Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 575)
Act No. 575 authorizes judges of Courts of First Instance and Justices of the Supreme Court holding a session of the Court of First Instance in any province to prepare and sign judgments for cases tried by them outside of the province where the sessions were held.
A judge can send a signed judgment from outside the province only if the case was duly heard and argued or if an opportunity for argument was given to the parties or their counsel in the proper province.
No, a judgment is not valid unless it is signed by the judge while within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Islands.
The judge must enclose the signed judgment in an envelope, direct it to the clerk of the proper court, and send it by registered mail.
The clerk must immediately notify the parties or their counsel of the nature of the judgment by personal notice in writing or registered mail.
The time to file exceptions to a judgment is extended by twenty days from the date the parties receive the clerk's notice regarding a judgment entered by a judge not present in the province.
The judgment is entered in the court as of the day the clerk receives the signed judgment, as if the judge were present in court directing the entry of the judgment.
Yes, the Act specifies that the judgment signed outside the province must be sent by registered mail to the clerk of the proper court.
Both special and general sessions of the Court of First Instance of any province are covered by this law.
Act No. 575 took effect upon its passage on January 3, 1903.