Puno to courts: Speed up cases on killings

Chief Justice Reynato Puno issued a directive on Monday, instructing all trial courts and the Court of Appeals (CA) to expedite the disposition of cases on extrajudicial killings. Puno’s directive came after the Supreme Court announced the creation of 99 special courts that would exclusively try cases on the killings of activists and journalists. The High Court’s move came a week after the United Nations Commission on Human Rights led by special rapporteur Prof. Philip Alston, denounced the government's alleged inaction on the rampant purging of militant leaders and members of the media. In a one-page memorandum addressed to CA Presiding Justice Ruben Reyes, Puno ordered all the courts to do an inventory of all pending criminal cases on summary executions and report the progress of pending cases. "You are hereby directed to conduct an inventory of cases of the same nature if there be any pending before the CA, report on the status of such and recommend measures for their speedy disposition. Immediate compliance is hereby enjoined," he said. All justices of the appellate court were also furnished a copy of Puno's memorandum. The chief magistrate also said he directed the Office of the Court Administrator to issue a similar directive to trial courts. "I have additionally instructed that the progress of the trial be closely monitored to determine if there is a delay in the trial, what the cause of this delay is and to determine possible remedial measures," he said. Puno earlier directed judges of special courts to punish for direct contempt those who would file pleadings for dilatory purposes. He said trial for such cases should be terminated within 60 days from the start of the hearing and that judgment should be rendered within 30 days upon submission for decision. "The first and foremost of human rights is the right to life. It has long been accorded universal status for the existence of all other rights is premised on the preservation of life," said Puno. He added: “The extrajudicial taking of life is the ultimate violation of human rights. It cannot be allowed anywhere, and it has to be resisted everywhere." The Supreme Court also required special court judges, clerks of court, branch clerks of court, to include the status of the concerned cases with their monthly report of cases and failure to do so would be a ground for withholding their salaries and allowances. The High Court issued guidelines to help special courts determine whether or not the crime was a "political killing" through considering the following factors: the political affiliation of the victim, method of attack and reports that state agents were involved in the commission of the crime or had acquiesced in them. The SC further said that in stations where there are no designated special courts, the branches where the concerned cases are raffled should observe the guidelines. A total of 23 RTCs in the National Capital Judicial Region were designated as special courts while 73 RTCs in the 12 judicial regions were designated as special courts. In NCR, the RTCs designated as special courts are in the following:

• Manila (Branches 26, 39, 50)
• Quezon City (Branches 95, 97, & 219)
• Makati City (Branches 133, 148, & 150)
• Pasay City (Branches 114 & 118)
• Caloocan City (Branches 129 & 131)
• Pasig City (Branches 157 & 265)
• Taguig City (Branch 271)
• San Juan City (Branch 160)
• Malabon City (Branch 73)
• Marikina City (Branch 263)
• Mandaluyong City (Branch 212)
• Parañaque City (Branch 260)
• Las Piñas City (Branch 255)
• Muntinlupa City (Branch 204)

• Baguio City RTC Branch 5
• La Trinidad Benguet RTC Branch 62
• Laoag City RTC Branch 14
• San Fernando City, La Union RTC Branch 28
• Lingayen, Pangasinan RTC Branch 37
• Dagupan City RTC Branch 41
• Urdaneta City RTC Branch 46
• Tuguegarao City RTC Branch 3
• Aparri Cagayan RTC Branch 6
• Ilagan, Isabela RTC Branch 17
• Santiago City RTC Branch 35
• Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya RTC Branch 28
• Balanga City RTC Branch 3
• Malolos City RTC Branch 14
• Cabanatuan City RTC Branch 24
• Guimba, Neva Ecija RTC Branch 33
• Gapan City RTC Branch 35
• Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija RTC Branch 37
• City of San Fernando, Pampanga RTC Branch 46
• Guagua, Pampanga RTC Branch 51
• Angeles City RTC Branch 61
• Tarlac City RTC Branch 65
• Iba, Zambales RTC Branch 70
• Olongapo City RTC Branch 73
• Batangas City RTC Branch 3 Balayan
• Batangas RTC Branch 10
• Lipa City RTC Branch 85
• Cavite City RTC Branch 88
• Imus, Cavite RTC Branch 26
• Sta. Cruz, Laguna RTC Branch 28
• San Pablo City RTC Branch 29
• Calamba City RTC Branch 35
• Puerto Princesa City RTC Branch 51
• Lucena City RTC Branch 56
• Binangonan, Rizal RTC Branch 69
• Antipolo City RTC Branch 73
• Morong, Rizal RTC Branch 79
• Legaspi City RTC Branch 6
• Ligao City RTC Branch 14
• Tabaco City RTC Branch 18
• Daet, Camarines Norte RTC Branch 40
• Naga City RTC Branch 25
• Libmanan, Camarines Sur RTC Branch 29
• Pili, Camarines Sur RTC Branch 31
• Iriga City RTC Branch 36
• Masbate City RTC Branch 45
• Sorsogon City RTC Branch 53

• Kalibo, Aklan RTC Branch 9
• San Jose, Antique, RTC Branch 11
• Roxas City RTC Branch 18
• Iloilo City RTC Branches 26, 31, & 38
• Bacolod City RTC Branch 48
• Tagbilaran City RTC Branch 49
• Cebu City RTC Branches 7 & 21
• Lapu-lapu City RTC Branch 53
• Mandaue City RTC Branch 28
• Dumaguete City RTC Branches 34 & 38
• Tacloban City RTC Branch 9
• Catbalogan, Samar RTC Branch 29

• Dipolog City RTC Branch 8
• Zamboanga City RTC Branch 16
• Pagadian City RTC Branch 21
• Butuan City RTC Branch 5
• Malaybalay City RTC Branch 10
• Oroquieta City RTC Branch 12
• Cagayan de Oro City RTC Branch 18
• Tagum City RTC Branch 1
• Davao City RTC Branch 11
• Digos City RTC Branch 18
• General Santos City RTC Branch 35
• Iligan City RTC Branch 3
• Marawi City RTC Branch 10