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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC amends territorial jurisdictions of 2 family courts in Zamboanga del Norte

SC amends territorial jurisdictions of 2 family courts in Zamboanga del Norte

Published Sep 18, 2025 02:56 pm
The Supreme Court (SC) has amended the territorial jurisdictions of the two branches of the family courts (FCs) in Zamboanga del Norte to improve access to justice and enhance the delivery of judicial service.
Republic Act No. 8369, the Family Courts Act of 1997, mandates the creation of FCs in every province and city to help preserve family unity, encourage reconciliation, and promote the peaceful resolution of family disputes, the SC said.
FCs, which are branches of the regional trial courts (RTC), have exclusive original jurisdiction over family and child-related cases. They handle cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, support, custody, and other matters of the family law.
In a resolution, the SC transferred three towns in Zamboanga del Norte from Branch 3-FC in Dipolog City to Branch 4-FC in Dapitan City.
The transfer was done on recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).
The OCA found significant differences in the caseloads between the two FCs. In 2024, Branch 3-FC, Dipolog City, had 1,285 pending cases, while Branch 4-FC, Dapitan City, only had 408 cases.
Originally, Branch 3-FC covered Dipolog City and the municipalities of Mutia, Piñan, and Polanco, while Branch 4-FC handled cases from Dapitan City and the municipalities of Sibutad, Rizal, and La Libertad.
To address the disparity in the volume of cases, the SC removed the municipalities of Mutia, Piñan, and Polanco from Branch 3-FC and transferred them to Branch 4-FC.
With the latest adjustment, Branch 4-FC now covers Dapitan City and the municipalities of Sibutad, Rizal, La Libertad, Mutia, Piñan, and Polanco.
The SC said the pending family cases from Mutia, Piñan, and Polanco will also be transferred to Branch 4-FC, Dapitan City, if they have not yet reached the pre-trial stage for civil cases or arraignment for criminal cases.
However, cases already in pre-trial or arraignment, as well as archived cases, will remain with Branch 3-FC, Dipolog City.
Under the Constitution, the SC is empowered to set rules governing the courts’ exercise of their jurisdiction. Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, as amended, further authorizes the SC to define the territorial coverage of trial courts and designate specific branches to exclusively handle certain types of cases.
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