In Region 7: Court employees cry foul over SC memo on cash gift

CEBU - Employees of the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City have threatened to stage a protest because they believe that the Supreme Court memorandum granting Christmas cash gifts to the judges, officials and personnel of the lower courts is unfair.

Court employees in Cebu City are questioning the memorandum because they were only granted P7,000 while those outside Central Visayas were given P8,000.

Among those who cried unfair of the memorandum issued by Chief Justice Reynato Puno on November 27 was Lawyer Jeoffrey Joaquino, clerk of court of the RTC in Cebu City.

Joaquino said that it is unfair for them to be granted only P7,000 while the other court employees outside of Central Visayas are given more when they belong to the same agency.

He even threatened to lead court employees in a protest.

He said it would appear that court employees in region 7 are no longer under the Supreme Court.

Puno’s memorandum 44 A-2008 authorized the granting and release of Christmas cash gifts to the judges, officials and personnel of the lower courts.

He granted P8,000 to each court employee, judge and official.

However, court employees under the 7th Judicial Region and the Regional Court Administrator Office-7 were excluded. Puno however, gave them P7,000 “notwithstanding the unavailability of funds.”

The amount will be charged against the available savings from the regular appropriations of the lower courts in the judicial regions in the Fiscal Autonomy Accounts of the Lower Courts and the Supreme Court.

The memorandum also stated that those who have rendered 11 months or more service as of November 30, 2008 will receive the full amount. — Fred P. Languido/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)