Judge Marigomen dies at 51

CEBU, Philippines - At the age of 51, Judge Douglas Marigomen of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 succumbed to liver cancer in a private hospital last Sunday.

Clerk of court, lawyer Manuel Nolloria, said Marigomen was confined in Cebu Doctor’s Hospital at 7 p.m. Thursday after he collapsed in his chamber.

He was pronounced dead at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

“After the afternoon hearing, judge went to his chamber and fell asleep. It was his driver who woke him up at around 7 p.m. but he collapsed. The driver called the security guard on duty and asked for help in bringing him to the hospital,” Nolloria said.

Marigomen had been under medication for two years.

Nolloria said he noticed that Marigomen had edema three months ago and his health deteriorated after the edema subsided.

That was when they learned that the judge has a stage 4 liver cancer.

Despite his ailment, Marigomen still reported for work and heard cases from Monday to Thursday.

His remains were cremated and his family will hold a vigil until Friday.  He will be buried on Saturday.

Marigomen is survived by his wife who works as clerk of court of the Court of Appeals in Manila.

Marigomen became RTC 5’s presiding judge in 2006.  Before that, he used to work for the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

There are about 700 cases pending in Branch 5.

One of the major cases he handled was the murder case filed by Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura against the assailants of his son.

Nolloria said Marigomen was a good man and they were saddened by his death.

Legal researcher Nida Suyko said there was never an instance that they were berated by the late judge.

Former Executive Judge Simeon Dumdum of the Regional Trial Court also mourns Marigomen’s death.

He described the late judge as a “warm fellow, quiet and sharp.”

Dumdum said Marigomen was a big loss to the RTC. With his death,  it will take years for the Supreme Court to fill up the vacancy.

The president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City Chapter Earl Bonachita extended his condolences to Marigomen’s family.

“Every time someone dies, we are reminded how temporary our life on earth is. I learned that just a few weeks ago, he still attended court hearings. Suddenly we are informed of his death.  May the soul of the good judge rest in peace,”  Bonachita said.  (FREEMAN)