Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 537)
The purpose of Presidential Decree No. 537 is to constitute municipal courts into municipal circuit courts to improve the administration of justice and achieve substantial savings in public funds by grouping two or more municipalities under one municipal circuit court.
Municipalities shall be grouped into municipal circuit courts ensuring that they are contiguous to each other as much as possible, and the capital of a province shall not be grouped with any other municipality except in third to seventh class provinces.
The circuit judge shall have his official station in a municipality within the circuit which is centrally located and easily accessible to the other municipalities comprising the circuit.
Municipal circuit courts that include the capital of a province or sub-province have the same jurisdiction as the municipal courts of provincial capitals.
Other municipal circuit courts have the same jurisdiction as ordinary municipal courts under existing law.
All cases arising within the circuit shall be tried at the official station of the circuit judge, but the Supreme Court may authorize holding sessions outside the official station within the circuit if necessary.
Yes, municipal circuit courts are courts of record, and all proceedings are recorded; appeals are taken and prosecuted following the existing laws and rules.
Municipal courts that are organized into a circuit are automatically abolished, and their incumbent judges who are not retained as circuit judges cease to hold office.
They are entitled to the money value of their accumulated leave credits and a gratuity equivalent to one-month salary for every year of service, not exceeding twelve months, but if entitled to pension or gratuity under retirement laws, they must choose between the benefits.
No, this decree does not apply to city courts in chartered cities.
If a chartered city reverts to a municipality, it shall be grouped with other municipalities under a municipal circuit court.
The Supreme Court is authorized to implement and carry out the provisions of this decree through implementing orders on a province-to-province basis.
Until the Supreme Court issues implementing orders, municipal courts shall continue to function as currently constituted.
The most senior in point of service among the municipal judges of the municipalities to be grouped shall be retained as the municipal circuit judge, unless otherwise deemed necessary by the Supreme Court for better administration of justice.