EN BANC

A.M. No. 05-1-17-SC

FRANKING PRIVILEGE OF THE JUDICIARY WITH RESPECT TO PARCELS AND OTHER MAIL MATTERS

Gentlemen:

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of this Court dated FEB 1 2005.

The Court Resolved to

(a)            REQUIRE the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to COMMENT on this administrative matter, within ten (10) days from notice hereof; and

(b)            DIRECT Clerk of Court Luzviminda D. Puno to furnish the OSG with copies of the following letters and memoranda:

(i) Letter dated 12 October 2004 of Mr. Dario C. Rama, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC), (i) clarifying the extent of the franking privilege granted to the judiciary in reply to the request of Hon. Court Administrator Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., for additional franking privilege for the court, and (2) requesting payment for the delivery of registered parcels of the Court for 2003 and 2004;

(ii) Memorandum dated 18 November 2004 of the Office of the Chief Attorney on the aforesaid Letter dated 12 October 2004 of Postmaster General and CEO Dario C. Rama;

(iii) Letter, dated 13 December 2004 of Postmaster General and CEO Dario C. Rama, transmitting the legal opinion rendered by their Legal Service relative to the extent of the franking Privilege granted to the Supreme Court and that in view of said legal opinion, the PPC shall not include in the franking Privilege of the Court parcels such as official receipts, office supplies and others which do not fall under the term“ official communication and papers“ beginning 1 January 2005;

(iv) Letter dated 13 December 2004 of Postmaster General and CEO Dario C. Rama, inquiring on the status of their request for payment for the delivery of registered parcels of the Court for 2003 and 2004 contained in said letter dated 12 October 2004; and

(v) Memorandum dated 14 January 2005 of the Office of the Chief Attorney, by way of comment re: two letters of Mr. Rama, Both dated 13 December 2004.

The Court further Resolved to NOTE the aforesaid Memorandum of the office of the Chief Attorney, dated 18 November 2004, and the separate letters, both dated 13 December 2004, of Postmaster General and CEO Dario C. Rama.

Very truly yours,

LUZVIMINDA D. PUNO

Clerk of Court

By:

(Sgd.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA

Assistant Clerk of Court