Discrepancy in judges' allowance surprises Tomas

CEBU, Philippines - Outgoing Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is looking into the alleged irregularity in the amount recently granted by the city government as allowance to the judges.

 This stemmed from the concerns raised by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes on why junior judges are receiving more than what the senior judges are receiving from the city government.

 Paredes cited his case wherein he only received P80,000 while newly appointed RTC Judge Samuel Malazarte received P101,000.

 Councilor Jose Daluz III, chairman of the committee on budget and finance, said that the executive order issued by the mayor provides for uniform allowance among judges regardless of the rate of their salaries.

 Originally, the mayor planned to give allowance to judges equivalent to their monthly salary, but since their monthly compensation varies according to how long they have been serving in the judiciary, the final order granted for uniform allowance among them.

 Daluz already inquired with the city budget office and budget officer Nelfa Briones promised to submit a report on the reason behind the variation today.

 Osmeña said that he was surprised himself and also promised to investigate on the matter.

 “I’m surprised myself. It’s dumb to let this happen. I will check,” Osmeña said.

 Meanwhile, Osmeña said he wants mayor-elect Michael Rama to decide later on the request of the judges here for the city to directly give the additional allowance to them as bureaucracy in the Supreme Court is delaying its release.

 The judges are complaining that their allowance under the Judiciary Equalization Fund granted by the city has not been released to some of them yet prompting the request to give it directly to them to avoid delays.

 Rama said that he will check on the policies of the memorandum of agreement entered into by the city and the Supreme Court in March 2009 to see if the request is possible.   (FREEMAN NEWS)