OCA CIRCULAR NO. 112-2005, October 25, 2005

The Supreme court En Banc in its Resolution dated 11 October 2005, in A. M. No. 05-9-03-SC, RE: REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION ON WHETHER DRUGS COURTS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE REGULAR RAFFLE,
provided the following guidelines to be observed by the Executive
Judges by the Executive Judges and Presiding Judges of special courts
for drug cases to wit:

1. Pursuant to Section 90 of RA 9165, only courts designated by the
   Court as a special court for drug cases can take cognizance of
   violation of RA 9165.

2. Drug courts shall strictly adhere to the periods imposed on term
   under Section 90 of RA 9165. Trial of all drug cases assigned to them
   shall be terminated within 60 days from the filling of the information.
   Decisions on these cases shall be rendered within 15 days deom the date
   of submission of the case of resolution.

3. While special courts for drug cases are not prohibited from
   hearing non-drug related cases. Executive Judges shall continue to
   exempt them from the regular raffle, i.e., from the raffle of cases
   which do not involve violations of RA 9165, until further orders from
   this court.

4. If, in the opinion of the Executive Judges, the caseload of
   certain drug courts allows their inclusion in the regular raffle without
   adversely affecting their ability to expeditiously resolve the drug cases
   assigned to them and their inclusion in the regular raffle becomes
   necessary to decongest the caseload of other branches, the concerned
   Executive Judges shall recommend to this Court the inclusion of drug
   courts in their jurisdiction in the regular raffle. The concerned drug
   courts shall remain exempt from the regular raffle until the
   recommendation is approved.

5. The guidelines provided under A. M. No. 00-08-01-SC shall
   continue to remain in force and effect insofar as they are not
   inconsistent with this resolution.

For information and guidance of all concerned.

__25__ October 2005.