Thursday, October 18, 2007 Early result finds ‘anomaly’ in Toledo RTC
INITIAL results of the full judicial audit and investigation on the Toledo City Regional Trial Court tend to “confirm” reports that there is an anomaly in the disposition of petitions for annulment of marriages.
Lawyer Rullyn Garcia, Supreme Court judicial supervisor for Central Visayas, said in an interview that it seems the talks about a Toledo City judge who was said to be “lax” in disposing nullity of marriages are indeed true.
Sun.Star Cebu is withholding the name of the judge pending his comment on the issue.
The “anomalous” transaction has earned the city of Toledo the reputation as the “annulment capital” of the country. The title was once given to Barili Regional Trial Court for its “unusual” number of annulment cases.
Garcia, however, clarified that there is still no indication that money changed hands.
Also, no complainant has surfaced to verify the report.
Full cooperation
Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno sent a six-member investigating panel to Toledo to verify reports that it is the new “annulment” capital of the country.
Garcia disclosed that he talked with the judge concerned over the phone yesterday and the latter expressed his full cooperation in the investigation.
The judge is in Manila attending the Philippine Judicial Conference.
Cebu City RTC judges are also attending the conference.
Garcia said the judge told him that he couldn’t make it to Cebu within the week because he still has to attend to some important matters in Manila.
The SC investigating team is set to interview the judge.
Garcia also said that the full audit and investigation may not be done within the week considering the chaotic court records.
“Magulo and records. May problema talaga,” he said.
Garcia is the head of the six-man investigating panel sent by Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno to Toledo.
The investigation stemmed from information received by the judiciary where there was an insinuation of anomaly in the disposition of annulment petitions. (KNT)
