More detectors, guards sought
A walk-through full body scanner may have to be installed at the entrance of the Palace of Justice as part of security measures to avoid another shooting incident that broke out last Tuesday.
Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Meinrado Paredes said it’s not enough to have two security guards detailed at the entrance to inspect the visitors everyday.
“The guards are doing their jobs. We can’t totally blame them. It’s difficult to conduct a thorough inspection considering the volume of court users,” Paredes said.
He said security lapses are inevitable considering the limited number of security personnel at the Palace of Justice.
“The solution is to put a metal detector door (so the entry of firearms inside the building will be controlled),” Paredes said.
The proposal may take time to be realized due to the financial constraints of the Supreme Court.
Meantime, security guards use a handheld metal detector and frisk court visitors as well as ask them to open their bags for inspection.
Reconsideration
At least two policemen are also detailed at the Palace of Justice to reinforce the security guards.
Paredes said the Palace of Justice needs more guards including female guards to deal with female visitors.
The Palace of Justice has 14 security guards. Two guards are assigned at the entrance while three others are detailed at the exit.
The two security guards assigned at the entrance at the time of last Tuesday’s shooting – Juanito Aguilar and Willy Purog – were relieved from their posts.
Eagle Matrix, the agenproviding security services at the Palace of Justice, also recommended the relief of the three guards assigned at the exit.
The three guards asked for reconsideration from their agency.
Confidential
Judges of the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City yesterday held a closed-door meeting at the Judges’ Lounge.
They were tight-lipped about what they discussed during the meeting.
“We can’t disclose everything that we discussed during the meeting since they are confidential,” Paredes said.
But Paredes said security at the Palace of Justice needs to be tightened. He said all employees are requested to wear their ID cards.
Only the entrance and exit doors at the Palace of Justice will be used.
Paredes said they also decided to reactivate the Judicial Security Group (JSG) is which composed of court employees who underwent rigid training to secure the building and its employees.
He said JSG members may need to carry firearms and patrol the four-storey Palace of Justice.
“We have to tighten the security at the Palace of Justice but we don’t have to implement military-type policies. We can do this without intruding on the privacy of court visitors,” Paredes said.
Vulnerable
Regional Trial Court Judge Macaundas Hadijasul, head of the security committee of the Palace of Justice, said they have to find out how John Pope managed to bring his two firearms inside the Palace of Justice last Tuesday.
“I want to know why Pope managed to get inside the building. What did the security guards do or did not do?,” Hadjirasul said.
Last Tuesday, Pope killed a lawyer and a physician. He also shot and wounded a female prosecutor before he was shot by a policeman.
“As far as I know, this is the first time it happened here,” Hadjirasul said.
For his part, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday supported the initiative of the Cebu City prosecutors to acquire firearms for their protection.
Rama said prosecutors become “vulnerable” to violent attacks because of the nature of their cases.
“If they are not secured they cannot perform,” he said.
Rama also called for trainings for private security personnel and greater coordination between the police and the Palace of Justice security personnel. With Correspondent Edison delos Angeles
