The Supreme Court (SC) has designated 11 regional trial courts (RTCs) in the National Capital Region and Cavite as Special Expropriation Courts for Public Roads to handle new cases that would be filed by the government involving national infrastructure projects.
In a memorandum circular signed by Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas Bernabe, and Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, designated as special expropriation courts are:
1. Branch 20, RTC Imus City, presided by Judge Amabel R. Robles Buenaluz
2. Branch 22, RTC Imus City, presided by Judge Mary Charlene V. Hernandez Azura
3. Branch 23, RTC Trece Martires City, presided by Judge Purification A. Baring Tuvera
4. Branch 131, RTC Trece Martires City, presided by Judge Jean Susan V. Desuado Gill
5. Branch 90, RTC Dasmarinas City, presided by Judge Victor L. Collado Jr.
6. Branch 133, Tagaytay City, presided by Judge Gian Enrico C. Navarro
7. Branch 134, RTC Tagaytay City, presided by Judge Michael C. Maranan
8. Branch 232, RTC Caloocan City, presided by Judge Rosalia I. Hipolito Bunagan
9. Branch 22, RTC Manila, presided by Judge Tammy Ann C. Reyes Mendillo
10. Branch 18, RTC Manila, presided by Judge Carolina I. Sison
11. Branchy 49, RTC Manila, presided by Judge James T. Sy.
The 11 RTC judges were directed “to hear, try, and decide expropriation cases involving national government infrastructure projects in their respective territorial jurisdiction.”
The SC directive was issued in response to the letter sent to Chief Justice Peralta and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez by Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar who sought assistance “into the possibility of considering expropriation proceedings for the acquisition of right-of-way for priority ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects of the DPWH as urgent matter….”
The circular noted that several Regional Development Councils have also requested the designation of special courts to handle expropriation cases.
In the case of Villar’s request, the SC was told that “two funded and on-going priority big-ticket projects – the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) Project and the NLEX SLEX Connector Road Project -- which involved a total of 308 expropriation cases are pending with several RTCs in the cities of Imus, Trece Martires, Tagaytay, Caloocan, and Manila.”
The SC was also told that 902 more expropriation cases are expected to be filed in connection with the two projects.
The SC said that the number of designated RTCs may increase on recommendation of the DPWH for key cities with priority infrastructure projects.