[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 65-2017, March 20, 2017 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 65-2017, March 20, 2017 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 65-2017, March 20, 2017 ]

TO : ALL CLERKS OF COURT

SUBJECT: CLARIFICATION ON THE COLLECTION OF MEDIATION FEES PURSUANT TO OCA CIRCULAR NO. 60-2006 DATED 27 MARCH 2006

Queries have been raised concerning the applicability of the collection of the Five Hundred Peso (P500.00) mediation fee stated in OCA Circular No. 60-2006 dated 27 March 2006 to Estafa cases, when the said circular specifically mentions B.P. 22 cases only.

Section 9 of Rule 141 of the Rules of Court states that "the clerks of court of the Regional Trial Courts and the First level Courts shall collect the amount of FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) (1) upon the filing of a Complaint or an Answer with a mediatable permissive or compulsory counterclaim xxx in civil cases xxx; (2) upon the filing of a Complaint/Information for offenses covered by the Katarungang Pambarangay Law, violation of JB.P. Big. 22, estafa and libel cases where damages are sought xxx."

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, this Office clarifies that the directive to collect Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) mediation fee as stated in OCA Circular No. 60-2006 dated 27 March 2006 likewise applies to Estafa cases.

20 March 2017

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator