CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Department of Justice (DOJ) inaugurated yesterday the new Hall of Justice located at Diosdado Macapagal Government Center, Maimpis here.
Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Prosecutor General Victor C. Sepulveda led the inauguration of the new building worth P70-million, together with DOJ Assistant Secretary Juvy Manwong, Governor Lilia Pineda and City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago.
Governor Pineda said in her speech that the province is truly lucky to have housed most government offices in the center, allowing the Kapampangans to have easier access to them.
The lady governor said the newly-inaugurated Hall of Justice is expected to help fast track cases of inmates in the province and ease jail congestion.
Marquez, meanwhile, thanked the governor for her support to the judiciary. He also revealed that the Supreme Court will be launching the revised continuous trial rules and guidelines, which will make the criminal proceedings faster.
“We are hoping that with the revised guidelines of continuous trial, criminal cases will be promptly resolved and the number of inmates in our provincial jails lessened,” he said.
He also stressed the inter-dependence among government offices and the judiciary for the delivery of “a more effective, efficient, and responsive dispensation of justice.”
Regional State Prosecutor Jesus Simbulan said that the funding for the construction of the P70-million Hall of Justice was through the Justice System Infrastructure Program (JUSIP) of the Department of Justice, which shelled out P60-million, and through the efforts of then Congressman and Regional Development Council-3 Chairman Oscar Rodriguez who gave additional P10-million.
“All in all, the P70-million expenses went to the building itself, the site development and parking spaces, furniture and fixtures among other,” according to Simbulan.
The new 3-storey Hall of Justice will be the house for the Municipal Trial Court for Cities 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the Office of the Clerk of Court; the Office of the City Prosecutor and the Regional Prosecutor.
PHILIP OCAMPO
