OCA CIRCULAR NO. 111-2004, September 14, 2004

Quoted hereunder for your information is the
pertinent paragraph of the resolution of the Court En Bane dated 24
August 2004 in A.M. No. 04-6-18-SC, Re: Position Paper on Continuing
Assassinations/Intentional Killings of Judges while in the Performance
of their Duties. – x x x

“A. xxx

B. x x x

C. Abolition of the Heinous Crime Courts

Administrative Order No. 104-96 dated 21 October
1996 designating Regional Trial Courts as Heinous Crime Courts pursuant
to Batas Pambansa 129 is hereby REVOKED owing to the
relatively low caseloads in the said courts and considering that the
current set-up makes a Heinous Crime Court Judge easily identifiable,
making him/her an easy prey to vindictive litigants.

Heinous crimes shall henceforth be cognizable by all second level courts.”

In view of the foregoing the following guidelines are hereby prescribed:

1. the designated heinous crimes court shall continue trying and deciding the heinous crimes cases assigned to them;
2. all newly filed heinous crimes cases shall be raffled among the
   regular courts including formerly designated heinous crimes courts;

3. henceforth, courts formerly designated as
   heinous crimes courts shall now be included in the raffle of all
   ordinary criminal and civil cases and other cases except those falling
   under the exclusive jurisdiction of other special courts; and

4. the Executive Judge shall ensure the equitable distribution of cases pursuant to the guidelines in the raffling of cases.

For guidance and implementation.

__14__ September 2004.