By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A newly rehabilitated courthouse in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon has officially opened, with the Supreme Court emphasizing that the strength of the justice system ultimately rests not on buildings but on the people who administer and seek justice.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao led the September 1 inauguration of the new Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) courthouse at the Old City Hall Compound along Alberto Street in Barangay 1, Malaybalay City.
The rehabilitation became necessary after the old courthouse deteriorated and had to be demolished. Court operations were temporarily transferred to the Old Session Hall of the former Municipal Hall while the new facility was being constructed.
Construction began on November 10, 2024, and was completed on July 27, 2026.
In his message, Dimaampao reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s commitment to making justice more accessible, efficient and compassionate, stressing that the effectiveness of the justice system depends on the people who operate it.
“Buildings, however magnificent, do not administer justice. People do.”
He said judges, court personnel, lawyers and the public give meaning to courthouses through their integrity, dedication, competence and trust in the justice system.
Dimaampao described the new courthouse as a beacon of hope for the people of Bukidnon, saying it should demonstrate that justice must not only be delivered but must also be visible and experienced by those it is intended to serve.
He expressed hope that the facility would become a place where disputes are settled peacefully, rights are protected and the rule of law is upheld.
The associate justice also reminded court personnel that every litigant who enters the courthouse carries more than a legal case, noting that each may also bring a family, livelihood, personal story or dream.
Court decisions, he said, can affect lives, restore peace and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
Following the inauguration, Dimaampao met with Bukidnon judges and court personnel in a dialogue focused on concerns affecting judicial services and the efficient operation of the courts.
Joining him during the inauguration were Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta, Deputy Court Administrators Leo T. Madrazo and Rainelda H. Estacio-Montesa, 10th Judicial Region Regional Court Manager Judge Janice Ivy G. Valparaiso-Chua, Bukidnon judges and trial court employees, local government officials, and personnel of the Office of the Regional Court Manager for the 10th Judicial Region.
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