Benhur seeking more RTCs in 4th district

Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon recently filed a bill which seeks to create additional regional trial courts in the new city of Bogo.

House Bill No. 2214 also seeks the amendment of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the “Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981.”

In filing the bill, Salimbangon said: “The judiciary, being the constitutionally designated arbiter of the legal disputes in our democratic system of government must at all time render expedient disposition of cases and must likewise be accessible to the public.”

Since one of the constitutionally mandated rights of every Filipino citizen is speedy trial of his case, Salimbangon said such can only be attained if there are enough courts that would hear and decide cases.

The fourth district – which comprises Bogo City and the towns of Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remegio, Sta. Fe, Tabogon and Tabuelan – has only one RTC, which is situated in Bogo City.

Salimbangon stressed that with the growing population of the fourth district and with the cityhood of Bogo, there is an urgent need for the creation of additional RTCs to properly serve the administration of justice.

The neophyte lawmaker said he sees his proposal as a way to also lessen the burden of the only RTC in the fourth district. — Gregg M. Rubio/LPM