Mobile courts arrive for Cebu, Samar, Tacloban

THREE custom-built buses used by the Supreme Court (SC) for its Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW) program have arrived in Cebu City.

Two of the air-conditioned buses will be taken to Tacloban City and Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

One will remain in Cebu for mediation proceedings.

While the Philippine Mediation Center requested for the buses, Judge Soliver Peras is hoping Cebu City courts can also use the mobile courts.

“I hope the mobile court will be stationed here. But of course, we don’t know its priority. Our situation here is better than the courthouses in areas affected by the calamities,” the Cebu City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge.

Peras said Cebu City judges also requested for mobile courts when Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez visited Cebu after the Oct. 15 earthquake.

The P8-million mobile court had visited Cebu for the SC’s program several times already.

One section of the bus serves as a courtroom while the rear is used as a mediation room.

The EJOW program, aims to grant relief to inmates who are willing to enter a “guilty” plea during arraignment and who have served time in jail longer than their supposed sentence.

Since its inception, the EJOW program has released several inmates languishing in jails across the country.

RTC Judge Meinrado Paredes said mobile courts are very useful especially during calamities and when courthouses are not accessible.

“Those buses can be used by judges who want to conduct trials but without any tent to stay. That’s needed now,” he said.