High court complex moving on up

President Aquino and Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno will lead groundbreaking rites on Friday for a new Supreme Court complex at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

In the morning ceremony, the contract for the purchase of the 2-hectare lot will be signed by Clerk of Court Felipa Anama for the Supreme Court and Arnel Casanova, president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. The property is located in the former Philippine Army Security Escort Group area in Fort Bonifacio.

The Department of Budget and Management provided P1.28 billion to acquire the property. The government has allocated P3.286 billion to construct a new judiciary complex.

The complex will give the judiciary its own headquarters for the first time. Its current Padre Faura site is the property of the University of the Philippines. The new complex is targeted for completion by 2019.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and other Supreme Court associate justices will be at the event.–Tarra Quismundo