Pimentel seeks creation of new courts to declog dockets

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel lll today said the proposed creation of additional courts would not serve as mere ornaments or political accommodations, but as a sincere measure to strengthen the justice system.

In sponsoring the passage of the consolidated bills, Pimentel, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said no Filipino should be denied justice simply because of delay in the disposition of his case.

He said the establishment of additional courts took into consideration not only the present case volume of existing branches but also the geographical situation of these areas, "thus making justice more accessible to the people."

Pimentel said it is a truism that the present courts are inundated with cases that it is not surprising to see stacks of case folders finding their way in the corridors of the courts in many parts of the country.

"With rapid development and increasing economic activity, it is almost certain that the number of legal conflicts will only steadily increase in the coming years," he said, citing an unmanageable caseload of cases in Pasay City.

He said the sheer number of cases makes it almost an insurmountable task to dispose of the same in a timely and orderly manner even when members of the judiciary are some of the most brilliant, professional and diligent legal luminaries.

Citing Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Pimentel said that in many parts of the country, first and second level courts are overloaded with cases, some of which have not been resolved for a long time.

"In a society that looks at the judiciary as the last bulwark of constitutional rights and liberties, it is imperative that we provide the infrastructure to guarantee that our people obtain redress in a speedy and efficient manner," he said.

The creation of additional branches, he said, in the first and second level courts in different judicial regions of the country would certainly help declog the dockets of unresolved cases.

To be created are two regional trial court (RTC) branches in Vigan City and Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur; three RTC branches in Bacolod City; one RTC branch in San Jose del Monte City; two municipal trial court (MTC) branches in Angeles City; One RTC branch in Sorsogon City; One MTC branch each in Magalang and Mabalacat, Pampanga; one RTC branch in Guinhulngan, Negros Oriental; 19 RTC branches in Quezon City; two RTC branches in Paranaque City; four RTC branches in the cities of Alaminos, Dagupan and San Carlos and Lingayen; Five RTC and five MTC branches in Pasay City.

Five RTC and five MTC branches in Pasay City; two RTC and two MTC branches in San Jose City; two RTC branches in Munoz City and Rizal, Nueva Ecija; two RTC branches in Initao, Misamis Oriental; one RTC branch in Meycauayan City; one MTC branch in Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

The proposed law would also convert the existing 5th Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Carmona-Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Cavite into an MTC branch with a seat in the town of Carmona, and two RTC and two MTC branches in Baguio City.