Makati to handle Taguig cases

THE SUPREME Court (SC) said on Thursday that it has ordered Makati City courts to take on some legal cases pending in Taguig City, following the jurisdictional transfer of 10 “Embo” villages from Makati to its neighboring city.

In a six-page notice, the SC En Banc has designated additional courts “to assist Taguig City courts in handling cases of anticipation of their influx by January 1, 2024 in Taguig City following the transfer of the 10 barangays from Makati City.”

Seven regional trial courts (RTCs) and four metropolitan trial courts (MeTCs) in Makati have been designated to aid Taguig courts, pending the creation of additional courts in Taguig.

“Effective January 1, 2024, the Offices of the Clerk of Court (OCCs) of the RTCs and MeTCs shall require parties filing civil and criminal cases before the Taguig City Courts to provide their landline or mobile phone numbers and email addresses, which shall form part of the official records of the cases,” read part of the resolution.

The High Court added that the caption of the newly filed cases must include the identities of both the Taguig City and Makati City Courts.

The SC said the Executive Judge of the Taguig City court where the case was filed, may address immediate temporary reliefs in urgent cases as per the rules of court. This action can occur before forwarding the case to the assigned Makati City court.

The SC clarified that any motion for reconsideration shall be filed before the Makati City court while appeals from the judgment or final order of the Makati City MeTC shall be filed before the Taguig RTC.

“If no appeal or motion for reconsideration is timely filed, the case records shall be forwarded from the branch of the Makati City court to its OCC, then transmitted to the Taguig City Court for execution. The judgment or final order shall then be entered by the Clerk of Court of the Taguig City court in its book of entries of judgment.” — Jomel R. Paguian