Marcos seeks to expand scope of cases that can be settled in barangay level

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Administration Sen. Imee Marcos wants to expand the scope of cases that may be settled amicably at the barangay level.

Marcos made the proposal as she believed that in a bid to promote the speedy disposition of cases and spare warring parties from spending for litigation cases.

Marcos recently introduced Senate Bill No. 1544—a measure authorizing the Lupong Tagapamayapa “to settle amicably cases involving discovering secrets, qualified theft, estafa, fencing, malicious mischief, libel, adultery and concubinage.”

According to Marcos, the jurisdiction of the Katarungang Pambarangay or barangay justice system remains very limited as cases where the penalty involves more than a year of imprisonment or a fine exceeding P5,000, under the provisions of the Local Government Code, are not subject to barangay conciliation proceedings.

“Instead of a possible amicable settlement, parties are rushed into filing a multitude of cases before the courts, thereby clogging its dockets,” she explained.

SB 1544 aims to expand the jurisdiction of the Katarungang Pambarangay by increasing the scope of its subject matter to include cases whose imposable penalty do not exceed two years and other offenses that are often brought before members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, without regard to the imposable penalty.

The measure has introduced a provision allowing the offended party residing in different province, city or municipality to bring the case to the Lupon ng Barangay where the offending party resides.

Existing provisions of the law allow the Lupong Tagapamayapa to handle disputes of parties who reside in the same city or municipality.

The types of cases currently being brought before the Lupong Tagapamaypa involve offenses that constitute to damage to property, slander, physical injuries, threats, robbery, trespassing, coercion, unjust vexation, ejectment, family or marital problems, collections of debts or rentals, breach of contract among others.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)