More than 2,000 judges needed, says Chief Justice

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

More than 2,000 judges needed, says Chief Justice
By Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondent

LEGAZPI CITY: While the Supreme Court has brought “Justice on Wheels” right at the doorstep of the poor people, there are 2,000 salas throughout the country lacking judges, which has resulted to a backlog of cases in local courts nationwide, observed Chief Justice Reynato Puno,

“This is true in regions or areas with peace in order problems, where they have to deal with insurgency or the MILF. There are precently 19 percent backlog cases all over the country. The backlog is more serious in the trial courts than the appellate courts,” Puno said.

“One of the primary reasons why our Judges are afraid to apply to fill in the vacant salas is due to fear for their lives. Several of our Judges have been killed. If media is the number one victim of killings in the country, second to media killings are the members of the Judiciary, particularly the Judges,” The Chief Justice continued.

Besides fear for their safety, there are no takers for the position considering the low compensation package, specially in conflicted areas.

Puno admitted that the biggest problem of the judiciary department concerns its budget as provided by government. He said the judiciary has been allotted less than one percent of the total budget of government for over a hundred years.

“There are towns and cities across the country without a Hall of Justice like in the city of Manila. If we have at least two-percent of the total budget of the government, at least we could satisfy the needs of the judiciary. We can build more Halls of Justices in the country,” Puno lamented.

Chief Justice Puno, accompanied by Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, the Justice in Wheels committee chairperson, led court officials on Saturday in bringing the mobile court project to the grassroots areas in Bicol.

Puno launched the mobile court program inside the provincial jail compound where Regional and Municipal Trial Court Judges held hearings inside the two salas on the Justice on Wheels bus..

The Justice on Wheels according to Puno is roaming around the country from Friday to Sunday specifically in areas with issues related to insurgency and the MILF. The program is intended to assist the marginalized sector as complimentary effort of the regular court. “I hope this will be pursued by my successor,” Puno stressed.

Puno said that since the introduction of JOW program last year, at least 1,450 overdue cases have been resolved specifically the juvenile and violation against women cases while 4,614 served with mediation, 8,100 free legal lectures particularly to the members of indigenous people, 781 free legal advice and 6,135 free medical services among the poor stricken communities.

Chief Justice Puno also met the village officials of the 70 barangays including the members of Lupon ng Tagapamayapa.

Speaking before the local officials here, Puno urged the strengthening of the Barangay justice system. He stressed that it was the most effective justice system and our Filipino ancestors even before the Spanish colonization introduced it.

“Barangay officials have executive, legislative and judicial powers in other words there’s a lot of trust and confidence in you that’s why your ability to strengthen democratic process is highly recognized. You’re in the forefront of the justice system throughout the country,” he said.

The Chief justice also met with court officials and IBP members held at the People’s Hall of the Albay Capitol. He also inspected the Hall of Justice in Legazpi that was ruined in 2006 when super typhoon Reming battered the Bicol region.

The construction or rebuilding of the Hall of Justice in this city might take several more years due to lack of budget in the judiciary department. Puno also led the inauguration of the newly constructed Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Albay chapter building headed by its new president lawyer Maryilou Duka-Castillo.