Section 81June 17, 1948, Sec./Art. 81

Appointment of Government officers as justices of the peace ex-officio. - When in the opinion of the President of the Philippines the public interest shall so require, he may appoint any qualified person in the government service to act in the capacity of justice of the peace ex-officio, without additional compensation, in any specially organized province. Such appointee shall have all the powers of a justice of the peace proper, with such territorial jurisdiction as shall be stated in the commission issued to the appointee, but such jurisdiction shall not extend to, or be hereafter exercised at any place within the jurisdiction of any appointed justice of the peace or auxiliary justice of the peace.

A person exercising the function of justice of the peace ex-officio in any municipal district may, in his discretion, transfer any case within his jurisdiction to the justice of the peace of the nearest organized municipality in the province.

The President of the Philippines may, in his discretion, authorize a municipal district mayor who is an attorney-at- law to act as justice of the peace to try cases for violation of municipal ordinances within his district.