RTC judges laud added special compensation
-A A +ATuesday, October 16, 2012
THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges welcomed the assurance from Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno that there would be no reduction of their salaries and benefits during her 18 years of service.
"Such act of CJ Sereno is a manifestation of her wholehearted support to lower courts. She sees to it that the rights of judges are protected. She is our savior," said Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan in a text message.
Apao-Adlawan is the acting presiding judge of RTC Branch 9 in Davao City and presiding judge of RTC Branch 30 of Tagum City.
Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 7 Judge Rufino S. Ferraris Jr. echoed the same sentiment on Sereno's response, saying “Great!” in a text message to Sun.Star Davao.
In a radio report, executive judge Pelagio Paguican also welcomed the news Sereno announced during the Philippine Judges Association midterm convention at L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City last October 11.
In an earlier story published on national daily, Sereno was quoted as saying that the P30,000 monthly special allowance for the country's 2,000 judges will remain as part of their compensation. Sereno has signed the release of the special allowance which will be release on Wednesday.
Sereno's announcement was reportedly met with a loud applause from the judges who attended the convention.
In Davao City, at least nine RTC judges attended.
"It is an allowance granted to us by law. The reason why the law was enacted governing SAJ is to entice the brightest in the law profession to join the judiciary," Adlawan said.
"As compared before, there were only few lawyers who joined the judiciary because of a low pay. Private practice is more lucrative that joining the judiciary," she added.
"At present, more and more lawyers (the brightest one) are applying because the pay now can be at par with what one receives in the private practice. More, our rights to receive it have been vested already," Adlawan said.
Sereno assured the judges that, as Chief Justice for the next 18 years, she would continue to fight for their material welfare. (ANC)
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on October 16, 2012.
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