[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 113-2011, August 12, 2011 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 113-2011, August 12, 2011 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 113-2011, August 12, 2011 ]

TO:

ALL CONCERNED JUDGES OF THE FIRST LEVEL COURTS OF MANILA, QUEZON CITY, PASAY CITY AND MAKATI CITY

SUBJECT:

REITERATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 58-2002 (REQUIRING EXPEDITIOUS DISPO-SITION OF CRIMINAL CASES INVOLVING TOURISTS) AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 19-2011 (ESTABLISHING NIGHT COURTS IN THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS OF PASAY CITY AND MAKATI CITY

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) through its Police Director General and Chief, Atty. Raul M. Bacalzo, has invited the attention of this Office that despite the Court's issuance of Administrative Circular No. 58-2002 dated 14 November 2002 that enjoins the lower courts to prioritize the criminal cases involving tourists, the clamor of both foreign and local tourists, who are victims of crimes in the country for immediate police response and speedy disposition of their cases has continuously occurred. Such situation may adversely affect our tourism industry because of the impression that the Philippines is not a safe haven for tourists.

Relative thereto, it must be emphasized that aside from Administrative Circular No. 58-2002, the Court in its Administrative Order No. 19-2011 dated 27 January 2011, (Establishing Night Courts in the Metropolitan Trial Courts of Pasay City and Makati City), reiterated that trial courts should judiciously dispose criminal cases involving tourists.

Henceforth, in order to fully apprise all concerned judges to give preferential attention to criminal cases involving tourists and to ultimately address the speedy and efficient disposition of criminal cases filed against them with the lower courts, the following provisions are hereby reiterated, to wit:

"Administrative Circular No. 58-2002 NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the Resolution of 10 September 2002 in A.M. No. 02-8-12-SC (Re: In the Matter of the Creation of Night Courts or Special Tourist Courts Exclusively to Attend'to Tourist-Related Crimes), it is hereby directed that:

1. Criminal Cases where the offended party or complainant is a tourist or transient in this country shall be given priority in disposition in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure and decided within twenty-four (24) hours from the date of filing in court;

2. All Executive Judges are directed to inform the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Prosecutor's Office of the provisions of Administrative Circular No. 2-99 dated 15 January 1999, specifically the assignment of judges on duty every Saturday and the court's duty to act on bailable offenses on Saturday afternoon, Sundays and non-working holidays; and

3. The Executive Judges of the Regional Trial Courts of Manila and Quezon City shall (a) inform the PNP and the Prosecutor's Office within their jurisdiction of the schedule of the branches of the first level courts assigned to hold night sessions; and (b) make representations with the PNP and local government units to ensure that appropriate security measures are adopted to protect judges and their staff on night sessions. Administrative Order No. 19-2011

WHEREFORE, it is hereby directed that:

4. The provisions of Administrative Circular No. 58-2002, dated 14 November 2002, requiring an expeditious disposition of criminal cases involving tourists be complied with; and

5. The Executive Judges" of the Metropolitan Trial Courts of Pasay City and Makati City (a) inform the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Prosecutor's Office within their respective jurisdictions of the schedule of the branches of the metropolitan trial courts assigned to hold night sessions; and (b) make representations with the PNP and the local government units to ensure that appropriate security measures are adopted to protect the judges and their staff during night sessions." (Italics emphasized)

For your information, guidance and strict compliance.

August 12, 2011.

(SGD.)JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator