RDC-7 asks Duterte to fast 

track judges’ appointment 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan 7 (PIA)—Over the noted delay in the administration of justice in Central Visayas, the Regional Development Council, in its full council meeting approved a resolution asking the president to fast track the appointment of judges and prosecutors in the judiciary branch. 

The RDC, in its meeting last December 13, 2019, posted the resolution in line with the deliberation on the Updated Central Visayas Regional Development Plan for 2019-2022, where the lack of prosecutors and judges surfaced as one of the critical factors that contribute to the delay in the administration of justice. 

In Central Visayas alone, the National Prosecution Service in Region 7 (NPS-7) disclosed that the region has a number of pending applications for prosecutors awaiting appointment by the President. 

The NPS-7 said that that there are about 70 applicants to the 16 vacant positions in the offices of the City and Provincial Prosecutors in various parts of Central Visayas. 

The NPS-further bared that the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Bohol has 5 applicants, the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Cebu has 20, the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Negros Oriental has 6 applicants while the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Siquijor has 1. 

As to the Office of the City Prosecutors, in Bais City, there are 2 applicants; Bayawan City, 1; Danao City, 1; Lapulapu City, 7; Dumaguete City, 5, Mandaue City, 8; Tagbilaran City, 5; Naga City, 1; Bogo City, 3; Carcar City, 1; Cebu City, 9; and Toledo City, 1. 

Amidst the increasing volume of cases in Central Visayas, the NPS-7 stresses on the need to fill up vacancies for judges in the Judicial Branch of the government. 

And as the President of the Philippines appoints to the judges and prosecutors to the judiciary based on a list submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council, which operates under the supervision of the Supreme Court, the RDC 7 then requests President Rodrigo R. Duterte to fast track the appointment of prosecutors and judges in Central Visayas. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)