Puno brings ‘Justice on Wheels’ to Kalibo

By Jun Ariolo N. Aguirre

KALIBO, Aklan- Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Puno arrived yesterday to oversee personally the administration of justice and bring “Justice on Wheels” here.

Puno said he brought the justice bus in the town after he received reports that five trial courts at the Kalibo Regional Trial Court were destroyed by Typhoon “Frank”.

"We do not want to have a bottleneck of cases in the Kalibo RTC. The 'Justice on Wheels' which could accommodate two trial courts will stay in Kalibo for maybe four to six months while the five trial courts are yet to be restored," said Puno.

The justice bus is equipped with an air-conditioned facilities and a refrigerator. Security guards and monitoring staff were also designated to secure the bus from Metro Manila.
Local judges were tasked to man the said vehicle.

According to Executive Judge Sheila Martelino-Cortez, at least P3 million were damaged by Typhoon "Frank" in the RTC.

"Aside from the availability of justice on wheels, the RTC are also now negotiates with the management of the nearby elementary school building as another alternative venue for the courts," Cortez said.

Among those who lined-up for a hearing of their respective cases were Christian Adolf Winterrer, a German national suspect of brutally killing a Filipina in Boracay Island early this year.

Lawyer Atty. Ronquillo Tolentino, a journalist and a former vice governor of Aklan, welcomed the justice bus as it would ensure the credibility of justice in the province./PN