CEBU, Philippines - All of Cebu City’s courts are now stationed inside Qimonda IT Center, in compliance with the order from Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno during her visit in Cebu last month.
Sereno, after a dialogue with judges and Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) officials last Feb. 21, instructed that all courts should already be in Qimonda for better security, as judges and court personnel used to hold office inside tents at the Palace of Justice grounds.
The Palace of Justice building has already been deemed unfit for occupancy after suffering serious damage following the Oct. 15 earthquake last year.
Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Soliver Peras declared the official start of court business in Qimonda after an 8-a.m. flag-raising ceremony yesterday.
In particular, Cebu City courts are temporarily occupying the first floor and second floor of Qimonda, which is located at the North Reclamation Area, while the third and fourth floors, which the SC rented, are still being prepared.
Peras said that to improve security, he requested the Cebu Ports Authority to ban trucks from passing the area at 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. but got no reply yet. —/RHM (FREEMAN)