[ SC CIRCULAR NO. 26-2000, March 23, 2000 ]

[ SC CIRCULAR NO. 26-2000, March 23, 2000 ]

[ SC CIRCULAR NO. 26-2000, March 23, 2000 ]

TO:

ALL JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, SHARI'A DISTRICT COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS AND SHARI'A CIRCUIT COURTS

SUBJECT: TRANSFER OF NATIONAL PRISONERS TO THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS IN MUNTINLUPA CITY

Reports have been received by this Office that notwithstanding the issuance of Circular No. 4-93-A dated 20 April 1992, some judges still do not issue mittimuses for the transfer of national prisoners to the New Bilibid Prison of the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City. Transfer of national prisoners could not be effected without the necessary court mittimus or commitment order to national prisons.

For this purpose, prisoners detained at or confined in provincial, city and municipal jails and sentenced by lower courts to prison terms exceeding three (3) years, whether or not they have appealed, are considered national prisoners. [*]

In view thereof, and in order to decongest provincial, city and municipal jails, all trial judges concerned are hereby directed to issue the corresponding mittimuses or commitment orders of national prisoners immediately after their conviction so that they may be remitted or transferred to the New Bilibid Prison of the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City.

23 March 2000.

(Sgd.)ALFREDO L. BENIPAYO

Court Administrator

[*] Under Presidential Decree No. 29, prisoners sentenced to not more than one (1) year are classified as municipal prisoners; those sentenced to one (1) year and one (1) day to not more than three (3) years are classified as city/provincial prisoners; and those sentenced to more than three (3) years and one (1) day and above are classified as national prisoners.