Eleven trial courts in Makati City have been directed by the Supreme Court (SC) to assist Taguig City courts in the resolution of cases that are now within the latter's jurisdiction.
In a resolution, the SC ordered the designation of more courts in anticipation of the influx of cases in Taguig City as a result of the transfer of 10 barangays from Makati City.
In 2021, the SC declared as owned by the Taguig City government the 729-hectare Bonifacio Global City Complex and the so-called Inner Fort comprising of Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo.
As a result, the Philippine Army headquarters, Navy installation, Marines’ headquarters, Consular area, JUSMAG area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani, AFP Officers Village and several barangays within the complex are now under Taguig City’s jurisdiction.
Designated by the SC as assisting judges are regional trial court (RTC) Judges Rico Sebastian D. Liwanag, Liza Marie R. Picardal Tecson, Karla Regina D. Valera Chua, Jacob M. Montesa II, Karen a. Matti Sy, Veronica B. Tongio Igot, and Redentor Dela Cruz Cardenas.
Also designated are Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Judges Xavier Paolo R. Del Castillo, Nino Delvin E. Embuscado, Maureen L. Rubio Marquez, and Alexius P. Tang.
The designation of assisting judges was recommended by Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva and approved by the SC as a full court in a resolution made public on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Villanueva’s recommendation was made in response to the letter of Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni L. Cayetano who requested the simultaneous transfer of jurisdiction of cases and over crimes committed in areas now within her local government.
The SC said that child and family cases should be raffled between Judges Liwanag and Picardal Tecson; commercial, cybercrime and competition cases should be assigned to Judge Valera Chua; and drugs and regular cases should be raffled among Judges Montesa II, Matti Sy, Tongio Igot, ad Cardenas.
Cases within the jurisdiction of the MeTC should be raffled among Judges Del Castillo, Embuscado, Rubio Marquez, and Tang, it said.
Among other directives, the SC said that “in urgent cases that require immediate action, the executive judge of Taguig City court where the case was filed may act on urgent temporary relief prayed for as provided under the Rules of Court, before the case is forwarded to the Makati City court to which it has been assigned.”
Also, the SC ordered: “When a judge of the Makati City courts is disqualified or voluntarily inhibits from the case, the records shall be transmitted to the Executive Judge of the Makati City courts who shall then conduct a special raffle among the other courts handling cases from Taguig City courts. The Office of the Clerks of Court of the Taguig City courts shall be furnished a copy of the Order of Inhibition and the calendar of the re-raffled cases.”