News Briefs

Supreme Court assigns extra work to four judges

THE Supreme Court appointed four judges to take over the Cebu City courts handled by those dismissed from the service for involvement in a marriage scam.

The High Court designated Sibonga Municipal Trial Court Judge Edwin Diez to temporarily replace dismissed MTCC Judge Anatalio Necessario of Branch 2.

Judges Charina Navarro-Quijano and Francis Navarrete will take over the MTCC Branch 2 formerly presided by Judge Gil Acosta.

Quijano and Navarrete were detailed at MTCC Branch 2 to help Acosta resolve several pending cases.

Barili MTC Judge Alberto Pita was also assigned to replace Judge Rosabella Tormis of MTCC Branch 4.

Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Christine Abad will assume the post vacated by Judge Edgemelo Rosales of Branch 8.

“(They will handle these courts) In addition to their regular duties in their own courts, effective immediately and to continue until regular presiding judges were appointed or until further orders from this court,” the Supreme Court said.

Cebu City MTCC Executive Judge Francisco Seville was furnished a copy of the SC’s administrative order.

Necessario, Acosta, Tormis, and Rosales were dismissed by the High Court last April for their involvement in the marriage scam.

The four judges were found guilty for solemnizing marriages despite some irregularities that include the lack of licenses or the absence of proof from some foreigners that they faced no impediments. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

Performance audit on Mandaue City Hall depts urged

PERFORMANCE audit of departments and personnel should be conducted on a regular basis to determine if they are qualified to hold their jobs, Mandaue City Councilor Diosdado Suico said last week.

He said the audit should be done by the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO).

“Para makita pud nato kung muhaom ba gyud ang quadrado nga tok-tok sa lingin lungag (So we can see if the square peg minds can fit into the round holes),” Suico said.

Suico said some employees who didn’t pass the Civil Service Commission requirements secured a plantilia position.

He also called for a comprehensive land use development plan for the city.

He said the comprehensive land use development ordinance is being amended for updates.

“Like now we have a lot of malls and houses. While we have our priorities we also listed different land use classification for the entire territorial jurisdiction of the city,” Suico said. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos