Judges of First Instance in the Sixteenth Judicial District
- A total of fifteen judges are commissioned for the Sixteenth Judicial District.
- Distribution of judges:
- Three judges for the Courts of First Instance of the Province of Davao and Davao City (first, second, and third branches).
- Three judges for the Court of First Instance of Cotabato (first, second, and third branches).
- Two judges for the Court of First Instance of Occidental Misamis and Ozamis City (first and second branches).
- Two judges for the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga del Norte (first and second branches).
- One judge each for the Courts of First Instance of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City, and Basilan City.
- Two judges for the Court of First Instance of Sulu (first and second branches).
Permanent Stations of District Judges
- Judges are stationed as follows:
- Three in the City of Davao.
- Two in the City of Cotabato.
- One each in General Santos (Cotabato), Oroquieta (Occidental Misamis), Ozamis City.
- Two in Dipolog (Zamboanga del Norte), with one subject to call for service at Oroquieta.
- One each in Pagadian (Zamboanga del Sur), Zamboanga City, Basilan City, Jolo (Sulu), and Siasi (Sulu).
Places and Time of Holding Court
- Terms of court are scheduled:
- In Sindangan (Zamboanga del Norte), dates fixed by district judges.
- At Banganga and Mati (Davao), at least once a year.
- In any municipality in the Province of Sulu when justice so requires.
- The Secretary of Justice may adjust terms or transfer court locations within the same province due to weather, road conditions, transportation, case volume, or interest of justice.
- In land registration cases, courts may be held at more convenient locations for the parties.
Original Jurisdiction in Civil Cases of Justices of the Peace and Municipal Judges
- Limitations on jurisdiction:
- Cannot hear cases where the subject is not capable of pecuniary estimation (except forcible entry and detainer).
- Excluded from cases involving legality of taxes, imposts, assessments, admiralty, maritime jurisdiction, probate, trustees or receivers, and annulment of marriages.
- Justices of the peace may be assigned to hear cadastral or land registration cases with:
- No controversy or opposition.
- Contested lots valued not exceeding five thousand pesos.
- Value determined by claimant's affidavit, agreement among claimants, or tax declaration.
Appropriations and Effectivity
- Appropriates six hundred sixty-four thousand pesos from the National Treasury for fiscal year 1961-1962 to implement the Act.
- Future appropriations to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
- The Act takes effect upon approval on June 17, 1961.