SC hit for transfer of Cordova cases to Mandaue

SERIOUS concerns about court delays were raised over an order of the Supreme Court to transfer jurisdiction of cases filed in the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to the Mandaue City RTC.

Prosecutors fear the transfer may delay the resolution of cases, among them the cyber-pornography case against a couple from Cordova town.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Lolita Lomanta said the SC order would delay cases as Mandaue City has clogged court dockets.

“My goodness, who wouldn’t be surprised. Trial was already underway. You can just imagine the disappointment,” Lomanta told Cebu Daily News.

She said both the prosecution and the defense could have finished presenting their evidence in the trial last March.

In Supreme Court (SC) Order dated Dec. 2, 2011, SC Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva told Lapu-Lapu City RTC branch 27 Toribio Quiwag “that the cases originating from the Municipality of Cordova are under the territorial jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Mandaue City and not the RTC Lapu-Lapu City.”

Quiwag earlier sought clarification from the high court about territorial jurisdiction of Lapu-Lapu City.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale who has been supporting victims of child pornography in Cordova was dismayed.

She said witnesses may be discouraged to testify if trials are delayed in the transition..

“We want to see the wheels of justice really move. If resolution of cases is delayed, it will send a message that the justice system in the country isn’t effective at all,” Lomanta said.

She said all newly filed cases originating from Cordova town will be assigned to RTC Judge Estela Alma Singco while Judge Sylvestre Maamo will handle those whose trials already started in Lapu-Lapu City.

Maamo and Singco are based in the Cebu City RTC but both were assigned extend their services to two vacant courts in Mandaue City.

“Considering the filled court dockets, we are afraid that there will be more delays. This will send a message to everyone. Justice is for all. Justice delayed is justice denied,” Lomanta explained.

Lomanta said the prosecution is set to present an officer of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement as its next witness.

“We want to tell everybody we’re serious in our fight against trafficking. Whether we like it or not, this crime has been a cottage industry,” Lomanta said.

Charges of qualified trafficking and child abuse were filed against the couple who were arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas in a raid last June 1, 2011.

Their five children and one niece were reportedly exploited in the couple’s cyber pornography racket.

In an affidavit of the couple’s eldest 15-year-old son, the parents were accused of ordering their children to pose nude and perform lewd acts in front of an online foreign audience thrice a week for two years.

Based on the NBI -7 investigation, the couple maintained two Yahoo! accounts to lure their foreign clients for a fee.

The children were placed under DSWD-7 custody a few hours after the raid.

Their parents are detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail since qualified trafficking case is a non-bailable offense.

Both accused entered a “not guilty” plea when they were arraigned before Judge Quiwag last year.