[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 111-2004, September 14, 2004 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 111-2004, September 14, 2004 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 111-2004, September 14, 2004 ]

TO: ALL EXECUTIVE JUDGES AND PRESIDING JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

SUBJECT:

RE: ABOLITION OF HEINOUS CRIME COURTS

Quoted hereunder for your information is the pertinent paragraph of the resolution of the Court En Bane dated 24 August 2004 in A.M. No. 04-6-18-SC, Re: Position Paper on Continuing Assassinations/Intentional Killings of Judges while in the Performance of their Duties. - x x x

"A. xxx

B. x x x

C. Abolition of the Heinous Crime Courts

Administrative Order No. 104-96 dated 21 October 1996 designating Regional Trial Courts as Heinous Crime Courts pursuant to Batas Pambansa 129 is hereby REVOKED owing to the relatively low caseloads in the said courts and considering that the current set-up makes a Heinous Crime Court Judge easily identifiable, making him/her an easy prey to vindictive litigants.

Heinous crimes shall henceforth be cognizable by all second level courts."

In view of the foregoing the following guidelines are hereby prescribed:

the designated heinous crimes court shall continue trying and deciding the heinous crimes cases assigned to them;

all newly filed heinous crimes cases shall be raffled among the regular courts including formerly designated heinous crimes courts;

henceforth, courts formerly designated as heinous crimes courts shall now be included in the raffle of all ordinary criminal and civil cases and other cases except those falling under the exclusive jurisdiction of other special courts; and

the Executive Judge shall ensure the equitable distribution of cases pursuant to the guidelines in the raffling of cases.

For guidance and implementation.

__ 14 __ September 2004.

PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.

Court Administrator