Pubdate: Tue, 20 Sep 2005
Source: Sunstar Davao (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1991
Author: Joy G. Romares
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Philippines

80-90% OF COURT CASES IN DAVAO DRUG-RELATED

EIGHTY to ninety percent of cases filed before the courts in Davao
City are drug cases, deputy court administrator of the Supreme Court
of the Philippines said Monday.

According to Justice Christopher Lock, deputy court administrator,
cases involving minors before family courts account for the second
most filed cases.

With the increasing number of drug cases, Lock said, a judge could run
out of time since he is only given 60 days to study the case and 15
days to release a decision.

"With this increasing number of drug cases, kawawa ang judge kasi siya
ang naiipit," Lock said.

He said this the reason of Judge Adoracion Avisado, who resigned as
presiding judge of RTC branch 9 in March 2004.

He said he is expecting a new judge to preside over RTC Branch 9 to
allow RTC Executive Judge Renato Fuentes to focus on RTC branch 17.

"We are expecting a new judge for branch 9 para di mahirapan si Judge
Fuentes," Lock said.

"Mas mabuti nga sana kung ma-amend ang Constitution or wala na lang
special court for drug cases, i-spread out na lang (It is better if
the Constitution will be amended or abolish the special court for drug
cases so that cases will be distributed among RTC branches)," Lock
said. 
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