Tight security results in long beeline

Edito Bacaya of Consolacion town didn’t want to be late for a court hearing yesterday.

But the 71-year-old litigant  had to fall in line, a longer one that usual leading  up to the  the entrance of the Palace of Justice in Cebu City where strict security measures have been implemented following the tragic  shooting   inside the four-storey building exactly a week ago today.

“Ma-late ta. Pero unsaon man nga mao man kini ang policy. (I’ll be late but  I can’t do anything because that’s the policy), he told Cebu Daily News.

Bacaya  was among scores of court visitors, including uniformed policemen, who waited for 20 to 30 minutes before they managed to get inside the Palace of Justice.

But Bacaya said he doesn’t mind waiting because “this is for our own safety.”

Past 8 a.m., the tail of the line reached the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) building  about 50 meters away from the entrance door of the Palace of Justice.

To hasten the flow,  the registration of names of all visitors in a log book was set aside for those who could present an ID card.

“The registration of their names caused the long line,” said .Regional Trial Court Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul,  chairman of the committee on security.

He said the judges will meet to decide whether to ease the rule that all visitors should sign the logbook.

Two security guards at the entrance door inspected each visitor’s bags, frisked people and used a  handheld metal detector.

Two policemen and seven criminology interns were present.

At least two members of the Judicial Security Group (JSG), a group of trained court employees, were roving  the hallways.

Lawyers chose not to  line up. They approached the secuity guard directly but were still asked to present their IDs and submit themselves for inspection.

The “No ID, No Entry” policy was strictly implemented at the Palace of Justice in Cebu City starting yesterday.

Only the entrance doors in front and at the back of the Palace of Justice were opened. The back door  was “for the exclusive use” of judges and employees.

PO2 Alex Buanghog chose to line up even if he was wearing his uniform.

“It’s okay. At least, we know that the Palace of Justice is secure,” he said.

Last Tuesday, Canadian national John Pope managed to bring two guns inside the Palace of Justice. He fatally shot lawyer Jubian Achas and Dr. Reynold Rene Rafols inside one court room  and then shot Assistant City Prosecutor Ma. Theresa Casiño on his way to another court room. She is  presently confined at the Intensive Care Unit of Chong Hua Hospital.

Pope  shot himself in the dead after two policemen fired shots at his arm and leg. (See related story on this page) /Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter