MANILA, Philippines - An administration lawmaker is batting for the creation of more courts, saying the city’s growing population has caused local litigation incidents to increase.
In filing House bills 3341 and 3342, Taguig second district Rep. and former mayor Sigfrido Tiñga asked for additional 10 regional trial courts and four metropolitan trial courts. “The influx of business and in-migrants of urban settlers of Taguig has caused an increase in the number of criminal and civil cases to be resolved,” Tiñga said in a statement.
According to Tiñga, there is only one MTC in the city, which covers approximately 1,200 cases. Such situation, the congressman said, can “overwhelm” a judge who has to decide on, and review a case.
Tiñga furthered that additional courts would also unburden litigants who have to travel far just to update their cases.
“The delay in the judicious administration of justice consequently denies an accused the constitutional right to a speedy trial,” he said.