COURT OF APPEALS PRESIDING JUSTICE PRAISED
FOR DISPENSING WITH EXPENSIVE CARS

The selfless gesture of a top judiciary official to forego the purchase of expensive vehicles for his official use has earned the admiration of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban).

Pimentel said he was awed by the decision of newly-appointed PRESIDING Justice Ruben T. Reyes of the Court of Appeals to make do with a five-year old office van instead of spending an allotment of P2.5 million on two luxury cars a Toyota Camry and a Starex van that a court official of his stature is supposedly entitled to.

Reyes made the decision after learning that if he would buy the two cars out of the savings of the CA, there would not be enough money left to fully cover the emergency economic assistance to the personnel of the appellate court.

Between his personal comfort and the welfare of court employees under him, Justice Reyes did not hesitate to choose the latter. For his kind and humble act, he deserves the appreciation and gratitude of the public, he said.

Pimentel said the CA presiding justice, knowing that the governments finances are not in good condition, did something practical by just relying on the existing office car, believing it is good enough for his transportation needs even if it may be an old model.

He said that the gesture of frugality shown by Justice Reyes should be emulated by other public officials in the light of the existing ban on the purchase of office vehicles imposed by Malacañang for all government agencies as part of the austerity measures in view of the need to reduce the budgetary deficit.

Pimentel also said that although judiciary officials are entitled to vehicles befitting the dignity of their positions, the acquisition of new cars should be avoided, as a matter of government policy, if the existing office cars at their disposal are still running efficiently and will not in anyway jeopardize their personal safety.