Palace of Justice gets special security team

CEBU, Philippines - Twelve people yesterday graduated as members of the Judicial Security Group after almost four years of training.

The twelve were part of thirty people who applied to be members of the JSG, which is assigned to render security to the judges of the Regional Trial Court.

Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez who graced the graduation ceremonies said that they will be replicating the formation of a security group in some courts in the country to prevent any untoward incidents inside the court or among the members of the judiciary.

The JSG has completed several trainings such as gun safety and marksmanship, bomb awareness and identification, basic life support/First Aid and firefighting and protective detail techniques.

Judge Geraldine Faith Econg, the chairwoman for the Judiciary Security Group said that the training of the JSG started in 2006 where the members of the group attended a bomb awareness and identification seminar which was conducted by the elements of the Cebu City Police Office and the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Bomb Squads.

It was on August 1, 2005 that former RTC judge Simeon Dumdum issued a memorandum for court personnel who would render voluntary service as escorts of judges and augment security at the Palace of Justice to report to Econg for a briefing/orientation of the duties and functions of the group. – Jasmin U. Labaco/BRP (THE FREEMAN)