BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – If the Philippine Judges Association so decides, judges and court employees at the Iloilo Hall of Justice (HOJ) here will not hesitate to join protests against the proposed abolition of the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF).
On Monday, Rep. Niel “Jun-jun” Tupas Jr. (5th District, Iloilo) filed House Bill 4738 seeking to repeal Presidential Decree 1949 that created the JDF.
JDF lacks transparency and accountability, according to Tupas.
Should the proposed abolition materializes, judges will surely question it before the Supreme Court, said Judge Globert Justalero, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 32.
The judiciary must preserve its independence and must be shielded from interference, said Justalero.
Also on Monday, the Supreme Court got a scathing criticism from President Benigno Aquino III for ruling as unconstitutional parts of the Disbursement Acceleration Program.
“Since it is still a bill, it is premature to take legal action,” said Justalero, spokesperson of the RTC judges here.
The Philippine Judges Association is the umbrella organization of judges across the country.
Judges and court employees receive from P2,000 to P2,500 each month from the JDF, said Justalero.
The JDF is also used to procure judiciary supplies and equipment, for the maintenance of judiciary facilities, and improvement of other HOJ services.
“For us judges, (the abolition) may not (have much) affect but for the rank and file employees, it is already big,” Justalero said.
On Monday, HOJ employees joined a nationwide silent protest against the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) imposition of tax on their allowances.
The tax deductions were enforced based on a Supreme Court memorandum order dated June 18, 2014 in compliance with the BIR directive to tax the Special Allowances of Judiciary./PN
