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RTC Judge Jose Sarcilla
...Sex abuses in schools must be stopped |
He does not strut around with an air of flamboyance but Regional Trial Court Judge Jose Coralde Sarcilla is definitely one of the most respected officials of the government today in Camarines Sur because he has shown exemplary diligence and dedication to his work and responsibility. Three days a week from Monday to Wednesday he is at RTC Branch 31 at the Provincial Capitol Complex at Cadlan, Pili where he is the presiding judge. But for the remaining two days on Thursday and Friday he is at RTC Branch 58 at San Jose, Camarines Sur where he is also the judge-designate. No one has been appointed yet to fill up the vacancy created with the retirement of Judge Eufronio Maristela and this is a normal occurrence in the country’s justice system inevitably compounding the backlogs in pending court cases.
Such workload would have fazed the ordinary government official or employee. But not Judge Sarcilla. “I have learned from my parents the value of hard work, “Judge Sarcilla says. “Love your work and you will never tire doing it, we were time and again counseled by our parents,” he recalls. If he had not sufficiently loved his job, including what has been added to his workload at the San Jose RTC which serves eight towns Judge Sarcilla, 58, might have bogged down.
But he goes about his daily tasks with ease – this also despite the fact that he holds office in a dilapidated building and room at the Provincial Capitol Complex. Two other RTC branches within the Provincial Capitol Complex, RTC Branch 32 with Judge Nilo Malanyaon and RTC Branch 33 with Executive Judge Rosario Torrecampo are in similar pathetic condition. Their buildings were actually designed and intended to be elementary school rooms built about two decades ago. Because of the ravages of time and calamities they are ready to crumble anytime.
Judge Sarcilla says that the Supreme Court has a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Justice wherein DOJ would finance the construction of court buildings and SC would provide the maintenance fund. The LGU is, however, to provide the lot and up to this juncture no specific lot has been allocated yet by the Camarines Sur provincial government.
Asked how he felt about the rash of sex abuses in schools committed by teachers on their students, some of whom were minors, Judge Sarcilla said this is a social malaise that should never be tolerated.“
This is one of the worst crimes teachers can commit in relation to their work,” Judge Sarcilla said as he was informed of recent cases of sex abuses in Calabanga and Caramoan.
Those involved, he explained, could be liable for several criminal and administrative cases depending upon circumstances. But if the student is a minor the culprit may have violated the Child Abuse Act for which he may be penalized with imprisonment of from 12 to 20 years and even if he pleads guilty the accused may not be eligible for probation.
Teachers are regarded as second parents of the child and that trust should not be broken otherwise our schools would become dungeons of fear and terror thus hampering the educational growth of children, he added.
A native of Kinalansan, San Jose, Camarines Sur, Judge Sarcilla was City Prosecutor of Naga City before he was appointed RTC Judge on November 18, 2002. He finished his AB at the University of Nueva Caceres and his Bachelor of Laws at the Far Eastern University.
He is married to Josephine R. Sarcilla of Lagonoy, Camarines Sur with whom he has three children: Johanne, 17; Marjorie, 15; and Lai Joshue, 4.
Judge Sarcilla married quite late at 38 years old, after he had already served as municipal councilor of San Jose.
