Court employees plead for immediate release of COLA

Some 23,000 employees of regional and metropolitan trial courts asked for "compassion" from Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. for the immediate release of their additional cost of living allowances.

"All lower court employees are pleading for your compassion, as we are begging for the prompt release of our benefits. After a long Lenten vacation, most of us have become penniless and we are all in dire need of the money," said the Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE) in a letter to Davide.

PACE members expressed their frustration over the long delayed release of their COLA from the judicial development plan.

"All of us feel that we have been neglected," their letter stated. PACE is composed of 23,000 employees of the first (Metropolitan) and second (Regional) level courts nationwide. An ordinary court employee is entitled to receive at least P6,000 cost of living allowance (COLA).

Nena Fernandez, assistant treasurer of PACE-RTC Manila said Raymond Tan, PACE president is set to meet with Davide to reiterate their pleas for the immediate release of their allowances.

Fernandez said the release of their allowance is the discretion of Davide, who the employees noted, ordered Justice Prebitero Velasco to release their COLA as early as April 5.

"Apparently, the Chief Justice was not informed by the people who defied his order because they benefited from the money," noted Fernandez, who expressed optimism that Davide will help them. – Cecille Suerte Felipe