Republic Act No. 5538

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1

The last paragraph of Section nineteen of Commonwealth Act Numbered Three hundred twenty-six, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"There shall be a city court for which three judges shall be appointed."

Section 2

Section twenty-one of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Section 21. There shall be three judges and three auxiliary judges of the city court for the city who shall have the same powers, duties and jurisdiction as municipal judges and auxiliary municipal judges generally; and, in addition thereto, territorial jurisdiction over the entire police zone of the city. All fines, forfeitures, and fees imposed and collected by the judges authorized by this section shall accrue to the benefit of the city treasurer. The City Court of the City of Bacolod shall have concurrent territorial jurisdiction with the Court of First Instance of the Province of Occidental Negros and the municipal courts of the respective municipalities to try crimes and misdemeanors committed within the zone for police purposes as provided for in Section six of this Charter. The court first taking jurisdiction of such an offense shall thereafter retain exclusive territorial jurisdiction thereof."

Section 3

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 21, 1969.