Cebu City Gov’t to Continue Granting Allowances for State Prosecutors, Judges, Court Workers

The Cebu City Government will continue giving allowances to government prosecutors, judges and court workers, Mayor Michael Rama said.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told a lawyers’ convention in Cebu City she prohibited prosecutors from receiving allowances and incentives from local governments to preserve their independence and integrity.

“What’s the problem with that? Have they decided cases in favor of the city because we were giving incentives? Are we belittling our people in the judiciary?” Rama said.

In her speech at the closing of the 15th Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ National Convention held in Cebu City last Sunday, de Lima also said she wanted to make sure “that they are not entangled with politics, especially local politics.”

She issued a directive not to consider endorsements from politicians when considering applicants for appointments or promotions in the National Prosecution Service.

“Secondly, we prohibited our prosecution units, prosecutors, and prosecution staff from receiving allowances and other forms of benefits from local government units to ensure that they do not feel beholden to local politicians, which might affect their independence and impartiality in the discharge of their mandate,” de Lima said.

But Rama, a lawyer, disagreed.

“No, I don’t think that’s a correct statement,” he said.

But he said he will not keep prosecutors from heeding de Lima’s order.

It is their prerogative to receive or decline the city’s allowances, he said.

Rama said he does not believe the allowances the prosecutors and court workers receive from the city affect their performance.

He said the allowances were first given during the administration of former mayor Tomas Osmeña, which he continued as a way of helping prosecutors, judges and court workers cope with their daily expenses.

“I supported it because corruption can come in if there is deficiency or the person lacks logistical support in raising a family,” Rama added.

The city has allocated under the approved 2015 annual budget for the city’s peace and order program some P3.7 million for fiscals at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

Each fiscal receives P10,000 monthly as an allowance from City Hall.

The city also allocated P744,000 for the prosecutors assigned at the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor.

Each of them receives P12,000 from the city every month while the assistant prosecutors get P10,000.

The city also allocated P2.2 million for the allowances of lawyers assigned at the Public Attorney’s Office.

Except for Executive Justice Gabriel Ingles, who declined the allowance from City Hall, justices of the Court of Appeals (CA) Cebu Station also receive P25,000 in monthly allowances each, while CA clerks of court receive P4,000 each.

Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges get P20,000 each a month, P4,000 for clerks of court, P15,000 for Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCC) judges and P4,000 for the MTCC clerks of courts. (PNA) LAP/EB