Saturday, February 16, 2008 Protests prompt judge to suspend sessions
ANTICIPATING the “undue injury” posed by protesters, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Cebu yesterday ordered all of its employees to take a half-day off.
RTC Executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia Jr. issued a memorandum directing all judges, clerks of court and other employees to report in the morning only. De Gracia cited the mass action and rally in the afternoon in major thoroughfares in Cebu City.
“For reason of paramount safety and well-being of judiciary employees, to preempt undue injury and same such difficulties, all workers may take the half-day off,” de Gracia said in his memo.
However, he reminded all courts and the offices of the Clerk of Court to see to it that judicial proceedings and other essential services are not disrupted and properly managed.
“For this purpose, the Office of the Clerk of Court and the Office of the Executive Judge will maintain an effective skeletal workforce to serve the public,” said the judge.
Only few protests were noticed in Cebu City yesterday, where much of the activity centered on Fuente Osmeña.
In Manila, however, thousands of anti-Arroyo protesters converged at the Ninoy Aquino Monument near Paseo de Roxas, calling for the immediate resignation of President Arroyo.
The protests were triggered by testimonies on the aborted national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp., particularly allegations that President Arroyo’s allies had tried to get US$130 million in kickbacks from the deal. GMD
