SC launches program to speed up justice

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has launched another program to speed up the wheels of justice in the country through the “Assisting Courts System,” the latest project under the high court’s judicial reform agenda.

The new scheme is meant to address the disproportionate allocation of cases in various courts around the country.

During its launch last Jan. 22 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said the SC approved the new project under A.M. No. 14-11-393-RTC to reduce court congestion and case delays.

“It has come to the point where the justices of the Supreme Court are already discussing a system where those with lighter dockets are willing to absorb more in order to ensure that justice really moves forward, at all levels in this country,” she revealed.

Under the order, the SC designated assisting courts from stations that have light case loads to help courts in adjacent stations with heavy case loads.

The high court directed the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) to conduct pilot tests designating Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTCs) of Manila to help courts in Makati City and Quezon City, and likewise charging the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) of Cebu City to aid courts in Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City.

The pilot testing, however, would only cover newly filed civil cases and Batas Pambansa Bilang 22 or bouncing check cases, Sereno added.

Court Administrator Midas Marquez said the OCA would study the process and make its recommendation after six months. 

The mechanics of the system will be released to the public under OCA guidelines and its implementation would begin on Feb. 2.

Sereno stressed that teamwork would be needed for the success of the new project, addressing the judges from first-level courts in Makati, Manila and Quezon City led by Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Executive Judge Glenda Ramos, who attended the event.