With no building, judges hold hearings in Cebu City jail
YOLANDA Daan went to the Cebu City Jail to follow up on the robbery case that she and her husband Provincial Board (PB) Member Julian Daan filed two years ago.
The couple filed a robbery charge against the two persons accused of stealing P1,928,230 worth of assorted jewelry from their home in Talisay City last May 16, 2011. Yolanda admitted that it was not easy to travel to the jail.
But she’s nonetheless grateful that the wheels of justice started to move again. “Before, we would just walk from the Legislative Building to the Palace of Justice. But now, we have to come here. I’m just happy that this case was heard,” Yolanda said.
Due to the backlog of cases piling high on their respective dockets, judges like Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Soliver Peras decided to conduct hearings inside the Cebu City Jail.
Peras and his staff went to the Cebu City Jail in the mountain barangay of Kalunasan to attend to 15 criminal cases involving detainees. The hearing was conducted at the function room of the Inmates’ Welfare and Development Center.
City Jail Warden Johnson Calub said they can accommodate three courts inside the jail at the same time.
“We’re happy that, at least, courts resume hearing cases,” he told reporters. Calub said they are willing to accommodate judges who want to conduct hearings inside the Cebu City Jail.
“We can ensure the safety of the judges as well as the court personnel. We’re thankful that they look for ways to render justice even if the Palace of Justice was already closed to the public,” he said.
The Palace of Justice in Cebu City was declared “unfit for occupancy” by the Office of the Building Official after it sustained structural damage caused by the 7.2-magnitude eathquake last Oct. 15.
Judges in Cebu City also decided to conduct hearings in tents at the parking lot inside the Capitol compound.
Peras said they have not heard a word yet from the Supreme Court on where they will transfer.
Judges are considering as its temporary courthouse the Quimonda I.T. Center located along Don Sergio Osmeña at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol
