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THE PHILIPPINE COURTS

The court plays a dual role in the Philippine Criminal Justice System – as participants
and supervisor of the latter’s process and dissention. In its role as participants, the court
determines for the guilt or innocence of the accused.

The courts are responsible for the trial process. As supervisor, the court acts as
important guardian of human rights. To better understand the processes in a court, here is
definition of the terminologies being used:

The Philippine Judiciary as a part of the tripartite system of the government provides
the different courts that are being known in the Philippines.

DIFFERENT COURTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Supreme Court – It shall be composed of a Chief Justice and fourteen (14)
Associate Justice and may sit either en banc or its discretion, in division of three, five or
seven members. Any vacancy shall be filled within ninety days from occurrence thereof
(Sec. 4, par. (1), Art. VIII, New Philippine Constitution (1987)

The Supreme Court shall have administrative supervision over all courts and the
personnel thereof (Sec. 6, Art. VIII, ibid) Likewise the Supreme Court an banc shall have
the power to discipline judges of lower courts on order their dismissal by a vote of a majority
of the Members who actually took part in the deliberation on the issues in the case and voted
thereon. (Sec. 11, Art. VIII, ibid)

Court of Appeals – it shall be composed of a Presiding Justice and fifty Associate

Justices who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines (Sec. 3, B.P. Blg. 129 as
amended by Exec. Order No. 33)

Regional Trial Courts – There are thirteen (13) Regional Trial Courts one for each
judicial region.
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The so called Inferior Courts – There shall be created a Metropolitan Trial Court in
each Metropolitan areas established by law, a Municipal Trial Court in each of the other cities
or municipalities, and a Municipal Circuit Trial Court in each circuit comprising such cities
and/or municipalities as are grouped together pursuant to law (Sed. 25, Batasang Pambansa
Blg. 129)

Sandiganbayan – a Special Court tasked to handle criminal cases involving graft and
corruption and other offenses committed by public officers and employees to connection with
the performance of their function or the so-called service-connected duties. The
Sandiganbayan was created under Presidential Decree No. 1606 pursuant to Section 5,
Article XIII of the 1973 Constitution, is a special court which has jurisdiction over criminal
and civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and other offences committed by public
officers and employees in relation to their offices.

The Metropolitan Trial Court, the Municipal Circuit Trial Court and the Municipal
Trial Courts have exclusive original jurisdiction, among others, over all violations of city or
municipal ordinances committed within their respective territorial jurisdiction and all
offenses punishable with imprisonment of not to exceed four (4) years and two (2) months, or
a fine of not more than four thousand pesos (4000) both such fine and imprisonment
regardless of other imposable accessory or other penalties.

Shari’a Courts – The Shari’a Courts are equivalent to Regional Trial Courts but are
found in some Provinces in Mindanao where the Muslim Code on Personal Laws is enforced.

Hence, each of these courts play an important role in the processing of cases brought
to their scope of jurisdiction. To name a few of the roles are the following:

Primarily, in its capacity as participant, the court must decide the culpability or
innocence of the accused after careful examinations of the records of the case after its trial on
the merit. If the, prosecution successfully proves the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable
doubt. The court has no option but to render a decision convicting the accused. On the other
hand, if the prosecution fails to show the guilt of the accused for insufficiency of evidence he
would be exonerated or acquitted and or release from prison if he is under detention unless he
has another pending case where he fails to post bail for his provisional release;
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Thus, as a supervisor, the court has a noble mission as a protector of human

rights. These rights refer “to those rights which are inherent in our nature and without which
we cannot live as human beings” (p. 4 Human Rights Questions and Answers, United
Nations, New York, 1987). The main function of the courts is to promote justice in order to
obtain peace, satisfaction and happiness of the citizenry. Corollary to this, the judge should
exhibit impartially in his decision to the contentment of all litigants.

In connection with the roles being observed by the various courts, each of these
fulfills specific function with respect to the litigation of cases in participation for its court
proceeding. However, as a general body of the Philippine Judiciary, these are the functions of
the court.

First, is to maintain and observe peace. “The Primary functions of any court system in
any nation – to help keep domestic peace – are so obvious that it is rarely considered
or mentioned. If there were no agency to decide impartially and authoritatively whether a
person had committed a crime and if so, what should be done with him, other person
offended by his conduct would take the law into their own hands and proceed to punish him
according to their uncontrolled discretion.

If there were no agency empowered to decide private disputes and authoritatively, self-
help, quickly degenerating to physical violence, would prevail and anarchy would result. Not
even a primitive society could survive under such conditions. As social order would be
destroyed. In this most basic sense, courts constitute an essential element in society’s
machinery for keeping peace.

Second, is to decide on controversies. In the course of helping to keep the peace,

courts are called upon to decide controversies. If, in a criminal case, the defendant denies
committing the acts against him, the court must choose between his version of the facts and
prosecution’s, and if he asserts that his conduct did not constitute a crime, the court must
decide whether his view of the law or the prosecution’s is correct…The issues presented to,
and decided by the court maybe either factual, legal or both.

Third, it plays an administrative role. It would be a mistake, however, to assume

that courts spend all of their time deciding controversies. Many cases brought before them
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are not contested. They represent potential, rather than actual, controversies in which the
court’s role is more administrative than adjudicatory. The mere existence, the exclusive and
concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

Further, given with the different form of court, the role and the function, it can now
also be understood that the courts observes certain processes in the litigation of cases.
Therefore, the court observes a hierarchy wherein it is composed of an organization that
observes the jurisdiction and proper proceedings of a specific case. In the Philippine Courts,
the organization of the courts is as follows:

First, the Supreme Court. It is often referred to as the “court of Last Resort”. It
renders final judgment on constitutional and other important issues and questions of law. It
reviews the foregoing going judgment made by the lower courts.

Second, the Court of Appeals. This court generally exercises appellate jurisdiction
over decisions of interior courts not otherwise falling within the appellate jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court.

Third, the Regional Trial Court. This court exercises exclusive original jurisdiction in
civil cases as describe in Sec. 19 Chapter II of the Batas Pambansa 129 (judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980) and in criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any
court, tribunal or body, except those falling under of a court renders unnecessary any very
frequent exercises of its powers. The fact that it operates by known rules and with reasonably
predictable results leads those who might otherwise engage in controversy to compose their
differences. (The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol.,22, Macropedia, Page 480)
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THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

The Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, or The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, and
Republic Act No. 7691, or An Act Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Trial
Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts of 1994, as amended,
gave the Regional Trial Court (RTC for brevity) the following jurisdiction:

In civil cases, all civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is incapable of
pecuniary estimation; all civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of, real
property, or any interest therein; all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the
demand or claim exceeds One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00); all matters of probate,
both testate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds One hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000.00); all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations; all
cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or body exercising
jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial
functions; all civil actions and special proceedings falling within the exclusive original
jurisdiction of a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and of the Court of Agrarian
Relations as now provided by law; all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest,
damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs or the value of the
property in controversy exceeds One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00).

In criminal cases, Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction
in all criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body,
except those now falling under the exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction of
the Sandiganbayan which shall hereafter be exclusively taken cognizance of by the latter.
RTC Criminal Courts typically try cases of serious crimes like murder and robbery, as
opposed to petty crimes, which reduce the burden of court cases.

Thus, in view of the foregoing requirement in Criminal Justice System subject,

researchers were tasked to observe on how cases are resolve and the observations on the
Regional Trial Court of the locality.
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FINDINGS

The portrayal of a court in the Philippine media is ideal in such a way that the
expectations in a Regional Trial Court were not how it actually looks in reality. Though the
courts observes a standard operating procedure in the litigation of cases, there are instances
where in the court observes its own rules and regulations as to conform with the situation in
the locality. As such, are a few of the observations in the Regional Trial Court:

First is the lack of personnel. One of the concerns in the RTC currently is the lack of
personnel especially Judges who would take over a case. Judges play the biggest role in an
RTC because it is they who decide on cases within their jurisdiction. Looking at a judge
holds at least four cases in one day, could be one of the most frustrating in the Philippine
Criminal Justice System.

Importantly, Judges affect the decisions being rendered for the conviction of an
accused is weighed by them. One can just imagine the load of cases presented before each
judge. Loads that affect how these judges act in the court and where they base the decision.
Thus, as the sole judge in-charge of a particular case, the absence of such affects the whole
litigation of a case for that specific day.

In a study conducted by a private researcher, Courts are overburdened with cases and
do not have the staff levels required to process them all. According to statistics released in
2013 analysing data compiled between 2005 and 2010, lower courts had an annual average
case load of more than 1 million which would mean an average of 4,000 cases daily.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, this means a judge would have an insane
average annual workload of 644 cases (Abadines, 2017)

In view of this, it was observed that the situation observed does not only exist in the
RTC where we observed but it has a problem in the Philippine society.

Secondly is the lack of knowledge of an accused. In one of the cases that were
supposed to be litigated on the day the researchers went to observe, was when the accused
was asked of his counsel, he said there was none since he was not aware to obtain one. As a
result, one of the Public-Attorney who was present at that court was the one who studied the
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case being charged against the accuse at the very same hour. This circumstance being done
during that day we observed could probably not happen for the first the time.

It is being studied that when an accused is arrested, he or she is informed of his

rights, known as the Miranda Right. One of these is the right to hire a competent counsel, or
if he cannot afford one, he will be provided for a counsel from the Public Attorneys.

The researchers wonder if the accused was not informed of this right or whether he
was informed but he did not take any action before the case was heard. It was questionable on
the part of the observers why circumstances like this exist when the court procedure observes
a due process.

It has been observed that poverty is really a big stumbling block because the majority
of the population is still poor and they cannot afford legal services. Even if they did have
access to the public attorney, which is meant for the poorest of the poor, public attorneys are
undermanned and have a huge backlog of cases. As a result, the poor do not file cases
knowing they are unable to afford a lawyer and it will take years for their case to get
resolved.

Third, we were able to observe an arraignment. The court informed the defendant of
the charges that were filed against him in a language that he understands. The clerk of Court
asked the defendant to plead guilty or not guilty. The defendant was assisted by his counsel,
thus, he pleaded not guilty of the crime charged against him.

Lastly, is the setting. The Court is situated in an old building, built mostly of woods.
Scrutinizing it, the rooms look fragile and the woods are being worn out. There are parts of
the building with broken windows, covered with papers or tarpaulins. Worst, the building
looks like it is prone to fire since the materials are lightweight.

As per the rooms in each branch, the absence of people in the room makes it look
more like a stock room rather than a judicial court. In front was a podium where the judge is
sitting and below the podium is a long table where the counsel for the defendant, the counsel
for the accused, the stenographer, and another public attorney were seated together. The
counsels were presenting their pieces of evidence. This is far beyond the expectations that
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counsel for each party is seated in opposing directions with approximate meters of distance
from each other. As a result, people at the back could not clearly understand every detail of
the case that is being resolved. Behind the bench reserved for the people are obviously aged
drawers with piles of paper stored inside. These are rusting metal drawers compact with
probably files related to cases that were resolved already.

Most branches are located in the second floor, thus, making it hard for persons with
disabilities and senior citizens from climbing up the stairs. Cases being litigated are for public
viewing especially if it concerns public interest, thus, the researchers expects that the place
provides for a friendly and ease area where all forms of people can stay comfortably.

Another concerning issue inside the court is the poor ventilation. There are worn out
air-conditioning units that are enough to make the place cool given that there only a few
people inside the court where the researchers has observed.

RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSION

The courts must hire and employ more judges to lighten the workload of judges to
achieve just and fair dispense of justice and decisions. This would positively affect the
decision-making of the judges because it will provide them more time study, decipher or
weigh facts and evidence which are the basis for their judgment.

Also, in order to ensure access to speedy and inexpensive justice, the criminal justice
of the country should be improved. This is a joint responsibility of the executive and judicial
branch, and also the legislative. The Congress may enact laws that would solve concerns and
accuracy in defining and penalizing crimes.

Furthermore, there is a need to upgrade the facilities to cope with the present
technology and improvement of the buildings to be more friendly to persons with disabilities,
senior citizens, pregnant women, and to provide a secured place for all the pertinent records
to be kept intact . The ventilation and lighting in court rooms should be improved to promote
comfort to those who go to the court.