The Royal Audiencia during the Spanish Regime
Loading ...The Royal Audiencia was the highest court of Justice in the country during the Spanish times. It was established in Manila by a Royal Decree of 1583 and began functioning in 1584. Governor-General Santiago de Vera was its first president.
The membership of the Royal Audiencia varied at different times. It was at the beginning composed of the president (governor-general), three oidores (associate justices), and a fiscal (prosecuting attorney). In 1861 when the governor-general was removed as president, the Audiencia membership consisted of a president (no longer the governor-general), a regent, seven oidores, a court scrivener (secretary), and a reporter.
The Audiencia was more than a supreme court. Aside from being the highest court of appeal for civil and criminal cases, it performed executive, legislative, and administrative functions. Political and governmental matters were referred to it for decision. It shared with the governor-general the exercise of the right of royal patronage (support or favor) and the preparation of a yearly report to the king of Spain on Philippine conditions. It audited the yearly finances and accounts of the government. It was also consulted by the governor-general from time to time for the purpose of promulgating certain lawas on the administration of the Philippine colony. The consultation between the governor-general and the Audiencia was called real acuerdo (royal agreement). The laws passed by the Audiencia in the acuerdo were known as autos acordados. Until 1719 the Audiencia exercised powers of the governor-general in case the latter died or was not around.
The Royal Audiencia was abolished in 1590 during the administration of Governor-General Gomez Peres Dasmariñas. In place of it, a council composed of 400 members headed by the governor-general was created. This council proved unsatisfactory to many because of its large size. Consequently, a royal decree was issued in 1595 providing for the reestablishment of the Audiencia. It was however, actually reestablished in 1598, during the term of Governor-General Tello de Guzman. From there on, it continued to function until the end of the Spanish regime.
Below the Royal Audiencia in Manial were two District Audiencias, one in Cebu and the other in Vigan. These were established in 1893 and had jurisdiction over criminal cases on appeal. In the provinces, courts of first instance were also established in 1886. Before that year, the alcalde-mayor acted as provincial governor and provincial judge at the same time. This practice proved defective because the alcaldes-mayor abused their powers, the position was thereby abolished. Its judicial functions were taken by the court of first instance of the province and its executive function, by the provincial governor.
At the bottom of the judicial system were the justice of the peace courts in the municipalities. These justices, like the judges of first instance in the provinces, were appointed by the governor-general on recommendation of the Royal Audiencia.
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i hope im not disturbing you because ill ask a question… What was the effect of this “royal audiencia”?…. Just reply if you want….
In some way, Royal Audiencia had good effects in the country as it facilitated good governance. If Spaniards weren’t that abusive, the Audiencia could have been very helpful in maintaining good governance and low crime rate in the country that time.
The effect was devastating for Filipinos because it was more than the Supreme court that time. However, Audiencia was used by Spanish authorities and it gave them so much power to abuse Filipinos.