Garcia eyes tearing down Palace of Justice

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is eyeing at tearing down the iconic Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice located behind the Capitol building as the structure has reportedly become a safety hazard since getting damaged by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in 2013.

"I am contemplating on already just demolishing it… mura man gud ug sige na ug sugod ug pangatagak (it appears parts of the building are falling to the ground consistently)… it poses risk already to passers-by," Garcia said.

Prior to the disaster, the Palace of Justice was home to the Cebu City and Province’s Prosecutor’s Office, Public Attorney’s Office, municipal and regional trial courts, and even the Office of the Ombudsman.

It had to be vacated completely after it was found its structural integrity was compromised.

The prosecutor’s office and Ombudsman now have their own buildings at the compound of the Department of Agriculture near the Capitol compound while the courts are renting the Qimonda Building at the North Reclamation Area.

Garcia said she will have to hear the expert opinions of structural engineers before making a final decision.

"If I can be assured that the public will be safe, ato nang i-retrofit. If I do not get 101 percent assurance then we will tear it down. Then, we will construct a building nga same architecture ani, the same design ani (If I can be assured that the public will be safe, we will have it retrofitted. If I do not get a 101 percent assurance, we will tear it down then we will construct a building with the same architecture, the same design)," she said.

Garcia said she has already sent a letter to the Supreme Court informing it of the province’s plan to utilize the now-idle space.

Garcia clarified that there is no usufruct agreement between the Province of Cebu and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the Palace of Justice.

A usufruct is a legal right accorded to a person or party that confers the temporary right to use and derive income or benefit from someone else's property.

The DOJ has not expressed interest in salvaging the Palace of Justice.

If a new building will be built, offices of some Capitol departments may be housed there and other spaces will be rented out to other government agencies, Garcia said.

"We might use some of it to accommodate some of our departments but then we will let it out for lease for other government agencies," she said. (FREEMAN)