SC says Cebu judge can tap staffers as security escorts

If a Cebu judge who  received a  death threat doesn’t want to  get a police bodyguard, he can  tap his own court staff as security escorts, a Supreme Court official said yesterday.

This was suggested by Judicial Reform Program Administrator Geraldine Faith Econg of the Supreme Court for the case of d Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Raphael Yrastorza. She said he  may tap his staff, who can   receive  a P150 daily allowance for the extra service.

Under a Supreme Court memorandum, judges under threat are allowed to  bring along their staff wherever they go, said Econg, who heads the SC  Program Management Office.

“If Judge Yrastorza is uncomfortable with organic (law enforcers), he may seek the services of his personal office staff,” Econg told Cebu Daily News over the phone.

Last Thursday, Yrastorza received an anonymous  letter signed  “Ka Jerry” who said  he was judged and meted the death sentence for his “oppressive” actions related to the grant of bail.

Yrastorza, presiding judge of RTC Branch 14 in Cebu City,  asked the  National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)  to verify the written death threat but said he won’t request police protection.

Econg, a former Cebu RTC judge who  handled the parricide case of cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr., recalled the pressure of the threat, and said death threats can affect a judge.

“I could not sleep. The problem is that you won’t know whether the threats are real,” said Econg. She  used to receive threatening text messages on her  mobile phone as a Cebu judge in 2008.

Econg said it helps to have a  security escort.

“When you conduct a hearing, you can focus on what you’re doing. You don’t have to keep looking at your surroundings,” she said.

Econg was given  a female police escort after receiving death threats.

Henry Espinosa, head of security operations at the Palace of Justice, said members of the Judicial Security Group (JSG) can ensure Yrastorza’s safety while he  is inside the compound.

JSG personnel, who are employees trained to secure the courts, can only serve inside the Palace of Justice.

As of now, Espinosa said Judge Yrastorza hasn’t requested for an escort.

The judge’s clerk of court said he  believes the threat has something to do with  a bail bond of the accused as stated in the letter from “Ka Jerry,” but no details were written to specify  which case was involved.

In a separate interview, Yrastorza said he was  just doing his job.

“I’m not afraid.  I fear no one except God. I’m not afraid of any human being,” he said.

Cebu City police said it will investigate the written death threat. Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the  intelligence branch, said results of their investigation will be sent to the NBI Manila office. If needed, Santander said they can provide security escorts for  Judge Yrastorza.