Judge on court relocation: Bldg needs to be ready before moving

CEBU, Philippines - Court workers who used to occupy the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice are asking the Supreme Court to move them to the Qimonda IT Center at the North Reclamation Area only when their new location is fully ready for occupancy.

“Naninguha sila nga ma-transfer mi sa Qimonda. Unfortunately, dili pa man ready. Kami na pu’y nihangyo nga unya nalang og ma-ready natong Qimonda kay adto man mi sa third ug fourth floor. Para kausa ra alsa-alsa. Kay di lalim magsige og alsa-alsa sa mga butang (They want to move us sooner but the place isn’t ready yet so we asked that we be transferred only when the Qimonda building is fully ready, especially that we will be occupying the third and fourth floors. It’s not easy to move things every so often),” said Regional Trial Court Branch 20 Judge Bienvenido Saniel.

Saniel said they are willing to transfer to the building once everything is in place. The building is said to be fully ready for occupancy about three months from now.

“Wa pa’y cubicle. But they try to put up some structures there. So many things to consider. Among records na pa diri, lisud man. As soon as it’s finished we promised to the Supreme Court mobalhin mi (There are no cubicles yet but they will try to put up some structures there. So many things to consider. We also need to get our records ready. As soon as it’s finished, we promised to the Supreme Court that we will transfer),” Saniel said.

Saniel clarified that the high court did not order them to transfer to the Qimonda building last month, although the Supreme Court has expressed concern over the workers’ current conditions, as relayed by  Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva.

Court employees, judges included, have been holding offices and hearings under tents after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake damaged the Hall of Justice building at the Capitol compound.

“He met us, we really appreciate it. He told us the concern of the Supreme Court. Gusto nilang pabalhinon mi kay naluoy sila namo,” he said.

But although they appreciate it, Saniel said there are other things that should be considered also, like, the readiness of their new building.

For now, Saniel said they will have to make do with the makeshift tents outside the Hall of Justice, where they hold offices and sessions everyday.

“We are functioning only we are limited in some ways . We are in an extraordinary situation that requires extraordinary patience and sacrifice and we are willing to do that. That’s what we told the Supreme Court. Kasabot man sad sila,” he said. — (FREEMAN)