Protest vs justice hall project grows

ILOILO CITY—Leaders of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Western Visayas are calling for a stop to the planned repair of the abandoned Iloilo Hall of Justice for safety reasons.

In a resolution passed on March 16 at a meeting in Roxas City, the regional governor and presidents of IBP chapters in the region appealed to Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to stop the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office from proceeding with the retrofitting of the Chief Justice Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice.

IBP regional officers said the repairs should be put on hold to allow government agencies to consider recommendations and opposition from judges, lawyers and court employees.

They said the recommendations and proceedings of the March 14 consultation on the planned repair should be studied further to determine if the retrofitting of the building is an “acceptable option.”

The resolution was signed by Marlou Ubano, IBP Western Visayas governor, and IBP chapter presidents Flora Almero (Aklan), Emmanuel Palacios Jr. (Antique), Lorencito Diaz (Capiz), Arturo Dupio (Negros Oriental) and Paulino Salmon Jr. (Iloilo).

The DPWH regional office earlier announced that it was set to award a contract for the repair of the abandoned building.