Dear Atty. AGA,

Magadang araw po sa inyo idol. Avid listener po ninyo ako sa inyong radio program. Noong araw, sinusubaybayan ko ang column ninyo sa Peoples Tonight pero noong lumipat kayo sa Abante, nandito na rin ako.

3rd year student na ako sa college at medyo interesado ako kumuha ng law proper. ‘Yung mga legal terms ay parati kong sinusulat sa isang notebook at gusto ko pong malaman naman kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng family court. What is a family court? Bakit nagkaroon ng ganito at anong kaso ang mga nililitis nito?

Hihintayin ko po ang sagot ninyo sa inyong column sa Abante.

Lovingly yours,
Jean

Ang Family Court ay isang branch ng korte na nilikha ng Republic Act No. 8369 (An Act Establishing Family Courts).

Ito ay may exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and decide the following cases:

a) Criminal cases where one or more of the accused is below eighteen (18) years of age but not less than nine (9) years of age or where one or more of the victims is a minor at the time of the commission of the offense: Provided, that if the minor is found guilty, the court shall promulgate sentence and ascertain any civil liability which the accused may have incurred. The sentence, however, shall be suspended without need of application pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise known as the “Child and Youth Welfare Code”;

b) Petitions for guardianship, custody of children, habeas corpus in relation to the latter;

c) Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation thereof;

d) Complaints for annulment of marriage, declaration of nullity of marriage and those relating to marital status and property relations of husband and wife or those living together under different status and agreements, and petitions for dissolution of conjugal partnership of gains;

e) Petitions for support and/or acknowledgment;

f) Summary judicial proceedings brought under the provisions of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the “Family Code of the Philippines”;

g) Petitions for declaration of status of children as abandoned, dependent o neglected children, petitions for voluntary or invo­luntary commitment of children; the suspension, termination, or restoration of parental authority and other cases cognizable under Presidential Decree No. 603, Executive Order No. 56, (Series of 1986), and other related laws;

h) Petitions for the constitution of the family home;

i) Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended;

j) Violations of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the “Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” as amended by Republic Act No. 7658; and,
k) Cases of domestic violence against women and children

Sadyang nilikha ang Special Court na ito upang magkaroon ng espesyal na pagdinig sa mga kasong nabanggit at hindi na humalo pa sa ibang kaso na dinidinig sa regular courts. Sa korteng ito, naka-focus lamang ang huwes sa mga nasabing kaso. Dahil dito, pati ang paglilitis sa nasabing mga kaso ay mas mapapadali. Kadalasan kasi ay dalawang taon at higit pa bago matapos ang paglilitis sa isang kaso.

Sana ay pagigihan mo ang iyong pag-aaral at ngayon pa lang ay binabati na kita.

Gusto mo bang ipadyaryo ang reunion n'yo? Nawawalang kaanak? Napulot na papeles? O kung anumang panawagan? i-email sa: abante_serbisyo@yahoo.com

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