New justice hall rises in far-flung Apayao town

BAGUIO CITY (March 20, 2025)— Villagers in Flora and Sta. Marcela towns in Apayao province are expecting swifter administration of justice now with its new justice hall built from the initiative of Apayao lawmaker Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang.



Bulut-Begtang with other provincial and town officials inaugurated on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the completed Justice Hall at Flora town.

The construction of the Justice Hall is a project under the Department of Public Works and Highways – Apayao Second District Engineering Office's (DPWH-ASDEO) Basic Infrastructure Program (BIP). 

The funding was sourced through the initiative of Bulut-Begtang with a budget of P 9,723,958.11.

The justice facility will house the 5th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Flora-Santa Marcela, Apayao

The court will be presided over by Judge Richardson G. Agbisit of the Second Judicial Region.

For years, the local judiciary operated in a deteriorating and aging building, with concerns growing whether it could still serve it purpose. 

Flora Mayor Rodolfo Juan Sr.said that their aspiration of a justice hall “Matagal na nating pangarap ito. Sa wakas, may sarili na tayong hukuman dito sa Flora-Santa Marcela area. Sana sa tulong ng bagong gusaling ito, mas mapabilis ang paghatid ng hustisya,” he stressed.

Bulut-Begtang said the new justice facility is a great boost to her advocacy for justice, particularly in cases involving abuse against women and children. “Ang halaga ng building na nito ay nakasalalay sa kung paano ito magagamit para tiyakin na ang biktima ng pang-aabuso, lalo na ang mga kababaihan at mga bata, ay makakamit ang hustisyang nararapat sa kanila,” she said.

She appealed to the prosecutors and members of the judiciary to uphold their duty with integrity and urgency, particularly in addressing rape cases and gender-based violence in the province. “Hindi pwedeng patagalin ang hustisya. Ang bawat araw na natatagalan ang isang kaso ay dagdag na pahirap sa biktima. Sana, mas maging agresibo tayo sa pagtugon sa mga kasong ito, para sa tunay na proteksyon ng ating mga kababaihan,” she urged.