Company Information

ESTABLISHMENT

There are 13 Regional Trial Courts that is created and one for each judicial regions. The Regional Trial Court Branch 163, Coron Palawan is in the 4th Judicial Region. It was created on December 12, 2017. As of now it is located at Barangay 3, Coron, Palawan, temporarily, but there's a new office that is still under construction that is located at Barangay 6, Coron, Palawan and it will be the permanent office of the Regional Trial Court - 163.

According to Republic Act No. 10547:

AN ACT CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF PUERTO PRINCESA, PROVINCE OF PALAWAN, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980″, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Three (3) additional Regional Trial Court branches for Puerto Princesa, Palawan, with seats thereat, are hereby created in the Fourth Judicial Region.1âwphi1

Section 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the newly created branches.

Section 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include in the Courts program the implementation of this Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the Courts herein created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the Courts and the appointment of its personnel.

Section 4. Section 14(e) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980″, as amended, as well as other provisions that may be inconsistent herewith, are hereby deemed repealed, modified and/or further amended.

Section 5. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Reference:

• https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2013/ra_10547_2013.html

HISTORY

The Supreme Court Under the 1987 Constitution

As in the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions, the 1987 Constitution provides that “[t]he judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be established by law.” (Art. VII, Sec. 1). The exercise of judicial power is shared by the Supreme Court with all the courts below it, but it is only the Supreme Court’s decisions that are vested with precedential value or doctrinal authority, as its interpretations of the Constitution and the laws are final and beyond review by any other branch of government.

Unlike the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions, however, the 1987 Constitution defines the concept of judicial power. Under paragraph 2 of Section 1, Article VIII, “judicial power” includes not only the “duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable” but also “to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the government.” This latter provision dilutes the effectivity of the “political question” doctrine which places specific questions best submitted to the political wisdom of the people beyond the review of the courts.

Building on previous experiences under former Constitutions, the 1987 Constitution provides for specific safeguards to ensure the independence of the Judiciary. These are found in the following provisions:

The grant to the Judiciary of fiscal autonomy. “Appropriations for the Judiciary may not be reduced by the legislature below the amount appropriated for the previous year, and, after approval, shall be automatically and regularly released.” (Art. VIII, Sec. 3).

The grant to the Chief Justice of authority to augment any item in the general appropriation law for the Judiciary from savings in other items of said appropriation as authorized by law. (Art. VI, Sec. 25[5])

The removal from Congress of the power to deprive the Supreme Court of its jurisdiction over cases enumerated in Section 5 of Article VIII.

The grant to the Court of the power to appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil Service Law (Art. VIII, Sec. 5 [6])

The removal from the Commission of Appointments of the power to confirm appointments of justices and judges (Art. VIII, Sec. 8)

The removal from Congress of the power to reduce the compensation or salaries of the Justices and judges during their continuance in office. (Art. VIII, Sec. 10)

The prohibition against the removal of judges through legislative reorganization by providing that “(n)o law shall be passed reorganizing the Judiciary when it undermines the security of tenure of its members. (Art. VIII, Sec. 2)

The grant of sole authority to the Supreme Court to order the temporary detail of judges. (Art. VIII, Sec. 5[3])

The grant of sole authority to the Supreme Court to promulgate rules of procedure for the courts. (Art. VIII, Sec. 5[5])

The prohibition against designating members of the Judiciary to any agency performing quasi-judicial or administrative function. (Art. VIII, Sec. 12)

The grant of administrative supervision over the lower courts and its personnel in the Supreme Court. (Art. VIII, Sec. 6)

The Supreme Court under the present Constitution is composed of a Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices.

The members of the Court are appointed by the President from a list prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council of at least three nominees for every vacancy. This new process is intended to “de-politicize” the courts of justice, ensure the choice of competent judges, and fill existing vacancies without undue delay.

Sources:

• http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/

• The Philippine Judiciary Foundation, 2011. The History of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court of the Philippines, Manila.

• The 1935 Constitution.

• The 1973 Constitution.

• The 1986 Freedom Constitution

• The 1987 Constitution.

Reference:

• https://cacj-ajp.org/philippines/judiciary/history/

INTRODUCTION

The Second Level Courts

Regional Trial Courts are also known as Second Level Courts, which were established among the thirteen Judicial regions in the Philippines consisting of Regions I to XII and the National Capital Region (NCR). There are as many Regional Trial Courts in each region as the law mandates. RTCs were formerly called as the Court of First Instance since the Spanish era. It was only in the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 that its name was changed from being called the Court of First Instance to Regional Trial Court.

Reference: https://cacj-ajp.org/philippines/judiciary/description-of-courts/flowchart/

Inclusive Dates of Training

Names of Personnel involved in the Training Program

(As of 2018)

Name of Employees Position

1. Hon. Arnel P. Cezar Presiding Judge

2. Atty. Mary Ann B. Marigondon Clerk of Court VI

3. Nataniel B. Briagas Legal Researcher II

4. Jo Ann A. Garlitos Interpreter III

5. Melody C. Abis Clerk III

6. Dianne Maurice C. Paredes Clerk III

7. Dante P. Oliquino Jr. Process Server

8. Bryan P. Tumamao Utility Worker

9. Jeanelyn A. Pimentel Administrative Assistant III

10. Dante B. Dela Torre Stenographer