Capitol to recover courthouse

CEBU, Philippines - The provincial government of Cebu is planning to take possession of the Marcelo B. Fernan Hall of Justice after the court abandoned the building following the declaration made by the Office of the Building Officials that the courthouse is no longer safe for public use.

Governor Hilario Davide III said he will make the Capitol’s position known to Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno during their meeting on Wednesday.

“Akong isulti niya ang posisyon sa provincial government nga i-reuse ang building in the event, di na sila ganahan ana. Mao akong isulti niya nga kuhaon nato og balik,” Davide told reporters.

The four-storey courthouse was declared unsafe by OBO because of the major cracks it sustained following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that jolted Cebu and Bohol last year.

According to Davide, the Capitol owned the lot where the abandoned courthouse is located. He said there is no evidence that would show that the area was donated by the provincial government either to the Supreme Court or to the Department of Justice.

“We have searched far and wide kung naa ba g’yoy Deed of Donation, wa gyud. There is no certain document that would show that portion ana’ng Palace of Justice was donated to the SC or DOJ,” Davide said.

The Capitol plans to retrofit the building as soon as the Supreme Court decides to abandon the courthouse for good. The court has transferred to Qimonda Building at the North Reclamation Area.

“Ang plano sa provincial government kung makuha nato na, ato nang i-retrofit. Kana kung magkasinabot mi. Gastuhan gyud kay we need office space,” Davide said.

Davide said he is planning to use the building to relocate some of the Capitol departments. Among the offices that will be transferred to the Palace of Justice, if Capitol succeeds in its plan to take possession of the building, are the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Assessor’s Office, and Provincial General Services Office.

Sereno earlier ordered the immediate transfer of  the courts to Qimonda IT Center for security reason. The courts have been holding hearings under the tents outside the Palace of Justice before its transfer.  (FREEMAN)