Saturday, June 23, 2007 Raffle ordered for court nuptial rites
TO put an end to a “marriage scam,” Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia and Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Executive Judge Oscar Andrino issued a joint memorandum yesterday ordering that the solemnizing magistrate will be chosen strictly by raffle.
This means that parties can no longer follow the common practice of choosing their judge.
“As a drastic measure,” the joint memo states that the process will now start with the Clerk of Court, who will check if documentary requirements and basic fees are in order, and issue receipts.
The judge who will solemnize the marriage “will be chosen strictly by raffle to be presided by the executive judge of the chosen level in the presence of the interested parties,” read the joint memo.
A special raffle may be granted for meritorious reasons.
Also, as a rule, the marriage ceremony can only be conducted during weekdays in the sala of the solemnizing magistrate.
A couple that wants to be wed on weekends and outside the halls of justice should put their request in writing. This is subject to the approval of the executive judge.
De Gracia and Andrino explained that they had to issue the memo because “the phenomenon of unmitigated solemnization of marriages in both first and second-level courts has reached the point where the judiciary is frankly indicted of abusing its authority for monetary considerations/unconscionable profit.”
Several efforts were previously made to curb these anomalous practices, they said, but their efforts were futile.
Earlier, MTCC Judge Donato Navarro accused a female judge of making a business out of solemnizing hundreds of marriage ceremonies in a year.
Navarro alleged that the judge and some of the employees who coordinated these marriages already earned millions.
He said the costs of these “coordinated” marriages range from P1,800 and P100,000 each. Under the law, a couple will only have to pay P300 for a civil wedding ceremony. (KNT)
