CIRCULAR
NO. 56-92
TO: ALL
JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS,
MUNICIPAL
TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT
TRIAL
COURTS
SUBJECT:
SPEEDY DISPOSITION OF CRIMINAL CASES WITH DETENTION PRISONERS AND WITH
WITNESS PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFIT [WPSB] WITNESSES.
The attention of
this Court was invited by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
and
the Committee of the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program,
Department of Justice, Manila, on the alarming number of
detainees/prisoners
in the City and Municipal Jails nationwide, due to slow disposition of
criminal cases pending in our courts.cralaw:red
In order to minimize
the delay in resolving cases, all judges are enjoined to act promptly
on
cases pending in their respective salas, particularly, criminal cases
involving
detention prisoners, pursuant to the mandate of Administrative Circular
No. 4 dated September 22, 1988. Furthermore, you are hereby directed to
faithfully observe Section 9 of R. A. 6981, Witness Protection,
Security
and Benefit Act [WPSB], which provides:chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
"Section
9. Speedy
hearing or trial.- In any case, where a witness admitted into the
Program
shall testify, the judicial or quasi-judicial body or investigating
authority
shall assure a speedy hearing or trial and shall endeavor to finish
said
proceeding within three [3] months from the filing of the case."On this
account, inventory
of court dockets is hereby directed to determine the number of pending
cases with detention prisoners and wherein WSPB witnesses are presently
testifying and to give said cases preferential attention.
Strict observance
is enjoined.cralaw:red
October 5, 1992.
[Sgd.]
ERNANI
CRUZ PAÑOCourt
Administrator
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