Earthquake hampers court operations

No trials or court hearings have been held in the Cebu Palace of Justice since Tuesday’s magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

With cracks noted in walls, floors and columns, judges are uneasy about working in the building, which will be inspected today for structural integrity by the Office of the Building Official (OBO) in Cebu City.

For now, court staff are holding office in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) building in the Capitol compound. Detention prisoners can post bail there.

Some prosecutors chose to hold inquest proceedings for arrested persons in the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

Judge Francisco Seville of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) cancelled all court proceedings as major damage was observed in the fourth floor where eight MTCC branches are located.

“As the executive judge, I have the discretion to make decisions following the earthquake. I think it would not be safe to stay inside the Palace of Justice as long as tremors continue,” he said.

Seville said he has requested the SC to send structural engineers to assess the building.

Judge Geraldine Faith Econg, head of the Supreme Court’s Project Management Office here, said the OBO will inspect the building today.

“If the building is not safe, then the executive judge has to submit a report to the Supreme Court about it,” she said.

She recalled that in last year’s earthquake that hit Negros Oriental, one court house was badly damaged and the Supreme Court sent a mobile bus or “court on wheels” so hearings could continue.

Regional Trial Courts (RTC) in Cebu City also cancelled hearings.

RTC Judge Ramon Daomilas, the second executive judge, said he believes the Palace of Justice was not safe.

“People inside the Palace of Justice should evacuate. The structural integrity of the building needs to be restored. We could not compromise the safety of employees,” he told Cebu Daily News.

Daomilas suggested holding office temporarily outside the building.

Representatives of the RTC and MTCC are staying. Some prosecutors also chose to conduct inquest proceedings for arrested persons inside the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office.