Garcia wants abandoned courthouse back to Capitol

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia wants to make use of the abandoned Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice as additional office space for some of the Capitol departments.

Garcia said they have already informed the Supreme Court through a letter about the provincial government’s plan. The governor explained that the property remains to be owned by the province because it was not donated. There was also no usufruct contract between the Capitol and the Supreme Court for the use of the property.

 “First, wa man gud nay usufruct. Wa man na nato gi-donate. Wa gyud na’y papeles. Ang nahitabo lang ana, estorya siguro sa DOJ nya ang Supreme Court ang nigasto,” she said.

It was, however, the high tribunal that funded the construction of the Palace of Justice. The building used to house the courts in Cebu City and the offices of the Department of Justice. It was rendered unsafe after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake racked Cebu in 2013 prompting the Supreme Court to transfer the courthouses to Qimonda Building at the North Reclamation Area.

The offices of the prosecutors were also relocated to its new building at the Department of Agriculture compound along M. Velez Street in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City. Garcia said once the Supreme Court agrees to the plan of the Capitol, the building will be subjected to inspection to determine its structural integrity. From there, they will decide on whether or not to retrofit or demolish the building.

Garcia said she is also looking to rent out extra spaces to any government departments to add revenue to the province. /FPL (FREEMAN)