CAMOTES ISLAND, Cebu, Philippines – For nearly a year, Mang Andres (not his real name) has to travel for hours to Danao City in Cebu's mainland to attend the hearing of the case of his son, who is facing attempted murder charges.

The 64-year-old father travels on board a motorized banca amid the turbulent Camotes sea just to get to the sala of the judge hearing his son’s case. Mang Andres and several others whose loved ones, relatives, and friends are facing charges in court have to undergo the same plight.

Recently, the municipal council of the town of San Francisco, the biggest town in the island of Camotes, has passed a resolution requesting the Supreme Court (SC) to put up a Municipal Trial Court (MTC) branch in the town to hear cases involving residents of the island.

The resolution of the San Francisco Municipal Council reached the hands of the Cebu Provincial Board, prompting Board Member Jude Sybico to include the concern of the town in a recent Monday regular session.

“There really is a need for an MTC in San Fancisco because it is a huge town,” said Sybico.

However, the resolution was remanded back to the town council because requesting for an MTC branch must be coursed through Congress instead of the Supreme Court, said Majority Floor Leader Peter John Calderon.

Meanwhile, Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes of Branch 13 stepped down as executive judge after the Supreme Court found him guilty of an administrative case for incompetence and undue delay in resolving cases.

Along with Paredes, RTC Branch 20 Judge Bienvenido Saniel was also found guilty of the same offense. Both were fined P10,000 each.

Paredes said however they will file a motion for reconsideration in the resolution of the case that was approved by Jose Midas Marquez as court administrator.