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A.M. NO, 16,,,07. . 06,.SC

ORDERING 240 OTHER REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

TO HEAR, TRY AND DECIDE NEWLY.FILED CASES
UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS
ACT OF 2002, AS AMENDED

WHEREAS, in compliance with Section 90, Republic Act (R.A.) No.

9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002, as amended, the Supreme Court designated 65 Hspecial courts from
among the existing Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) in each judicial region to
exclusively try and hear cases involving violations of this act;"

WHEREAS, there are also 529 RTCs in single and multiple-sala·

stations which likewise hear and decide drugs cases, in addition to 121 RTCs
specially-designated as Family Courts having exclusive jurisdiction to hear
and decide drugs cases against minors pursuant to Republic Act No. 8369;

WHEREAS, consequently, at present, there are already 715 RTCs

authorized to hear and decide drugs cases;

WHEREAS, because the volume of drugs cases remain high and the
influx of new drugs cases is steadily rising, there is an urgency to authorize
more courts to hear and decide drugs cases considering the already heavy
dockets of specially~designated drugs courts and other RTCs handling drugs
cases;

WHEREAS, with 715 RTCs out of the 955 RTCs already handling
drugs cases, the remaining 240 other RTCs may be mobilized and directed to
also hear, try and decide all newly-filed drugs cases to help decongest the·
dockets of specially-designated drugs courts and expedite the resolution of
drugs cases;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Supreme Court hereby orders the 240

other Regional Trial Courts to hear, try and decide case~led under the /
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of2002, as amended,bas follows: /~

1. All newly-filed drugs cases shall be raffled to, heard, tried and
depided by all RTCs, e:x:pept family pourts and overb~rdened
RTCs as determined by the OCA. All specially-designated drugs

(
 Resolution 2 A.M. No. 16-07-06-SC

courts exclusively hearing drugs cases pursuant to RA 9165 1 shall

.. be exempt from the raffle of newly-filed drugs cases. All newly-
. :filed drugs cases involving minors shall continue to be raffled to,
" I;
heard and tried exclusively by the designated family courts. This
..._
. ~ . system of distribution of drugs cases shall continue until the
number of drugs cases in the various court stations has become
manageable; as determined by the OCA, or until otherwise
ordered discontinued by the Supreme Court;

2. All newly-filed drugs cases shall continue to be raffled to, heard

and tried by specially-designated drugs courts in stations where
the average caseload of the specially-designated drugs courts is.
lower than the average caseload of the other courts in those
stations; until such time when the average caseload of the
specially-designated drugs courts is higher than the average
caseload of the other courts in those stations, as determined by the
OCA. Courts which may later be designated to assist specially-
designated drugs courts shall be exempt from the raffle of newly-
filed drugs cases;

3, The OCA is hereby directed to closely monitor all courts handling

drugs cases and undertake necessary measures to ensure the
efficient distribution; handling and disposition of drug cases; such
as but not limited to; the following:

a. Recommend the designation of assisting courts or assisting

judges to specially.. designated drugs courts and regular
courts hearing drugs cases, as needed;

b, Submit quarterly reports to the Court including the nature

of drugs cases filed and the amount of drugs involved in
each case, based on the reports submitted by the trial
courts; and

c. Perform such other tasks as are essential for the efficient

distribution, handling and disposition of drugs cases.

These guidelines shall take effect immediately.

19 July 2016

MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO

Chief Justice

1
This shall EXCLUDE all newly created courts which are specially designated drugs courts, as of March
2016 onwards, until such time when their caseloads shall have reached the average caseload of the other
specially designated drugs courts in their respective stations.
Resolution 3 A.M. No. 16-07-06-SC

c2C(~---
ANTONIO T. CARPIO J. VELASCO, JR.
Associate Justice sociate Justice

J,~~~

j~~hf!uiw
~~~
TERF.SITAJ.LEONARDO-DECASIRO ARTURO D. BRION
Associate Justice Associate Justice

r~;;
"'~ARIANO C, DEL CASTILLO REZ
Associate Justice

~,~¥.~~-
~

IENVENIDO L. REYES
Associate Justice

ESTELA M. itf~-BERNABE
Associate Justice '
MARVlC H,V,F, LEO
Associate Justice

Associate Justice