QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 5126)
RA 5126 provides for one additional judge for the Second Judicial District to preside over the Court of First Instance of La Union, with permanent station in Bauang, La Union, and amends the Judiciary Act of 1948 to reflect the change.
RA 5126 amends the Judiciary Act of 1948 (Republic Act No. 296), specifically Section 50 (second paragraph) and Section 52 (second subparagraph, second paragraph) thereof.
It increases the total number of judges for the Second Judicial District to eighteen (as amended by RA 5126).
Four judges are assigned to the Court of First Instance of La Union, known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches.
It allocates judges across Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Baguio and Benguet sub-province, Mountain Province (with specified exception), and La Union. (For example: 4 for Ilocos Norte, 4 for Ilocos Sur, 1 for Abra, 2 for Baguio/Benguet, 3 for Mountain Province except Baguio/Benguet.)
It governs the permanent stationing of judges within the Second Judicial District, specifying how many judges are stationed in particular municipalities and cities.
In the Municipality of Bauang, Province of La Union.
The Municipality of San Fernando, Province of La Union is assigned two judges.
Agoo (1 judge) and Bauang (1 judge) are each assigned one judge, while San Fernando has two.
Two judges are stationed in the City of Baguio.
Ilocos Norte: Laoag (3 judges) and Batac (1 judge). Ilocos Sur: Vigan (2), Narvacan (1), and Candon (1). Abra: Bangued (1 judge). Mountain Province subprovince: Bontoc (1 judge) and Kiangan (1 judge) under Ifugao subprovince, plus Tabuk (1 judge) under Kalinga subprovince.
Section 3 appropriates such sum as may be necessary from funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to carry out the purpose of the Act.
It shall take effect upon approval.
The Act was enacted without the Executive’s approval, but it was still enacted by Congress; the text notes this explicitly (“Enacted without Executive approval, June 17, 1967”).
Section 50 determines how many judges belong to the judicial district and how many preside over each Court of First Instance (including branches for La Union). Section 52 determines where those judges are permanently stationed (specific municipalities/cities), including Bauang for the additional judge.