'COURT IN SESSION'. Acting Presiding Judge Chalmer Gevieso bangs the gavel to signal the formal reopening on Monday (March 8, 2021) of the 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Malapatan town, Sarangani province. The Supreme Court issued the go-signal early this year for the resumption of court’s operations based on a request from the municipal government and other stakeholders.(Photo courtesy of the municipal government)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The newly-revived Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Malapatan town, Sarangani province is gearing up to start hearing cases following its formal launching on Monday.
Officials and representatives from the judiciary, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and the municipal government of Malapatan led the court’s reopening, which came over 12 years after it ceased operations.
Acting Presiding Judge Chalmer Gevieso said the court, which is set up at the old municipal council session hall, is already functional and ready to tackle assigned cases from Malapatan and Glan towns.
He said the resumption of the court’s operations will mainly benefit residents of the two municipalities as well as the neighboring areas.
It will no longer be a burden for residents to attend case hearings and process court-related transactions, he said.
“What we are celebrating today is the result of the joint effort of everyone,” he said during the simple launching ceremony.
Gevieso said the 1st MCTC for Glan-Malapatan, which is a first-level court, will initially hear cases every second Monday of the month.
Lawyer Elmer Lastimosa, Sarangani chief provincial prosecutor, said there’s no more reason for residents in the area to skip the scheduled hearings or other court appearances.
He said it will ensure that all pending cases in the area will also be handled and dispensed properly by the court.
Malapatan Mayor Salway Sumbo Jr. lauded the Supreme Court (SC) for granting their request to reopen the MCTC.
“We pushed for this to bring the court’s services directly to the people here,” he said.
The municipal government, through the mayor, sent a letter-request on the matter to the SC in August 2019, along with a resolution from the municipal council.
It was also supported by the IBP-Sarangani Chapter, Public Attorney’s Office, judges, prosecutors and other judiciary personnel in the area. (PNA)
