Public Atorni
Encyclopedia
Public Atorni is an Philippine television court show broadcast by TV5
in the Philippines
in which small claims court
cases are heard, through Mediation
. Its format is similar to US television court shows such as Judge Judy
and The People's Court
; however, instead of a former judge, the chief of the Philippines' Public Attorney's Office is the mediator. It is presented by Ina Zara while the cases are mediated by Public Attorney's Office chief, Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta.
. Like a typical court (or in this case, mediation/arbitration), there are two parties, the complainant and the respondent. The mediation starts when Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta explains the process of mediation. The two parties need to tell the truth, just like litigants in a real trial court. Every party has to tell their side of the story or show evidences that will help their case. Atty. Acosta then explains legal perspective of the issue/s the parties raised and the consequences that will happen if this happens. Then, she'll ask each party "Asunto o Areglo?" (To Sue or To Settle?). If they pick areglo, they need to settle the issue or both parties will a compromise agreement to resolve the issue. They must follow the agreement or they will be sued for disobeying the agreement. If the parties chose asunto, their complaints will be sent to a trial court.
Associated Broadcasting Company
The Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in which small claims court
Small claims court
Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction; it may be known as a county or magistrate's court...
cases are heard, through Mediation
Mediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
. Its format is similar to US television court shows such as Judge Judy
Judge Judy
Judge Judy is an American court show featuring former family court judge Judith Sheindlin arbitrating over small claims cases in small claims court...
and The People's Court
The People's Court
The People's Court is a US television court show in which small claims court cases are heard, though what is shown is actually a binding arbitration....
; however, instead of a former judge, the chief of the Philippines' Public Attorney's Office is the mediator. It is presented by Ina Zara while the cases are mediated by Public Attorney's Office chief, Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta.
Format
The show starts with a brief explanation of the Alternative dispute resolutionAlternative dispute resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. ADR basically is an alternative to a formal court hearing or litigation...
. Like a typical court (or in this case, mediation/arbitration), there are two parties, the complainant and the respondent. The mediation starts when Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta explains the process of mediation. The two parties need to tell the truth, just like litigants in a real trial court. Every party has to tell their side of the story or show evidences that will help their case. Atty. Acosta then explains legal perspective of the issue/s the parties raised and the consequences that will happen if this happens. Then, she'll ask each party "Asunto o Areglo?" (To Sue or To Settle?). If they pick areglo, they need to settle the issue or both parties will a compromise agreement to resolve the issue. They must follow the agreement or they will be sued for disobeying the agreement. If the parties chose asunto, their complaints will be sent to a trial court.