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CEBU CITY, Philippines - Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges in Cebu City plan to send a letter to the Supreme Court endorsing the extension of tenure of Judge Meinrado Paredes as executive judge, the local judiciary's spokesman said yesterday.
Judge Gabriel Ingles said the judges are endorsing Paredes due to his seniority, experience, and competence.
Ingles, Palace of Justice spokesman, said Paredes has started a lot of projects to improve the judiciary's services to the people.
Judge Paredes said he will seek clarification from the Supreme Court concerning his status and that he is open to any decision of the tribunal.
Paredes was appointed RTC Executive Judge last November 21.
Paredes told Cebu Daily News that he will call up the Regional Court Administrator's Office in Central Visayas on this matter.
The Supreme Court issued an administrative order appointing Paredes as Cebu City RTC executive judge, replacing acting RTC acting executive judge Silvestre Maamo.
Maamo became the acting executive judge after then RTC executive judge Fortunato de Gracia retired.
Maamo of branch 17 was appointed 1st Vice Executive Judge, while RTC Judge Soliver Peras of branch 10 was appointed as 2nd Vice Executive Judge.
The Supreme Court's order stated that the three appointees will hold their posts until December 31, 2008. It can extend their tenure.
Paredes said that if he is not reappointed, there are other judges just as qualified.
?We have many upright RTC judges in Cebu City now. We have brilliant and honest judges,? he said.
Following his appointment, Paredes said he wanted to work on enhancing the image of the judiciary by initiating programs meant to provide greater accessibility by the poor to the courts.
Paredes last year allowed the entry of those wearing slippers and sandals at the Palace of Justice.
?If no one would trust the judiciary, democracy would then be compromised,? he said, adding that judges should cooperate with each other to develop the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the Cebu provincial government said it respects an unnamed judge's decision to voluntarily drop the P6,000 allowance the Capitol issued to him, saying any conflict between them and the judiciary is blown out of proportion.
Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda said it had been the judges who previously asked for financial assistance from Cebu even during the tenure of former governor Pablo Garcia Sr. to augment their meager income.
?We will also be respecting them. They asked for it. The Capitol is not forcing them to accept it,? he said in Cebuano.
Cebu's Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges are scheduled to submit a resolution to the Supreme Court and the Cebu provincial government condemning what it called as ?the bullying? done by Capitol officials concerning the allocation of allowances to the magistrates.
The resolution stemmed from a reported insinuation by Capitol consultant Byron Garcia that the provincial government can save money by withholding allowances from the judges.
He denied threatening to move for the withdrawal of allowances for judges, saying he was misquoted in a local paper.
Garcia protested a recent court decision denying the Capitol petition not to admit a political prisoner in the Cebu Provincial Detention Center.
The Cebu provincial government recently withheld the allowance of RTC Judge Beinvinido Saniel of branch 20.
RTC judge and judiciary spokesman Ingles waived his allowances from Cebu City Hall and the provincial government while RTC Executive Judge Paredes waived his allowance from the Cebu Capitol.
Saniel dismissed a petition filed by the province that questioned the authority of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to appoint directors of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD). /With a report from Reporter Doris C. Bongcac
