Friday, August 17, 2007 Guard loses post for failing to implement new rules
A SECURITY guard lost his post inside the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice for failing to follow a judge’s order to implement strict security measures.
The security guard was assigned at the main entrance. He lost his post after defying the order of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia not to allow children below 12 years old to enter the building.
Eddie Torrellos was transferred yesterday to the Hall of Justice in Mandaue City because he failed to implement the verbal instruction of de Gracia banning children inside the building.
Security in-charge Henry Espinosa issued the memorandum after de Gracia reprimanded him when the judge saw a child in his courtroom.
De Gracia earlier explained that the order only aims to protect the children from trauma.
The executive judge believes that seeing their loved ones handcuffed will have ill effects on the child’s development. Criticisms
Also, children sometimes disrupt the proceedings in the courtrooms.
The order was criticized by the families of suspects and by employees themselves.
“It is only during court hearings that my children get to see their father and now they will be banned from entering the courtrooms. They cannot visit him in jail because it’s too far from here,” Jocelyn said in Cebuano. Her husband is detained at the jail in Barangay Kalunasan in Cebu City because of an illegal drugs case.
Court employees also complained that the directive affects court workers whose children eat with them during lunchtime.
De Gracia’s order is also causing the security guards a headache.
“Aside from securing the place, we now have to act as babysitters because we have to look after the children left by parents who have to go to the courtrooms,” lamented a guard, who asked not to be named. (KNT)
