Supreme Court eyeing revival of 'tourism courts'

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) is considering reviving special courts to hear cases involving foreign tourists in Metro Manila.

In an overseas phone interview, court administrator Jose Midas Marquez said Chief Justice Renato Corona has tasked him to look into Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim’s request for the revival of tourism courts open 24 hours.

“The Court is now studying this request,” he said.

“We are looking into bringing back these special courts in the cities of Manila, Pasay, Quezon and Makati.”

Marquez said the SC has acceded to Lim’s request despite Malacañang’s move to cut the judiciary proposed budget for next year.

“This revival of tourism courts may entail some funding requirements because we will have to require judges and a skeletal force to come in,” he said.

Marquez said the Special Allowance for the Judiciary and judicial development funds would not suffice to cover the expenses of the judiciary.

The SAJ goes to the allowances of justices and judges and to additional allowances for rank-and- file employees of the judiciary, he added.

Marquez said under Republic Act 9227, justices and judges are entitled to an allowance equivalent to 100 percent of their monthly salary.

On the other hand, 80 percent of the JDF goes to additional cost of living allowances of employees of the judiciary, while the remaining 20 percent goes to equipment and repairs of courts and offices, he added.

Marquez said the judiciary collected P2.187 billion from legal fees last year and P1.903 billion in 2008.

These collections, P1.14 billion and P959.24 million, were allocated to SAJ last year and the other year, he added.

A total of P1.047 billion was spent for JDF last year and P943.32 million in 2008, Marquez said.