Retirement, promotion of judges hamper resolution of cases in Ifugao

By Daniel B. Codamon

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The mandatory retirement of a judge at the Regional Trial Court in Branch 14 here and transfer of two judges at the Municipal Circuit Trial Court have delayed resolution of court cases in the province.

There are presently three RTCs in Ifugao: RTC Branch 34 covering the towns of Banaue, Hungduan and Mayoyao; RTC Branch 15 covering Alfonso Lista and Aguinaldo and RTC Branch 14 covering Lagawe, Lamut, Asipulo, Kiangan, Hingyon, Tinoc and Asipulo, which has largest jurisdiction among the three judicial branches.

According to RTC Branch 14 Sheriff Reuben Baguilat, trials for the pending cases in the said court were not held since January this year because Judge Joseph Baguilat, who has retired last March 14, was already on terminal leave that time.

This was compounded by the transfer of Lamut MCTC Judge Ivan Kim Morales and Lagawe MCTC Judge Jennifer Humiding by virtue of promotions to a higher court in Baguio City.

MCTC Lagawe has jurisdiction over the municipalities of Lagawe and Hingyon while MCTC Lamut exercises jurisdiction over the towns of Kiangan, Asipulo and Tinoc.

Baguilat said because of the vacancies created by these retirement and promotions, cases filed in these courts were not being resolved.

He said that it was not yet certain when the vacancies will be filled up by the Supreme Court but he added vacant positions were already published for interested individuals to apply.