Vice Executive Judge Wilfredo Navarro of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court shows the laptop and scanner sent from Manila. (CDN PHOTO/ ADOR VINCENT MAYOL)
THE “E-court” or electronic court system will be implemented in all Cebu City trial courts.
Laptops and scanners were distributed to the 22 Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) and eight Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCC) to speed up the disposal of cases and unclog court dockets.
An online database of cases will allow the Supreme Court (SC) to monitor which pleadings are due for resolution and other immediate actions.
The automated feature also allows a lawyer to get a printed copy of a judge’s verbal order within 15 minutes after it is issued in open court, while transcripts of hearings shall be available 20 days after the court proceeding.
“Everything we do is online. Every case shall be indicated in the computer, and Manila (Supreme Court) will be aware of what’s going on here. They can always call our attention,” Vice Executive Judge Wilfredo Navarro of the Cebu City RTC said yesterday.
Court employees have to undergoing seminars on how to use the electronic program and processes.
The E-court system started in Quezon City and has been implemented in Lapu-Lapu City trial courts.
Though it helps in reducing court dockets, Navarro said the E-court system is not the only solution.
“The E-court system hastens the proceedings in a sense. All these things can help improve the dispensation of justice but it does not totally eradicate the problem,” he said.
Navarro said the High Court must create additional courts, and get more judges and court employees.
“The number of cases and the number of judges are not proportionate. We lack manpower, and this prevents us from complying with deadlines,” he said. In Navarro’s court, he only has eight staffers.
“We lack two stenographers, a clerk of court, and a sheriff,” he said.
Aside from his assignment in Cebu City, Navarro said he’s also assigned to assist a court in Lapu-Lapu City.