.

For her part, Hon. Gomez, author of HB No. 5583, said that her bill seeks the creation of an
additional RTC branch in Ormoc, Leyte in order to decongest the dockets of the 2 existing RTC
branches. She stressed that these 2 branches, Branch 12 and Branch 235, have a caseload of 774

and 769 cases, respectively.

Similarly, Hon. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, author of HB No, 4968, proposed for the creation of an
additional RTC branch in Meycauayan, Bulacan citing the 12,330 cases pending in the courts’ dockets
as the basis for such proposal. She added that while the seat of the proposed new branch will be in
‘Meycauauyan, the court will service the judicial needs of 4 other towns in Bulacan.

‘After the 3 authors made their sponsorship speeches and responded to some queries, Hon.
Gomez moved for the omnibus approval of all the bills proposing for the creation of additional court
alas which was duly seconded by Hon. David Kho. The motion was carried.

Hon. Yap manifested that an amendment be made in her bill, providing for 1 RTC branch each for
Capas and Concepcion, Tarlac.

In reply to the inquiry of Hon. Villarica regarding the budget for the creation of the new court salas,
the Chair explained the process involved in considering the funding provisions of bills proposing the
same. He however emphasized that usually, itis up to the bil's author to follow up the funding but
added that there are sufficient funds for the creation of necessary court salas. He also added that in
similar bills approved by the Senate earlier on, the upper chamber introduced an amendment to the
funding provision of cout sala bills which provides that “funds necessary for the operation of the
newly-created court shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the court
and appointment of its personnel.”

B. Anti- Stalking Act:

The Committee next deliberated on HB Nos. 3367, 5099 and 6114 respectively authored by
Hons Salvador Escudero Ill, Diosdado Arroyo and Irwin Tieng, proposing an Anti - Stalking Act.

Before giving the floor to Hon. Tieng, the Chair reminded the guests and resource persons to
attend the Committee's meetings when invited to, otherwise, a subpoena may be issued to compel
their attendance to the meeting. The Chair gave this stem reminder after he was informed that there
was no representative from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to attend the meeting despite
being sent an invitation.


For his part Hon. Tieng manifested that his bil's explanatory note will serve as his sponsorship
speech and added that he is open to any amendments that the Committee may propose for his
measure.

Citing the Anti-Stalking laws of the United States, the Chair mentioned that the enactment of said
faws in that country were fairly recent and was brought about as a result of the death of a celebrity,
Rebecca Schaeffer, who was stalked and killed by her assailant. In the Philippines, however, he said
there is yet no law on stalking and only a civil action for damages under Article 26 of the Civil Code is
What is applicable.in the country

The Chair asked Hon. Tieng if his bill will apply to media men who may, through a series of acts
such as repeated texting, e-mails, phone calls, cause emotional stress to the person they are
covering. In response, Hon. Tieng said if the court finds that the series of acts cause untoward stress
on the person, then the court may issue a protection order against them.

‘Asked for his comments, Deputy Court Administrator Eugenio opined that if the stalking undertaken
by the media is legitimate, will the bill not contravene freedom of the press? A similar sentiment was
expressed by Atty. Alexander Gozon of Globe who said the measure may be construed as a restraint
cn the freedom of expression.

Admitting that they perform the acts mentioned by the Chair, Mr. John Manalastas, assistant vice
president of GMA 7's news production, nonetheless asked if the work of media men can be an
exception. The Chair assured him in such a case, the rights of media practitioners will be protected.

Atty. Roy Ibay of Smart/Sun Cellular said that they are only responsible for the sending and
receiving of the message and do not have any part in the content which passes through the system.

Meanwhile, P/C. Supt. Christopher Laxa of the Philippine National Police expressed the agency's
‘support for the measure and informed the body that they filed cases similar to stalking but were only
classified as unjust vexation. He added that the PNP had also entertained 10 cases of cyberstalking

After the discussions, Hon. David Kho made a motion for the approval of the measures and for the
creation of a technical working group that will consolidate the 3 bills. The motion was carried and the
‘Chair announced that the bills were approved in principle, subject to amendment and consolidation by
‘a technical working group to be composed of the authors of the 3 bills, Hon. Kho, representatives of
the DOJ, PNP, NBI, and the media sector.

V. Adjournment:
‘The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am.

Prey

by:

j
ATTY. MARGISA H. GUEVARA JA‘
Committee Secretary
Committee on Justice

Committee on Justice