Congestion in the country’s jails has worsened over the years and will continue unless vacancies in lower level courts are filled.

This was the finding of Dagupan City-based lawyer Feliciano Bautista Jr, presently IBP national executive vice president and governor for Central Luzon, who expressed the urgency for more municipal trial court judges to be appointed.

He said that thousands of pending cases will be unclogged and justice will be served if only President Arroyo would appoint the judges to the vacant courts.

He revealed that there are many vacancies that need to be filled in Pangasinan lower courts if speedy dispensation of justice is to be achieved.

Bautista expressed wonder why the vacancies are not filled up despite the yearly appropriation for these courts based on the annual budget submitted to Congress.

“Every year, all positions are funded because there is budget but why are the positions still not filled up?” Bautista said.

He added that in spite of the long list of applicants for these IBP members’ concern about the unabated killings of lawyers across the country. 

He cited a suggestion that lawyers in some “hot” areas be armed but the proposal is still under study by IBP. — EVA