Section 39
Section 39 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 39. Jurisdiction—The Court of First Instance, Circuit Criminal Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court shall have concurrent original jurisdiction over all cases involving offenses punishable under this Act: Provided, that in cities or provinces where there are Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, the said courts shall take exclusive cognizance of cases where the offenders are under sixteen years of age. "The preliminary investigation of cases filed under this Act shall be terminated within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of their filing. "Where the preliminary investigation is conducted by a prosecuting officer and a prima facie case is established, the corresponding information shall be filed in court within twenty-four (24) hours from the termination of the investigation. If the preliminary investigation is conducted by a judge and a prima facie case is found to exist, the corresponding information shall be filed by the proper prosecuting officer within forty eight (48) hours from the date of receipt of the records of the case. “Trial of the cases under this section shall be finished by the court not later than ninety (90) days from the sate of the filing of the information. Decision on said cases shall be rendered within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of submission of the case.” This Decree shall take effect immediately. Done in the City if Manila, this 9th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-two. (Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President Republic of the Philippines By the President: (Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR Executive Secretary