SC to conduct new audit of Cebu courts

CEBU - The Supreme Court is expected to conduct another judicial audit of the regional trial courts in Cebu following the discovery of a backlog of 94 unresolved cases pending with one of the judges.

This was disclosed by Executive Judge Galicano Arriesgado who said judges should be on the lookout for "the proverbial thief in the night, so we better be ready for that."

The judicial audit will be conducted by Deputy Court Administrator Bernardo Ponferrada.

An audit of unresolved cases last month showed that 94 cases and special proceedings are still pending at the sala of Judge Gines Balbuena. This prompted the Supreme Court to direct Balbuena to desist from hearing more cases.

In that audit, the High Court discovered that Balbuena has 72 pending civil and criminal cases and 22 special proceedings.

Arriesgado, meanwhile, is optimistic that Balbuena can resolve the pending cases within 180 days as ordered by the Supreme Court.

"I believe Balbuena is doing everything to comply with the order," Arriesgado said.

The Supreme Court designated Arriesgado to continue trying other cases assigned to Balbuena.

It also directed Balbuena to explain why he should not be meted administrative sanctions for his failure to resolve the pending cases.