Court ransacked in Mandaue City

Staff of Vice Executive Judge Ulric Cañete of the Regional Trial Court Branch 55 in Mandaue City had a big surprise awaiting them at the judge's sala yesterday morning when they were supposed to open for the day's business - it was in complete disarray.

Court records, personal belongings, and other stuff were strewn all over the place. They will still have to determine what were taken if there were any.

Mandaue City police station 1 chief Abraham Ocampo said that the courtroom must have been ransacked over the weekend.

As a result of the break in, Cañete rescheduled the hearing of 11 cases that were due for trial yesterday. The judge also sought assistance from the Special Weapons and Tactics to check if there was a bomb left at the room. The SWAT found nothing.

Ocampo said that that the perpetrator or perpetrators could have entered the room by going through the annex building just beside the courtroom then removed two blades of the window and went inside.

Cañete told the police that no valuable items were stolen, raising suspicion that the culprit or culprits may have wanted only to get a court record.

Not only was the sala was in disarray, but also the judge's chamber wherein the drawers of his table were also forcibly open.

Police said that Cañete had informed them that several pieces of evidence that were turned over in court are still there. A court staff told The Freeman that as of yesterday, they have not ascertained if there are missing court records since they still have to do an inventory.

She said it would be very difficult for them to know immediately or trace what record has been stolen, if indeed these were stolen, considering that there are volumes of documents in their office.

"Probably, mga more than 1,000 gyud ni ka mga court records ang naa diri," the staff said.

According to the staff, Cañete is not handling any sensational or controversial case at this time.

Mandaue City police director Eduardo Catabas said that Cañete has several small-time drug cases pending in his sala.

Ocampo said that all the judge's employees were considered as possible suspects including the utility workers.

The security guards on duty will also be investigated, as they reportedly did not hear anything unusual. The police added that the incident must have taken place when there was a six-hour power outage last Sunday that left the area dark. The police said that the place is usually well lighted due to the adjacent fastfood outlets.

The police are also set to question people who regularly loiter near the public market, which is nearby, to know if they noticed people who were acting suspiciously.

This is the first time that Cañete's courtroom has been ransacked.