KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY - LGRC DILG 10

The Barangay Justice System is also envisioned to
complement the courts in administering justice. For
cases that are covered by the Barangay Justice
System, it is compulsory for the parties to go
through the Barangay Justice System proceedings
first before going to court. Failure to do so would
mean the dismissal of the parties’ claim or
counterclaim. It is only when the Barangay Justice
System has failed to resolve the dispute that the
parties will be allowed to bring their case to court.
The Supreme Court issued Administrative
Circular No. 14-93 on July 15, 1993 directing the
courts to ensure compliance with the requirement of
prior recourse to the Barangay Justice as a condition
for filing a complaint in court for cases that are
covered by the system.
With more disputing parties settling their
disputes at the community level, it is expected that
the filing of cases between members of the same
community will be minimized. This, in turn, will help
reduce the congestion of the courts’ dockets and,
hopefully, improve the efficiency and quality of the
courts’ dispensation of justice. The Barangay Justice
system is, thus, both an alternative and
complementary mode of resolution to the court
system.
The Barangay Justice System maximizes the use
of time-honored traditions and practices of
communities in settling disputes between
community members. Filipinos traditionally resort to
the help of older members of the family, community
elders, or tribe leaders in resolving disputes between
members of the same family or community. This is
the common practice that is recognized and
formalized by the Barangay Justice System. In lieu of
family members, community elders, or tribe leaders,
the Barangay Justice System uses the Punong
Barangay and the Lupon Members, who are
appointed from the respected members of the
4 A HANDBOOK