Plan to close CA offices here gets mixed reactions

The Supreme Court's plan to close the Court of Appeals offices in the cities of Cebu and Cagayan de Oro for lack of operational budget has drawn mixed reactions from the lawyers.

SC administrator Presbitero Velasco said a huge amount of funds is needed to cover the electrical and rental charges of the two offices of the CA-Visayas and for the other CA office in Mindanao.

The CA office in Cebu is occupying the two-story Midway Building at the corner of Happy Valley and Salvador Extension. It was inaugurated last October 14, 2004.

Although Velasco failed to mention the total amount of monthly expenses incurred by the two CA offices, he said the budget used for the operation of the regionalized offices just came from SC savings, not appropriated by Congress.

Velasco admitted that the Court of Appeals expansion law was initially good idea, but realized later that it was not practical yet due to lack of appropriation. Nine justices man the three divisions of the CA in Cebu.

"We do want the courts to be more accessible to the people but the Court of Appeals is a review court," Velasco said, adding that, "You're not even supposed to talk to the justices."

But if the planned closure of the CA in Cebu will push through, Velasco said the SC might set up a small regional office here where people from the Visayas could file their pleadings, which will be sent to Manila for deliberation.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was disappointed to hear this latest development.

"We would be extremely disappointed because lawyers, clients, litigants, those that have gone through the turmoil of having to go to Manila to attend the hearings and now in contrast are in fact have experienced the convenience of attending the hearings here," Garcia.

In addition, she said the provincial government already donated the lot presently occupied by the CA in Cebu.

Alex Tolentino, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter, said the SC should continue maintaining the CA offices in Cebu that will be serving the poor litigants from different places in the Visayas.

He hopes that the local government officials will do their part by pouring in their resources to help the CA-Cebu continue operations here before Congress allocates the necessary funds for its operation.

CA public information officer Ma. Vita Nuñag said the assignment of the three divisions of the CA in Cebu has significantly unburdened the lawyers and their clients of the hassles and costs in seeking relief from the CA. - Rene U. Borromeo with Cristina C. Birondo