KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY

community. In recognition of traditional customary
practices in some indigenous communities, the law
on the Barangay Justice System provides that in
communities that have distinct traditional practices
of settling disputes, the customs and traditions of
the indigenous cultural communities shall be
applied. Thus, local systems of settling disputes
through their councils of datus or elders are
recognized and followed with the same force and
effect as the procedure laid down in the law.
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.
The strength of the Barangay Justice System lies
in the fact that it is based in the community itself,
and is administered by community members using
traditional practices in dispute resolution. With this
set-up, the disputing parties are expected to be more
comfortable in discussing their problems and in
exploring solutions to the disputes. It is likewise
expected that the community-based set-up of the
Barangay Justice System will ensure that the parties
will honor the amicable settlement that was agreed
upon. Ultimately, the Barangay Justice System is
envisioned to live up to its name. It is expected to
ensure the dispensation of justice at the grassroots
level.
The first part of the handbook discusses the
actual processes of the Katarungang Pambarangay
(KP). The second part deals with the benefits,
incentives and awards of the system. The Annexes
contains samples of al the KP forms that are used in
the process, for reference.
KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY
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