The Supreme Court (SC) is set to construct a new Hall of Justice (HOJ) for the Naga Regional Trial Court, replacing the current facility inside the Naga City Hall compound.
The project follows the SC’s formal acceptance of a 2,444-square-meter property in Barangay Balatas, Camarines Sur. The deed of donation was signed during a ceremonial event on October 30, with key judiciary officials in attendance, including Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez, and Court Administrator Raul Villanueva.
Chief Justice Gesmundo highlighted the true purpose of the upcoming infrastructure during his keynote address:
“Let service be the heart of all we do. Someday a Hall of Justice will stand here; but in the end it will still be only glass, and concrete, and steel,” Gesmundo said.
“What will earn it its name is the work it will do, the kind of justice it will dispense, the quality of service it will deliver,” he added.
The land donation represents a partnership between the judiciary and the local government to streamline the administration of justice for communities under the Naga Regional Trial Court’s jurisdiction.
Court Administrator Raul Villanueva accepted the property on behalf of the judiciary, expressing gratitude to the city government:
“[The judiciary accepts the gift] with a deep sense of responsibility to make it a place where every person’s dignity is respected and where no one will feel that justice is too distant, too difficult, or too costly to reach.”
Senior Associate Justice Leonen further stressed the human element of the judiciary’s mission, noting the resilience of those seeking redress:
“The building that will be constructed here will be concrete, as concrete as the promises that our judges and court personnel will make and then follow. Give our people a fair chance. And they will build what no court can build for them. That is what a Judiciary is truly for,” Leonen stated.
Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo underscored the critical link between local governance and an independent, efficient judicial system:
“No policy of accountability means anything without courts that are able to hear cases fully and decide them promptly. Strong local governments need [a] strong judiciary,” Robredo said.