‘Judicial reforms priority of incoming Congress’

MANILA, Philippines - Judicial reform will remain a priority of the incoming 16th Congress, following the results of elections showing people’s support for the Aquino government’s reform agenda.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who is expected to be re-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, yesterday cited President Aquino’s commitment to judicial reforms.

“In early April of this year, during the 15th Congress, the President had signed statutes creating numerous new court branches. These were designed to de-clog court dockets all over the country and make justice more accessible to ordinary Filipinos, especially to the poor,” the House leader said in a statement.

Based on congressional records, not less than 55 new branches of the regional trial court and not less than 33 new branches of the metropolitan trial court were established all over the country in three years.

The new branches of the regional trial court are located in various areas, including General Santos City, Agusan del Sur, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Aurora Province, Batangas, Romblon, Kalinga, Davao City, Zamboanga City, Compostela Valley, Tacloban City, Bislig City, Cavite, Calamba, Navotas, Valenzuela City and Bogo City.

These do not include the creation of municipal trial court branches in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.

Belmonte also noted Republic Act 104801 that Aquino signed last April 16 which created 22 additional branches of metropolitan trial courts in the National Capital Region.

“We have to credit the determined efforts of our colleagues in these specific concerned areas, especially the authors, and the support given by each member of the outgoing 15th Congress. I am sure the incoming 16th Congress will continue this thrust towards instituting necessary reforms in our judicial system,” he added.