Standoff affected Makati’s transformation into E-Court – Sereno

THE Supreme Court’s move of transforming the Makati Court into an electronic court system (E-Court System) has been affected by the standoff at the city hall, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno told reporters Thursday.

High court’s e-court system will help improve the capturing, storing and accessing documents filed with the lower courts to prevent duplication of date and repetition in the administrative processes.

The system’s pilot trial was launched at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in July 2013. It was the high court’s model for other courts to adopt the new system.

Sereno, in a specially arranged press conference to celebrate her 55th birthday, said there are already 58 stations automated and 75 percent are already conducting automated hearings in various areas including Quezon City, Davao and Tacloban.

“You will see Tacloban rise from ashes. Literally, they are going electronic. This time kasi nakita natin pag na wipe-out records mo ubos talaga so what is your back up system?” Sereno said.

“Makati City nga dapat sana electronic na dapat…nagkagulo lang simula noong Marso,” she added.

Last March, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay was preventively suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for his alleged involvement in the overpriced Makati Parking Building.

Binay refused to accept the suspension and stayed inside the Makati City Hall while his Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Pena was also sworn into office as acting Mayor.

The standoff subsided after the Court of Appeals issued a restraining order against Binay suspension.

Then, early this week, Binay was again suspended for the alleged rigged bidding of the Makati Science High School Building.

The high court sent two of its Enhanced Justice On Wheels (EJOW) buses in Makati following information that court employees are having difficulty entering the Makati City Hall.

On Wednesday, court operations were suspended and the high court has set up a skeletal system in its EJOW buses.