Chief Justice Gesmundo Commits to Extend Assistance to Minglanilla Court Fire Incident Victims
December 13, 2023
The Supreme Court, through Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, today committed itself to extending immediate assistance to Acting Presiding Judge Wilson T. Ibones and the court personnel of the Minglanilla, Cebu Municipal Trial Court who suffered burn injuries caused by a fire incident at the old MTC Building in Minglanilla, southern Cebu on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
This progressed as the Chief Justice requested the Philippine National Police to conduct a preliminary investigation and assessment of what happened. He added that the Supreme Court has also sent members of the staff of the Office of the Court Administrator, through Deputy Court Administrator (DCA) for Visayas Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino, to also look into the matter.
Chief Justice Gesmundo said that the Court will address the immediate concerns of the victims. He has instructed the Executive Judge of the area to assess the situation and to inform the Court the kind of assistance it can extend to the court employees who were injured in the incident.
“While a full-scale investigation is still ongoing, I assure Judge Ibones and the members of his staff who were injured in this unfortunate event that the Court will extend the necessary assistance to them. I also asked the Office of the Court Administrator and the Office of DCA Delorino to employ all measures needed to prevent such an incident from happening again,” Chief Justice Gesmundo said.
The initial report provided by DCA Delorino stated that the fire occurred inside the MTC, which is located at the 2nd floor of the old municipal building.
Judge Ibones reportedly heard several cases in the morning and, later, had lunch with his staff inside the courtroom, with other people inside the office waiting for a scheduled solemnization of marriage.
The report said that at past 12:00 Noon, court utility worker Jose Augusto allegedly started burning the records of disposed cases near his table. Those inside the courtroom were trapped because Augusto had locked the door and windows of the room. Augusto then allegedly started assaulting the others using an old fluorescent tube-type bulb.
Those who ran into the restroom were able to break the window and ask for help. A nearby traffic enforcer ran to scene and broke the door open, prompting some of the staff members to escape.
According to the report, Judge Ibones, one stenographer, and a fiscal needed to be pulled out by the rescuers. All the staff and other injured individuals were brought to the Minglanilla District Hospital, the San Lucas Hospital, and South General Hospital.
The victims were then transferred to the Burn Center at Sotto Hospital, Cebu City while Judge Ibones was transferred to the Perpetual Succor Hospital in Cebu City.
Aside from Judge Ibones, the other injured court staff were Rinna Nina Monreal, Branch Clerk of Court; Ursulina Legaspi, stenographer; Libertine Gail Belcina, stenographer; Gwendolen Rabadon, stenographer; and Darwin Rondina, process server.
Also among those injured were non-court staff, including guests of the couple who were to be wed.
Augusto expired in Minglanilla District Hospital. Based on the initial report of DCA Delorino, 60-year-old Augusto had been a reliable utility worker until about three months ago, when he manifested a marked difference in his behavior. Augusto reportedly became very quiet and distanced himself from the other staff and would only ask them if any cash benefits was forthcoming. His colleagues had no knowledge if Augusto had problems with his family or with finances. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)