AMENDING THE JUDICIARY ACT BY INCLUDING NEWLY CREATED PROVINCES IN THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE COURTS OF FIRST INSTANCE, COMMISSIONING JUDGES THEREFOR AND FIXING THEIR PERMANENT STATIONS.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 722
• Sections: 6

Preamble

WHEREAS, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 302, dated

September 27, 1973, the province of Tawi-Tawi was created out of certain

municipalities which were removed from the territorial jurisdiction of

the province of Sulu;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 341, dated

November 22, 1973, the province of Cotabato was divided into three

provinces known as North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat;

WHEREAS, all the existing three branches of the Court of

First Instance of the undivided province of Sulu are permanently

stationed in the Municipality of Jolo, and none in any of the

municipalities comprising the new province of Tawi-Tawi; and of the

existing four organized branches of the Courts of First Instance of the

undivided province of Cotabato and Cotabato City, three branches are

permanently stationed in Cotabato City and one in the Municipality of

Pagalungan, now within the territory of the new province of Maguindanao;

so that, there is no branch of the Court of First Instance in any

municipality of the new provinces of North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat;

WHEREAS, it is necessary that, in each of the aforesaid

newly created provinces without a Court of First Instance, the same

court be established therein for the effective administration of justice

which is essential to the political, social and economic stability of

the province.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,

do hereby decree and order the amendment of Republic. Act No. 296, as

amended, otherwise known as the Judiciary Act of 1948 as follows:

Section 1

SECTION 1. The last paragraph of Section 49 of Republic Act

No. 296, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 49. Judicial Districts.—Judicial districts

for Court of First Instance in the Philippines are constituted as

follows:

* * * * * * * *

"The Sixteenth Judicial District of the Provinces of Davao del

Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte, the City of Davao, the

Provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Ma-guindanao, Sultan

Kudarat and the Cities of Cotabato and General Santos, the Province of

Occidental Misamis, the Cities of Ozamis and Tangub, the Province of

Zamboanga del Norte and the Cities of Dapitan and Dipolog and the

Province of Zamboanga del Sur, the Cities of Zamboanga and Pagadian, the

Province of Basilan and the City of Basilan, the Province of Sulu and

the Province of Tawi-Tawi."

Section 2

SEC. 2. The last paragraph of section 50 of the same Act, is

hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 50. Judges of the First Instance of Judicial

Districts.

* * * * * *

"Thirty-six judges shall be commissioned for the Sixteenth

Judicial District. Twelve judges shall preside over the Courts of First

Instance of the Provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao del

Norte, and Davao City, to be known as judges of the first, second,

third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and

twelfth branches thereof; six judges shall preside over the. Courts of

First Instance of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Cotabato City and

Sultan Kudarat, to be known as judges of the first, second, third,

fourth, fifth and sixth branches thereof; two judges shall preside over

the Courts of First Instance of South Cotabato and the City of General

Santos and the Municipality of Koronadal, to be known as judges of the

first and second branches thereof; three judges shall preside over the

Courts of First Instance of Occidental Misamis and the Cities of Ozamis

and Tangub to be known as judges of the first, second and third branches

thereof; four judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of

Zamboanga del Norte and the Cities of Dapitan and Dipolog, to be known

as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof; three

judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga dell

Sur; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of

Zamboanga City; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance

of Basilan and Basilan City; two judges shall preside over the Court of

First Instance of Sulu to be known as judges of the first and second

branches thereof; and one judge shall preside over the Court of First

Instance of Tawi-Tawi."

Section 3

SEC. 3. The last paragraph of Section 52 of the

same Act, as amended by Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 204, dated

June 5, 1973, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

* * * * * *

"For the Sixteenth Judicial District, four judges (Branches I.

II, III and VI) shall be stationed in the City of Davao; two judges

(Branches IV and X) in the Municipality of Mati, Province of Davao

Oriental; two judges (Branches V and VII) the Municipality of Digos,

Province of Davao del Sur; two judges (Branches VIII and) IX) in the

Municipality of Tagum, Province of Davao del Norte; one judge (Branch

XI) in the Municipality of Nabunturan, same province; one judge (Branch

XII) in the Municipality of Baganda, province of Davao Oriental; two

judges (Branches I and II) shall be stationed in Cotabato City; one

judge (Branch VI) in the Municipality of Maganoy, Province of

Maguindanao; two judges (Branches III and V) in the Municipality of

Kidapawan, Province of North Cotabato; one judge (Branch IV) in the

Municipality of Isulan, Province of Sultan Kudarat; one judge (Branch I)

shall be stationed in the City of General Santos; one judge (Branch II)

in the Municipality of Koronadal, Province of South Cotabato; two

judges (Branches I and III) shall be stationed an the City of Oroquieta;

one judge (Branch II) in the City of Ozamis; three judges (Branches I,

II and III) in the City of Dipolog; one judge (Branch IV) in the

Municipality of Sindangan, Province of Zamboanga del Norte; three judges

in the City of Pagadian; two judges (Branches I and II) an the City of

Zamboanga; one judge in the City of Basilan; two judges (Branches I and

II) in the Municipality of Jolo, Province of Sulu; and one judge (Branch

III) in the Municipality of Bongao, Province of Tawi-Tawi."

Section 4

SEC. 4. All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and

regulations, contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this

Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 5

SEC. 5. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of June, in the year

of Our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy-five.

(Sgd.)

FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President

Republic of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.)

ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary