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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte names 20 roving MTC judges to help courts with overloaded dockets

Duterte names 20 roving MTC judges to help courts with overloaded dockets

Published Jul 16, 2021 09:07 am

Trial Court

President Duterte has appointed 20 municipal trial court (MTC) judges as judges-at-large or roving judges who can be assigned by the Supreme Court (SC) anywhere in the country to speed up resolution of cases in courts with overloaded dockets.

The appointment papers of the 20 MTC roving judges were received by the office of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo last July 14 in a transmittal letter sent by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea.

There are now 40 roving trial court judges. The President had earlier appointed 20 regional trial court (RTC) roving judges who have been fielded by the SC in various judicial regions.

Appointed MTC judges-at-large were Eduardo Eric F. Adversario, Jason B. Alquiroz, Joy B. Bolivar, Marilex L. Cabading, Maria Celina S. Carungay Servillano, Charisma Naida S. Castillo Martin, Ruel H. Espaldon, Eric O. Labuguen, Carolyn Delos Reyes Lorenzo Tanudtanud, Maria Rhodoro A. Malabag Peralta,

Charlene Clara G. Mendoza, Maria Monette F. Mesa, Ruben F. Mission V, Ma. Victoria Y. Patinio, Anthony Prince M. Tominez, Jesus G. Torres, Lady Ivy Vanity D. Velasco, Geronimo I. Ventura III, Michael Hanz D. Villaster, and Mark Louie L. Zabala.

The appointment of judges-at-large, who have no permanent stations, is provided for under Republic Act No. 11459 or the Judges-at-Large Act of 2019, which was signed into law by the President in August last year.

RA 11459 mandated the creation of 100 new positions for RTC and 50 new posts for MTC judges-at-large.

Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez recommended the partial implementation of RA 11459 “since only 50 of the 150 positions were funded by Congress in the judiciary’s 2020 budget.”

Marquez said the other 100 positions are expected to be funded in 2021 and thus the posts will be open for application when the funds are ready.

Under the law, RTC judges-at-large will be assigned as acting or assisting judges to any RTC branch, while the MTC judges-at-large will be assigned to any first-level courts in the country -- such as MTC, municipal circuit trial court (MCTC), municipal trial court in cities (MTCC) or metropolitan trial court (MeTC) -- as public interest may require.

Also under the law, judges-at-large are entitled to salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments, benefits, rank and title of an RTC or MTC judge.

RA 11459 amended Batas Pambansa No. 129, known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980.

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