(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court has assigned special courts to handle cybercrime-related cases.
In a resolution, the highest court said that the regional trial courts (RTC) which were earlier designated as special commercial courts would also be tasked to try and decide cybercrime cases under Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
In its resolution, the high tribunal said:
“The RTC branches assigned as ‘special commercial courts’ in its administrative matter on June 17, 2003 are hereby further designated as cybercrime courts to try and decide cybercrime cases covered under RA 10175, in addition to their designation as special commercial courts.”
“The cybercrime courts in the judicial regions shall have territorial authority over the entire region where the RTC is located for purposes of exercising the special jurisdiction granted herein,” the SC said.
“Accordingly, cybercrime cases shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court in the official station of the proper cybercrime courts,” it added.
In addition to this, Section 1 of the cybercrime law also provided for three additional branches of regional trial court to be set up in Bacolod City, in Negros Occidental, which will be created in the sixth judicial region.
“The Supreme Court shall assign the branch numbers of the newly created Regional Trial Court branches in the Sixth Judicial Region,” according to section 2 of RA 10175.