Legal basis and covered statute amended
- Presidential Decree No. 722 amends Republic Act No. 296 (the Judiciary Act of 1948).
- The decree specifically amends Section 49, Section 50, and Section 52 of Republic Act No. 296, as amended.
- Section 4 repeals or modifies existing provisions that are contrary to or inconsistent with this decree.
Policy and reason for action
- The decree recognizes that Presidential Decree No. 302 (dated September 27, 1973) created Tawi-Tawi from municipalities removed from Sulu’s territorial jurisdiction.
- The decree recognizes that Presidential Decree No. 341 (dated November 22, 1973) divided Cotabato into North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat.
- The decree directs that, because new provinces lacked Court of First Instance branches in certain municipalities, courts must be established for the effective administration of justice essential to political, social and economic stability.
Sixteenth Judicial District expanded
- Section 1 amends the last paragraph of Section 49 of Republic Act No. 296 to include a defined Sixteenth Judicial District.
- The Sixteenth Judicial District covers the Provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte, and the City of Davao.
- The Sixteenth Judicial District also covers South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and the Cities of Cotabato and General Santos.
- The Sixteenth Judicial District includes Occidental Misamis; the Cities of Ozamis and Tangub; Zamboanga del Norte and the Cities of Dapitan and Dipolog; and Zamboanga del Sur with the Cities of Zamboanga and Pagadian.
- The Sixteenth Judicial District also includes Basilan and the City of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Number of judges and branch allocation
- Section 2 amends the last paragraph of Section 50 of Republic Act No. 296 to specify the number of judges commissioned for the Sixteenth Judicial District.
- Thirty-six judges are commissioned for the Sixteenth Judicial District.
- Twelve judges preside over the Courts of First Instance of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte, and Davao City, as judges of the first through twelfth branches.
- Six judges preside over the Courts of First Instance of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat, as judges of the first through sixth branches.
- Two judges preside over South Cotabato, the City of General Santos and the Municipality of Koronadal, as judges of the first and second branches.
- Three judges preside over Occidental Misamis and the Cities of Ozamis and Tangub, as judges of the first through third branches.
- Four judges preside over Zamboanga del Norte and the Cities of Dapitan and Dipolog, as judges of the first through fourth branches.
- Three judges preside over the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga del Sur.
- Two judges preside over the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga City.
- One judge presides over the Court of First Instance of Basilan and Basilan City.
- Two judges preside over the Courts of First Instance of Sulu, as judges of the first and second branches.
- One judge presides over the Court of First Instance of Tawi-Tawi.
Permanent stations for judges
- Section 3 amends the last paragraph of Section 52 of Republic Act No. 296, as amended by Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 204 (dated June 5, 1973), and restates the permanent stations for judges in the Sixteenth Judicial District.
- For the Sixteenth Judicial District, four judges (Branches I, II, III and VI) are stationed in the City of Davao.
- Two judges (Branches IV and X) are stationed in the Municipality of Mati, Province of Davao Oriental.
- Two judges (Branches V and VII) are stationed in the Municipality of Digos, Province of Davao del Sur.
- Two judges (Branches VIII and IX) are stationed in the Municipality of Tagum, Province of Davao del Norte.
- One judge (Branch XI) is stationed in the Municipality of Nabunturan in the same province.
- One judge (Branch XII) is stationed in the Municipality of Baganda, Province of Davao Oriental.
- Judges are stationed as follows: Cotabato City (two judges, Branches I and II); Mazanoy/Maganoy in Maguindanao (one judge, Branch VI); Kidapawan, North Cotabato (two judges, Branches III and V); Isulan, Sultan Kudarat (one judge, Branch IV); General Santos City (one judge, Branch I); Koronadal, South Cotabato (one judge, Branch II).
- Additional stations include: Oroquieta City (two judges, Branches I and III); Ozamis City (one judge, Branch II); Dipolog City (three judges, Branches I, II and III); Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte (one judge, Branch IV); Pagadian City (three judges).
- Additional stations include: Zamboanga City (two judges, Branches I and II); Basilan City (one judge); Jolo, Sulu (two judges, Branches I and II); and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi (one judge, Branch III).
Repeal of inconsistent laws and immediate operation
- Section 4 repeals or modifies all provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and regulations that are contrary to or inconsistent with Presidential Decree No. 722.
- Section 5 establishes immediate effect upon issuance.