Presidential Decree No. 722 (PD 722) — 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.
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. 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."
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."
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."
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.
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
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
