BEFORE the year ends, the City of Naga will have its own Regional Trial Court (RTC), a Supreme Court (SC) official said yesterday.
SC Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez was in Naga yesterday to inspect the newly renovated Palace of Justice.
After seeing that the building is already fit for occupancy and that the City has complied with all the requirements, Marquez said he will fast-track the installment of an RTC judge in the City.
This way, the City of Naga RTC will be operational before 2016.
Marquez told Sun.Star Cebu that more RTC judges need to be installed all over the country as case-load congestion continues to hound courts.
But while there are many capable judges ready for installment, RTCs are but few.
“Marami nga tayong mga judges, pero kulang tayo sa mga korte," said Marquez.
Valdemar Chiong showed Marquez around the building.
In a separate interview, Chiong told Sun.Star Cebu that people don't need to go to Cebu City to file cases anymore.
Chiong also said that the creation of a new RTC will unburden local law enforcement offices such as the police and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
"The police and BJMP don't have to spend on gasoline in the transport of inmates since the court is so near,” Chiong added.
President Benigno Aquino III signed Republic Act 10348, which creates an RTC each in the cities of Naga and Carcar, in 2013.
Former congressman Eduardo Gullas authored law.