Arroyo signs law expanding Court of Tax Appeals

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday signed into law a bill that expands the organizational structure of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA ) by creating a third division to hasten the resolution of tax cases. Under Republic Act No. 9503, the CTA will be given a budget of P20 million to enable it to carry out the provisions of the new law which shall be sourced form whatever available funding in the National Treasury. The law also provides that "five Justices shall constitute a quorum for sessions en banc and two Justices for sessions of a Division: Provided, That when the required quorum cannot be constituted due to any vacancy, disqualification, inhibition, disability, or any other lawful cause, the Presiding Justice shall designate any Justice of other Divisions of the Court to sit temporarily therein." Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, CTA Presiding Justice Ernesto Acosta and the CTA associate justices as well as the legislators who authored the bill were present to witness the event. The CTA was first established in 1954 through RA 1125 with a membership consisted only of a Presiding Justice and two Associate Justices, each of whom were appointed by the President. RA 1125 was later amended by RA 9282 under which the CTA was made to sit en banc and in two divisions of three justices each. - GMANews.TV