Section 68June 17, 1948, Sec./Art. 68

Appointment and distribution of justices of the peace. - There shall be one justice of the peace and one auxiliary justice of the peace in each municipality and municipal district, and if the public interest shall so require, in any minor political division or unorganized territory in the Philippines, and such Judges of Municipal Courts in each chartered city as their respective charters provide.

Upon recommendation of the Department Head, the territorial jurisdiction of any justice and auxiliary justice of the peace may be made to extend over any number of municipalities, municipal districts, or other minor political division or places not included in the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace already appointed.

As vacancies occur, if the proper administration of justice so demands and the Department Head so recommends, the President of the Philippines may group municipalities and municipal districts into circuit courts, and may appoint to each circuit court one justice of the peace and one auxiliary justice of the peace: Provided, however, That the capital of a province shall not be grouped with any other municipality except in fourth-or fifth-class provinces, or the Mountain Province and the specially organized provinces: Provided, further, That the Secretary of Justice may, upon the recommendation of the district judge concerned, designate the justice of the peace of the capital of a province or subprovince as clerk of court ex-officio of said province or subprovince.

The justice of the peace of the capital of a province or subprovince so designated shall receive, in addition to his salary, fifty per centum of the salary fixed for the said clerk of court of the said province or subprovince.