Cebu court to have 4 vacancies

CEBU, Philippines -  The Regional Trial Court in Cebu City will have at least four vacancies starting January next year because of the retirement of four judges.

RTC judges Simeon Dumdum, of Branch 7; Silvestre Maamo, Branch 17; Eric Menchavez, Branch 21; and Enriqueta Belarmino, of Branch 57, applied for optional retirement effective next year.

 Dumdum, 66, said he applied for optional retirement because he will receive the same benefit anyway even if he retires at 70, the mandatory age of retirement for judges.

Dumdum said pending the appointment of new jud-ges, their respective pairing judge will handle the cases that the four of them will leave behind. However, it is expected that the cases will be delayed considering that these cases left behind by those who are retiring will be on top of the regular cases that their pairing judge are handling.

Dumdum was appointed RTC judge in 2000 and became an executive judge in 2004. After his retirement, Dumdum plans to continue his passion in writing.

Dumdum received numerous awards in writing poems and essays. He currently writes a column for Cebu Daily News. (FREEMAN)