SC Issues Guidelines on Transfer and Assumption of Jurisdiction Over Areas in Taguig City

Exercising its administrative supervision over all courts, the Supreme Court on Tuesday [November 14, 2023] issued guidelines governing the transfer and assumption of jurisdiction of the Taguig City courts over cases and crimes committed within Parcels 3 and 4, PSU-2031 of the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation declared to be part of Taguig City. 

This is in response to a letter from Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni L. Cayetano, who requested that the transfer of jurisdiction to the Taguig City courts be set on October 16, 2023. 

However, to enable the courts, the prosecution, the Public Attorneys Office, and other court users to prepare, the Supreme Court set the effectivity date for the transfer to January 1, 2024. 

Hence, beginning January 1, 2024, all civil and criminal cases arising from the affected areas shall be filed in the courts of Taguig City. Criminal complaints related to crimes and offenses that transpired or were committed within the affected areas before January 1, 2024, shall be filed with the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office. On the other hand, criminal complaints for crimes and offenses committed on January 1, 2024, and onwards shall be filed with the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.

All civil and criminal cases already filed and pending before the first- and second-level courts in Makati City before January 1, 2024, shall proceed to trial, be heard, and ultimately be decided by the respective Makati City courts where they were pending. 

All parties, including judges, court personnel, prosecutors, public attorneys, legal practitioners, and the general public, are enjoined to review and adhere to the guidelines to facilitate a smooth and orderly transition.

The Supreme Court Public Information Office will upload a copy of the resolution once it receives the same from the Office of the Clerk of Court En Banc.

(A.M. No. 23-10-01-SC, Re: Letter dated 25 September 2023 of Mayor Maria Laarni L. Cayetano of Taguig City requesting for the simultaneous transfer of jurisdiction of cases and over crimes committed within the areas comprising the Parcels 3 and 4 PSU-2031 declared to be part of Taguig City in G.R. No. 235316, November 14, 2023)