Operations in some Visayas courts resume

MANILA, Philippines - Courts in some areas in Panay Island struck by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) have already resumed operations, a Supreme Court official said Friday.

Court Administrator Midas Marquez made the announcement after inspecting several halls of justice in the Visayas, where millions of people were displaced and thousands were killed by the wrath of the super typhoon.

Marquez said that the Hall of Justice in Roxas City, in Capiz province was damaged by the typhoon, but it was immediately repaired after the super typhoon passed.

Marquez said that the proceedings of cases in the city have normalized as all judges and court personnel have all been accounted for.

Marquez also visited the halls of justice in the towns of Balasan, Estancia, Sara, Barotac Viejo, Barotac Nuevo and Zarraga, all in Iloilo province.

He said the damage incurred by the courts in these towns are already being repaired and they expect the operations to resume the soonest possible time.

Meanwhile, Marquez said that they also expect the operations of the Iloilo City Hall of Justice to return to normal by December.

The hall of justice was damaged by the magnitude-7.2 earthquake that struck Central Visayaw last October 15.