REPUBLIC ACT No. 3749
An Act to Amend Certain Sections of Republic Act Numbered Two Hundred and Ninety-Six, Otherwise Known as "The Judiciary Act of 1948," as Amended
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:
Section 1. The seventh, twelfth and fifteenth paragraphs of Section forty-nine of Republic Act Numbered Two hundred and ninety-six, as amended, are hereby further amended to read as follows:
"The Seventh Judicial District, of the Province of Rizal, Quezon City, Pasay City and Caloocan City, the Province of Cavite, City of Cavite, the City of Tagaytay, Trece Martires City and the Province of Palawan;
"The Twelfth Judicial District, of the Province of Occidental Negros, the Cities of Bacolod, Silay and San Carlos, the Province of Oriental Negros, Dumaguete City, and the Subprovince of Siquijor;
"The Fifteenth Judicial District, of the Provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Agusan, Butuan City, the Province of Oriental Misamis, Cagayan de Oro City, the Provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, and the Cities of Iligan and Marawi; and"
Section 2. The first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth paragraphs of Section fifty of the same Act, as amended, are hereby further amended to read as follows:
"Ten judges shall be commissioned for the First Judicial District. Four judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Cagayan, Batanes and the Subprovince of Apayao in the Mountain Province, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, and fourth branches thereof, respectively, the judge of the first branch to preside also over the Court of First Instance of the Subprovince of Apayao and the judge of the second branch to preside also over the Court of First Instance of Batanes; four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Isabela, and shall be known as the judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof; and two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Nueva Viscaya, to be known as the judges of the first and second branches thereof.
"Seventeen judges shall be commissioned for the Second Judicial District. Four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte; four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Sur; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Abra; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the City of Baguio and the Subprovince of Benguet; three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Mountain Province with jurisdiction covering the whole of Mountain Province, except the City of Baguio and the Subprovince of Benguet; three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of La Union and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof, respectively.
"Nine judges shall be commissioned for the Fourth Judicial District. Six judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Nueva Ecija and Cabanatuan City and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth branches thereof, respectively; and three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Tarlac, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof, respectively.
"Twenty-five judges shall be commissioned for the Sixth Judicial District. They shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Manila and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first, twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth branches thereof, respectively.
"Eighteen judges shall be commissioned for the Seventh Judicial District, Twelve judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Province of Rizal, Quezon City, Pasay City and Caloocan City and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth branches thereof, respectively; four judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Province of Cavite and the Cities of Cavite, Tagaytay and Trece Martires, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof, respectively; and two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Palawan.
"Nine judges shall be commissioned for the Eighth Judicial District. Four judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Laguna and the City of San Pablo, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof, respectively; three judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Batangas and the City of Lipa, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof, respectively; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Mindoro Oriental; and one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Mindoro Occidental: Provided, That the incumbent judge of the Courts of First Instance of Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental shall be given the privilege of selecting which court of first instance of said provinces he prefers to preside over.1âшphi1
"Six judges shall be commissioned for the Ninth Judicial District. Four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Quezon, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof, respectively; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Subprovince of Aurora; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Camarines Norte.
"Thirteen judges shall be commissioned for the Tenth Judicial District. Five judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Camarines Sur and Naga City and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth branches thereof, respectively; three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Albay and shall be known as judges of the first, second, and third branches thereof; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Catanduanes; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Sorsogon; and two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Masbate.
"Fifteen judges shall be commissioned for the Eleventh Judicial District. Three judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Capiz and Roxas City and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof, respectively; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Romblon; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Marinduque; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Aklan; seven judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Province of Iloilo and the City of Iloilo and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh branches thereof, respectively; and one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Antique.
"Ten judges shall be commissioned for the Twelfth Judicial District. Seven judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Occidental Negros and the Cities of Bacolod, Silay and San Carlos and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh branches thereof, respectively; and three judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Oriental Negros, Dumaguete City, and the Subprovince of Siquijor.
"Seventeen judges shall be commissioned for the Thirteenth Judicial District. Eight judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Samar and Calbayog City and shall be known as the judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth branches thereof, respectively; and nine judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Leyte, Southern Leyte and the Cities of Ormoc and Tacloban, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth branches thereof, respectively.
"Fourteen judges shall be commissioned for the Fourteenth Judicial District. Eleven judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Province of Cebu, the City of Cebu and Toledo City, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh branches thereof, respectively; and three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Bohol.
"Thirteen judges shall be commissioned for the Fifteenth Judicial District. Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Surigao del Norte; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Surigao del Sur; two judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Agusan and Butuan City and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof, respectively; four judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Oriental Misamis, Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof, respectively; and three judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and the Cities of Marawi and Iligan, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof.
"Eighteen judges shall be commissioned for the Sixteenth Judicial District. Four judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Province of Davao and Davao City to be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof; four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Cotabato, to be known as judges of the first, second, third, and fourth branches thereof; three judges shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Occidental Misamis and Ozamis City to be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga del Norte to be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga del Sur; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga City; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Basilan City; and two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Sulu, to be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof."
Section 3. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth paragraphs of Section fifty-two of the same Act, as amended, are hereby further amended to read as follows:
"For the first Judicial District, the judge of the first branch of the Court of First Instance of Cagayan and Batanes and the Subprovince of Apayao in the Mountain Province shall be stationed in the Municipality of Tuguegarao, Province of Cagayan; the judge of the second branch, in the Municipality of Aparri, same province; the judge of the third branch, in the Municipality of Sanchez Mira, same province; and the judge of the fourth branch, in the Municipality of Tuao, same province; one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Ilagan, Province of Isabela; one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Cabagan, same province; one judge shall be stationed at Cauayan, same province; the judge of the fourth branch shall be stationed in the Municipality of Roxas, same province; and two judges, in the Municipality of Bayombong, Province of Nueva Vizcaya.
"For the Second Judicial District, three judges shall be stationed in the Municipality of Laoag, Province of Ilocos Norte; one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Batac, same province; two judges in the Municipality of Vigan, Province of Ilocos Sur; one judge in the Municipality of Narvacan, same province; one judge in the Municipality of Candon, same province; two judges in the City of Baguio; one judge in the Municipality of Bontoc, Subprovince of Bontoc; one judge in the Municipality of Kiangan, Subprovince of Ifugao; one judge in the Municipality of Tabuk, Subprovince of Kalingan; one judge in the Municipality of Bangued, Province of Abra; two judges, in the Municipality of San Fernando, Province of La Union; and one judge in the Municipality of Agoo, same province.
"For the Third Judicial District, two judges shall be stationed in the Municipality of Lingayen, Province of Pangasinan; three judges shall be stationed in the City of Dagupan; two judges, in the Municipality of Urdaneta, Province of Pangasinan; one judge in the Municipality of Tayug and another in the Municipality of Alaminos, same province; the judge of the first branch of the Court of First Instance of Zambales shall be stationed in the Municipality of Olongapo, Province of Zambales, and the judge of the second branch, in the Municipality of Iba, same province.
"For the Fourth Judicial District, three judges shall be stationed in the City of Cabanatuan; one judge in the Municipality of Guimba, Province of Nueva Ecija; one judge in the Municipality of Gapan, same province; one judge in the Municipality of Sto. Domingo, same province: Provided, That as soon as the courtroom is constructed in the barrio of Baloc, Municipality of Sto. Domingo, same province, the judge shall be stationed in the said barrio; and three judges, in the Municipality of Tarlac, Province of Tarlac.
"For the Fifth Judicial District, two judges shall be stationed in the Municipality of San Fernando, Province of Pampanga; and one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Guagua, Province of Pampanga; one judge in the Municipality of Balanga, Province of Bataan; two judges in the Municipality of Malolos, Province of Bulacan; and the judge of the third branch, in the Municipality of Valenzuela, same province.
"For the Seventh Judicial District, six judges shall be stationed in the Municipality of Pasig, Province of Rizal; two judges shall be stationed in Pasay City; three judges in Quezon City; and one judge in Caloocan City; one judge, in the Municipality of Puerto Princesa, Province of Palawan; one judge in the Municipality of Brooke’s Point, same province; two judges, in the City of Cavite; one judge in the City of Trece Martines; and one judge in Tagaytay City.
"For the Eight Judicial District, one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Biñan, Province of Laguna; two judges shall be stationed in the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, same province and one judge, in the City of San Pablo; the judge of the first branch of the Court of First Instance of Batangas shall be stationed in the Municipality of Batangas, Province of Batangas; and those of the second and third branches, in the City of Lipa and the Municipality of Balayan, Province of Batangas, respectively; one judge, in the Municipality of Calapan, Province of Mindoro Oriental; and one judge in the Municipality of Mamburao, Province of Mindoro Occidental.
"For the Ninth Judicial District, the two judges shall be stationed in the Municipality of Lucena, Province of Quezon; one judge each shall be stationed in the Municipalities of Gumaca and Calauag, in the same province; one judge, in the Municipality of Baler, Subprovince of Aurora; and one judge, in the Municipality of Daet, Province of Camarines Norte.
"For the Tenth Judicial District, three judges shall be stationed in the City of Haga; one judge each shall be stationed in the Municipalities of Tigaon and Libmanan, Province of Camarines Sur; three judges, in the City of Legaspi, Province of Albay; one judge in the Municipality of Virac, Province of Catanduanes; one judge each in the Municipalities of Sorsogon and Gubat, province of Sorsogon; and one judge each, in the Municipalities of Masbate and Cataingan, Province of Masbate.
"For the Eleventh Judicial District, two judges shall be stationed in Roxas City: one judge in the Municipality of Manbusao, Province of Capiz; one judge in the Municipality of Romblon, Province of Romblon; one judge in the Municipality of Boac, Province of Marinduque; and two judges in the Municipality of Kalibo, Province of Aklan; seven judges in the City of Iloilo; and one judge, in the Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista, Province of Antique.
"For the Twelfth Judicial District, four judges shall be stationed in the City of Bacolod; one judge in the City of Silay; one judge in San Carlos City; and one judge in the Municipality of Himamaylan, Province of Occidental Negros; and three judges in the City of Dumaguete.
"For the Thirteenth Judicial District, one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Catbalogan, Province of Samar; one judge in the Municipality of Borongan, same province; one judge in the Municipality of Laoang, same province; one judge in the Municipality of Catarman, same province; one judge in the City of Calbayog; one judge in the Municipality of Guiuan, Province of Samar, one judge in the Municipality of Allen, same province, and one judge in the Municipality of Oras, same province; three judges shall be stationed in the City of Tacloban; one judge in the Municipality of Maasin, Province of Southern Leyte; one judge in the City of Ormoc who shall hold court sessions in the Municipality of Palompon at least two months every year; one judge in the Municipality of Carigara, Province of Leyte; one judge in the Municipality of Bayabay, same province; one judge in the Municipality of Burauen, same province and one judge in the Municipality of Naval, Subprovince of Biliran.
"For the Fourteenth Judicial District, six judges shall be stationed in the City of Cebu; one judge shall be stationed in Toledo City; one judge each shall be stationed in the Municipalities of Barili, San Francisco, Bantayan and Bogo, Province of Cebu; one judge in the Municipality of Tagbiliran, Province of Bohol, one judge in the Municipality of Tubigon, same province; and one judge in the Municipality of Taliban, same province.
"For the Fifteenth Judicial District, two judges shall be stationed in the Municipality of Surigao, Province of Surigao del Norte; one judge shall be stationed in the Island of Siargao, Municipality of Dapa, same province; one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Tandag, Province of Surigao del Sur; one judge shall be stationed in the City of Cagayan de Oro; one judge in the Municipality of Malaybalay, Province of Bukidnon; one judge in the Municipality of Medina, Province of Misamis Oriental; and one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Catarman, Camiguin Island, subject to call for service by the Secretary of Justice at Cagayan de Oro City; one judge shall be stationed in the City of Marawi; one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of Bayang, Province of Lanao del Sur; one judge in the City of Iligan; and two judges in the City of Butuan.
"For the Sixteenth Judicial District, three judges shall be stationed in the City of Davao; one judge in the Municipality of Mati, Province of Davao; one judge shall be stationed in the City of Cotabato; one judge shall be stationed in the Municipality of General Paulino Santos, Province of Cotabato; one judge each shall be stationed in the Municipalities of Pagalungan and Sultan sa Barongis; two judges shall be stationed in the Municipality of Oroquieta, Province of Occidental Misamis; one judge shall be stationed in Ozamis City; two judges in the Municipality of Dipolog, Province of Zamboanga del Norte; one judge in the Municipality of Pagadian, Province of Zamboanga del Sur; one judge in the City of Zamboanga; one judge in the City of Basilan; one judge in the Municipality of Jolo, Province of Sulu; and one judge in the Municipality of Siasi, same province."
Section 4. The eleventh and thirteenth paragraphs of Section fifty-four of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"Eleventh Judicial District: At Culasi, Province of Antique, on the first Tuesday of December of each year, a special term of court shall be held at least once a year on dates to be fixed by the district judge. Special terms of court shall also be held at San Agustin, Province of Romblon, on the third Tuesday of August, December and April of each year; and at Odiongan and Cajidiocan, same province, at least once a year on dates to be fixed by the judge.
"Thirteenth Judicial District: The Calbayog branch to hold court at Basey, Samar, on the first Tuesday of January of each year; the Laoang branch, at Gamay, same province, on the first Tuesday of July of each year."
Section 5. Section seventy-one of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended by adding another paragraph thereto which shall read as follows:
"No person shall be appointed judge of the municipal court of any chartered city or justice of the peace of any provincial capital unless he is (1) at least thirty years of age; (2) a citizen of the Philippines; (3) of good moral character and has not been convicted of any felony; (4) has been admitted by the Supreme Court to the practice of law; and (5) has practised law in the Philippines for a period of not less than five years."
Section 6. Wherever an additional branch or branches of the Court of First Instance is or are established in this Act in the same place where there is an existing court or courts of first instance, all cases already filed in the latter court or courts shall be heard, tried and decided by such latter court or courts.
Section 7. The stenographer of a Court of First Instance shall receive a compensation of not less than four thousand eight hundred pesos per annum except the stenographers of the Courts of First Instance of the City of Manila, Pasay City, Quezon City, Caloocan City and the Provinces of Rizal, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Leyte and Davao who shall receive a compensation of not less than six thousand pesos per annum: Provided, That no salary shall be paid to a court stenographer unless he submits a sworn statement to the effect that he has given requesting parties copies of transcripts of stenographic notes upon payment of proper fees, and transcripts have been completed and attached to the records of every appealed case within sixty days after receipt of notice from the appellate courts.
Section 8. Such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Section 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 22, 1963.
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