THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Introduction The 1987 Philippine Constitution1 states that only the Supreme Court is the constitutional court having been created by the constitution itself. All other courts are statutory courts in the sense that they are the creations of Law. They are referred to as lower courts in the constitution, id est, those courts below that of the Supreme Court. The Regional Trial Court is one of the Lower Courts in the Philippines. It is presided by 720 Regional Trial Judges in each of the thirteen (13) regions of the country, which includes Branch 17 of Tabaco City. In administering justice, the judiciary decides controversies between the party litigants. At the same time, It is also contributes to the rule of law without which there will be chaos in the country. What is more significant; however, is that the judiciary achieves such end by relying on the moral grounds generated by the quality of its work in administering justice. The judiciary must obtain public faith and confidence, henceforth; it is necessary that court and judges should perform well and that they are capable to such faith and confidence. To gain and maintain the trust of the people the judiciary must be honorable, competent and independent. The court plays a pivotal role in every community. It is a duty of every individual that after a crime has been committed, any formal action must be funneled through the courts. Hence, court judges’ makes judgment after the presentation of respective positions papers of the parties in an ordinary or criminal case or upon a stipulation of facts upon which the disposition of case is based. However, large number of cases are laid on the courts today that posits the old dictum “Justice Delayed is justice denied”. One must know the fact that a long delay in the disposition of cases creates mistrust of the government itself. It also serves as a refuge of the accused if he is guilty and a continuing injustice if he is
Bibliography: Calmorin, Luarentina C. 1994. Educational Research Measurement and Evaluation, 2nd edition; 24 K Printing Co. Inc. Metro Manila. p.269 De Leon, Hector S De Leon, Hector S., 2005. “Textbook on the Philippine Constitution, 2005 Edition”; Quezon City: Rex Printing Company Inc., p. 3. Gines, Adelaida C., et al. “Educational Technology”. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House Inc., 1991.