SC CIRCULAR NO. 95-96, December 05, 1996

Numerous complaints base reached this Office about the
non-compliance by some courts of the prescribed session hours under the
Interim Rules implementing the JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT of 1981 (BP BLG, 129).

Let this be a reminder to all concerned:

“5. Session Hours – Regional Trial courts, Metropolitan
trial courts, Municipal trial courts and Municipal circuit trial courts
shall hold daily session, from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00
noon and from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.

“6. Duty during weekends and holidays – All Executive
Judges, whether in single sala courts or multiple sala stations shall
assign, by rotation, Metropolitan Trial Judges, Municipal Circuit Judges
within their respective territorial areas to be on duty on Saturdays
from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. assisted by a skeletal force, also on
rotation, primarily to act on petitions for bail and other urgent
matters.

On Saturday afternoons, Sundays and non-working holidays, any
Judge may act on bialable offenses conformably with the provisions of
Section 7, Rule 112 of the Rules of Court.

All Executive Judges, whether in single sala or multiple sala shall remain on duty on Saturday mornings.

7. Motion Day – Except those motions
requiring immediate action, all motions should be scheduled for hearing
on Friday afternoons, or if Friday is a non-working day, in the
afternoon of the next-business day.”

Failure to strictly observe the above directives shall be dealt with administrative1y.

December 5, 1996.