Sereno assures Erap: Manila justice hall will be built

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno assured Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada yesterday that the Supreme Court (SC) is committed to building Manila’s hall of justice.

Sereno, who was the keynote speaker at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Greater Manila Area convention, said they have not abandoned the project.

“I assure him (Estrada) that the Manila hall of justice will be built,” Sereno said. “We just have to comply with all requirements, but it will be built.”

Sereno was reacting to a request made by Estrada in his speech during the opening of the convention.

She said the SC has been “forced” to use some of its savings to erect the justice hall.

The idea of giving Manila its own justice hall has long been planned but has never materialized.

Talking to reporters after his speech, Estrada said he accepted the IBP’s invitation after learning that Sereno would be its guest of honor.

Estrada said the justice hall will be built on the site of the abandoned building of the Government Service Insurance System.

“Hopefully, the construction will start within this year. She (Sereno) committed already. All the city judges are very happy. We are overcrowded there. I pity the fiscals because they are presently housed in one room, all eight of them and water spills from the ceilings every time it rains,” he said.