For security reason Sereno: Transfer courts to Qimonda

CEBU, Philippines - Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno has ordered all Cebu City courts to transfer to Qimonda IT Center at the North Reclamation Area before March 17, 2014 for security reason.

The chief magistrate made the decision after a dialogue with the judges and officials of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines last Friday.

Lawyer Elaine Bathan, president of the IBP-Cebu City chapter, said that Sereno was convinced during the dialogue that court personnel should be transferred to Qimonda immediately because of security risk.

Judges and court personnel have been holding office in tents outside the Palace of Justice after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake damaged the Marcelo B. Fernan Hall of Justice last October 15. The Office of the Building Officials has declared the courthouse unsafe.

The Cebu City courts will temporarily occupy the first floor and second floor of Qimonda while the third and fourth floors, which the Supreme Court has rented, are being prepared.

Sereno visited the Qimonda IT Center last Friday together with Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez.

The transfer to Qimonda IT Center was delayed because some court personnel are complaining that the building is also not safe to house the courts.

Adding trouble to security concerns in the building was the recent accident inside the compound where a taxicab rammed into one of the flagpoles in the compound. The incident resulted to a minor damage of the flagpole. 

The driver of an Airtime Taxi was reportedly doing a backing maneuver when he accidentally hit the flagpole.

“Nasobraan niya og atras, wa na siguro to siya makabantay nga duol na ang flagpole,” the building guard said.—with Melissa Q. Cabahug, USJ-R MassComm Intern/FPL    (FREEMAN)