Various locations considered by SC for judicial complex

CEBU, Philippines - The Supreme Court is considering several options on where to construct a judicial complex in Cebu that will house the 30 courtrooms of the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice which has been condemned due to the damages brought by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake last year.

SC administrator Jose Midas Marquez, who was in Cebu yesterday for a speaking engagement, said that while the high court still has no decision on what to do with the unstable Marcelo Fernan building, the SC is considering the 7,000 square meter lot at the South Road Properties which was donated by the Cebu City Government to house the Court of Appeals.

“But there is an option that we will make it like a judicial complex wherein aside from the CA, the other 30 courts will also be there,” said Marquez during the “Building Resilient Justice: A panel forum on structural integrity of courthouses” organized by the University of Cebu law students.

Aside from the SRP lot, Marquez said they are also considering the 2,000 square meter property located beside the building of the Department of Agriculture in Cebu City that was donated by the Cebu provincial government.

Marquez also clarified that placing the 30 courtrooms of the Regional Trial Courts at the first and second floors of Qimonda I.T. Center at the North Reclamation Area is temporary since the third and fourth floors of the said building are still being renovated.

“It is up to the building owner kung kailan nila matatapos i-renovate yung third and fourth floor. Because based on our agreement, our stay in first and second floor is free of charge. We will only start paying the rent until maka transfer na sa third and fourth floors,” Marquez explained.

“Our aim is to have a building that will inspire public trust and confidence. Qimonda is far much better than having court hearings under the tents, which is open to dust, heat and security threat among judges, lawyers and litigants. There is no other building, no other options but Qimonda,” he added.

Lawyer Elaine Bathan, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, said that they have bombarded the Supreme Court with resolutions on the reluctance of lawyers and other stakeholders to transfer at Qimonda.

But in the end, the decision to transfer was still made after SC’s Engineering Office certified that the building is safe for occupancy.

The 30 RTCs were given until March 17 to transfer to the Qimonda building and to resume court operations on the same day.

“The issue on ventilation, small space, among others will soon be addressed once the courtrooms will be transferred to the third and fourth floor and we do not see the urgency to transfer to a new building,” the court administrator further said. — (FREEMAN)