SC rebuffs CJ on devolution

MANILA, Philippines - A body chaired by Associate Justice Jose Perez will work on the decentralization of administrative duties in the Supreme Court (SC), a move which supersedes an order of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno last November creating a new judicial office in the Visayas.

In a memorandum, Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro said Sereno issued the administrative order without SC approval.

The SC has unanimously approved the creation of a Decentralization Needs Assessment Committee, which is tasked to study and determine the necessity of decentralizing administrative functions pertaining to the exercise of the SC’s power of supervision over lower courts, the functions to be devolved, implementation of the devolution of functions, and the efficient and effective performance of the devolved functions.

To be funded through Administrative Circular No. 13-99, the body was given two months to submit its report and recommendation to the SC.

“This Resolution supersedes all prior resolutions, administrative orders and issuances on the covered matter and shall take effect upon its promulgation,” the order said.

Perez, a former court administrator, was given a free hand to choose his staff for the committee, which will have eight members: Court Administrator Midas Marquez, Deputy Court Administrators Jenny Linda Delorino and Raul Villanueva, Assistant Court Administrator Thelma Bahia, financial management office chief Lilian Barribal-Co, administrative services chief Caridad Pabello, office of halls of justice chief Regina Adoracion Ignacio and judicial reform program administrator Geraldine Faith Econg, whose appointment by Sereno as head of regional court administrator office in Cebu was effectively recalled.