More drugs court judges in Davao sought More drugs court judges in Davao sought

THE Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac) asked the Supreme Court to appoint more drugs court judges to hasten cases involving illegal drugs in Davao City.

Lawyer Eliseo P. Barangaza, action officer of Cadac, said while the city's drugs campaign performed well in apprehension and prosecution, the problem, so far, is with the disposal of cases in court.

"We need to resolve the problem of clogging of cases," he said during the I-Speak forum held at the conference room of the City Hall on Thursday.

He said the number of drugs cases to be resolved in court increased by at least 70 percent, noting that there were roughly 300 cases before compared to nearly a thousand cases filed at present.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Davao City has two drugs courts -- Branches 9 and 13 -- with Judges Carlos "Charlie" Espero II and Isaac Robillo Jr. as the presiding judges, respectively.

Espero, a former dean of Cor Jesu College, was installed as the presiding judge of RTC Branch 9 on November 6.

The position of presiding judge in RTC Branch 9 became vacant when Judge Romeo Albarracin retired in July 2010.

Judges Albert Axalan, Pelagio Paguican and Rowena Apao-Adlawan were appointed as acting presiding judge when the post was unoccupied.

Robillo, on the other hand, will be retiring next month, Baraganza said.

While the post for RTC Branch 13 judge left unoccupied for the next months, Braganza said there will be a slower disposal of drugs cases.

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More drugs court judges in Davao sought More drugs court judges in Davao sought