CEBU CITY—The Palace of Justice in Cebu City has been abandoned by judges, court employees and prosecutors after it took heavy damage during the Oct. 15 7.2-magnitude earthquake.
The fourth floor of the building, which houses the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC), has been deemed unfit for occupancy by the building engineer.
“We won’t risk our lives by holding office there,” said MTCC Executive Judge Francisco Seville.
While the lower floors of the building suffered only minor damage, employees and judges expressed apprehension that the upper floor might collapse.
“The Palace of Justice is no longer safe. There must be another building to replace it,” said Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Meinrado Paredes.
Paredes said aside from cracks on walls, one of the beams in his court is now leaning.
Court employees are working in tents at the building’s parking area to entertain pleadings from litigants and to process bail bonds. Prosecutors also work in tents.
Executive Judge Soliver Peras, of the Cebu City RTC, on Wednesday said the judges are considering transferring to Camp Lapu-Lapu in Lahug village here, headquarters of the AFP Central Command.
Another temporary site for judges’ offices could be the old Cebu Eastern College building on D. Jakosalem Street.
Peras, however, said the ideal site would be one that could house all occupants of the Palace of Justice.
The Palace of Justice houses 22 RTCs, eight MTCCs, the Cebu City prosecutors’ office, Cebu provincial prosecutors’ office, the regional state prosecutors’ office, the Public Attorney’s Office and a mediation center.
The long-term solution would be to build a new Palace of Justice, Peras said. “It’s up to the Supreme Court to decide whether there’s a need to really have a new one,” he added.
Court Administrator Midas Marquez is expected to arrive on Thursday to visit the Palace of Justice.
Peras said while he had ordered court officials and employees to continue working, he expected delays in cases.