Palace of Justice, government buildings suffer damage

A CONCRETE wall of an annex in the Capitol compound collapsed while municipal halls and other government buildings in Cebu towns were also damaged.

In the Cebu Palace of Justice, the fourth floor was heavily damaged and is no longer safe to use, said Isagani Saranillo, building administrator.

Eight branches of the Municipal Trial court in Cities (MTCC) occupy this level.

Big cracks on the walls and foundation were seen during an inspection. Saranillo said it’s up to the Supreme Court where to transfer hearings of cases.

Executive Judge Silvestre Maamo is set to meet judges today after inspecting the building. Court employees can report today because “we need to start cleaning up,” he said.

Churches in southern towns were also affected, some of them severely, according to a report from the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

The cross atop the roof of the Malabuyoc church fell. Walls of the St. Francis of Assissi Church in Dumanjug town also collapsed. Three other churches suffered minor wall cracks.

The Sports Centrum in barangay Poblacion, Sibonga town and the social welfare building in Boljoon town collapsed. Cracks and pipe leaks were reported in several municipal buildings across the province.

Regular office work will resume at the Capitol today.

The damaged BAEX building houses the Provincial Auditor’s Office, Provincial Women’s Commission and the Post Office. Minor cracks appeared in the Capitol building and the Legislative Building, and will be inspected today. /Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and Correspondent Victor Anthony Silva