LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP or Provincial Board) is asking President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint judges to fill in vacant positions in Ilocos Norte’s lower courts.
“Out of the 10 salas in Ilocos Norte, there are only two judges available now,” lawyer board member Vicentito Lazo said on Monday, adding that there is mismatch between the inflow of cases and the number of judges to try them.
There are presently only two Regional Trial Courts (Branch 12 and 14) with presiding judges as Judge Conrado Ragucos of Branch 16 retired on Sept. 23, 2018 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
To ensure that the “wheels of justice will continue to grind”, the Ilocos Norte board unanimously passed Draft Resolution No. 248-2018 requesting President Duterte to fill up vacancies in the Regional Trial Court Laoag City Branch 16 and 65 and branches 17 and 18, both in Batac City. The assigned presiding judges in the said courts had retired, too.
Under Article VIII, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution, the President has the sole power to appoint judges of the lower courts.
Though there are interested applicants, Lazo said the vacancies are not declared official yet hence, it creates a vacuum in the prompt and speedy disposition of cases lodged before the said Regional Trial Courts.
“If this continues, there might be chaos and disarray considering the approaching election ban on appointments,” Lazo said. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
