'Justice on Wheels' to hear 50 cases of different courts in city

CEBU, Philippines – The Supreme Court’s “Justice on Wheels” is in Cebu this week to supplement the regular courts in the effort to expedite the resolution of cases and solve jail congestion.

Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes said project, which will be here for the second time already, is expected to hear 50 criminal cases of the different courts in Cebu City. The mobile court will also visit Toledo City, Argao, Barili, Oslob and Bogo.

Paredes said that the mobile air-conditioned bus will visit the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center first tomorrow morning. A short program will be held at the CPDRC before the mobile court will start hearing the cases.

From the CPDRC, the bus will then move to the Cebu City Jail where it will stay until Wednesday before moving to the towns. Deputy Court Administrator Nimfa Vilches will grace the activity.

Chief Justice Renato Puno is also expected in Cebu tomorrow afternoon to deliver a speech on Wednesday at the annual convention of the Philippine Association of Court of Employees at the Cebu International Convention Center. 

The JOW first visited in Cebu in August 2008 wherein 71 detention prisoners from CPDRC and Cebu City Jail were released after their cases were heard in the mobile court.

The Justice On Wheels is a pet project of Puno intended to address the problems on clogged court dockets and jail congestion. — Fred P. Languido/WAB (THE FREEMAN)