Judges back call for wage hike

Judges at the Manila Regional Trial Court expressed full support yesterday for the call of court employees nationwide for them to be included in the 25-percent salary increase as provided for by House Bill 5178.

In a manifesto of support, RTC judges of Manila led by Executive Judge Enrico Lanzanas, said it is but proper that all court employees from legal researchers down to the utility workers be included in the salary standardization which covers only the justices, judges and lawyers.

"We judges cannot, but volunteer to champion the cause of our staff because they are an integral part of the whole judiciary. Without their effort, no judicial task is completed or realized," Lanzanas said.

The Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE) has been asking Congress to include them in the salary standardization law, which is also known as the HB 5178 authored by Rep. Rolando Andaya.

The bill intends to give justices, judges and lawyers a 25-percent increase in their monthly salary. The budget will be taken from the Judicial Development Fund (JDF).

PACE president Raymond Tan revealed 24,000 PACE members would wear black every Friday to further dramatize their demand for the much-needed increase. They started the black-dress protest last Oct. 4.

Lanzanas said judges have to prop up court employees’ spirit in their struggle to obtain their long awaited increase in their wages that has become very vital and imperative not only for their own sustenance and that of their immediate families, but would make it truly impossible for them to comply with regulations if their needs are not satisfied. He was quick to clarify that court employees have been obeying regulations.

The judge stressed that judges rely entirely on them to consummate their multifarious judicial tasks. "The court is morally bound to support, breathe life, and give meaning to the fundamental objectives of the administration of judicial excellence, judicial reforms and an effective dispensation of justice to all. – Cecille Suerte Felipe