[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 108-2004, September 14, 2004 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 108-2004, September 14, 2004 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 108-2004, September 14, 2004 ]

TO: ALL JUDGES

SUBJECT:

DESIGNATION OF A COURT PERSONNEL/POLICE OFFICER AS ESCORT FOR A LOWER COURT JUDGE AND REQUESTS OF JUDGES TO CARRY FIREARMS

Quoted hereuncler for your information are the pertinent paragraphs of the resolution of the Court En Banc 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. x x x

D. Designation of a Court Personnel/Police Officer as Escort for a Lower Court Judge

Judges who are facing imminent threats on their lives is hereby AUTHORIZED to designate, as escort, one member of their staff (i.e., Sheriff or Process Server). No designation shall be made without the express consent of the concerned employee and prior approval of the Court Administrator. Further, the designation shall on l y be for the duration of the period requested by the Judge and sub j ect to the guidelines that may hereafter be set by the OCA Security Committee for Lower Court Judges.

The court employee designated to serve as escort for his/her Judge shall be entitled to overtime pay at the rate of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) per day when rendering a maximum of three (3) hours of service on weekdays which shall start from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and One Hundred Fifty Pesos (P150.00) per day during weekends when rendering service from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In cases where a Judge faces a direct threat on his life, he may report the same to the PNP which shall in turn immediately provide him with a police escort. In connection, the OCA is hereby AUTHORIZED to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Philippine National Police on the grant of such request.

E. Special Processing Privileges for the Firearms of the Judges

The OCA already has the commitment, of PNP Director Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. for the grant of requests from Judges for permission to carry their firearms outside the confines of their stations. It should be noted that under Section 881 of the Revised Administrative Code, judges are among those persons not required to secure permits to carry firearms outside their residence."

For your guidance.

__ 14 __ September 2004.

PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.

Court Administrator