RE: LETTER OF TONY Q.
V ALENCIANO, HOLDING OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS AT THE HALL
OF JUSTICE BUILDING IN QUEZON CITY
PETITIONER: Tony Q. Valeriano
Facts:
This controversy originated from a series of letters, written by Tony Q.
Valenciano (Valenciano) and addressed to then Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno (Chief
Justice Puno).
In his first Letter, dated January 6, 2009, Valenciano reported that the basement of the Hall
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of Justice of Quezon City (QC) had been converted into a Roman Catholic Chapel, he
claimed that the holding of masses at the basement of the QC Hall of Justice showed that it
tended to favor Catholic litigants; that the rehearsals of the choir caused great disturbance to
other employees; that the public could no longer use the basement as resting place; that the
employees and litigants of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), Branches 82 and 83 of the
Regional Trial Court (RTC), Legal Library, Philippine Mediation Center, and Records Section
of the Office of the Clerk of Court (OCC) could not attend to their personal necessities such
as going to the lavatories because they could not traverse the basement between 12:00
o'clock noontime and 1: 15 o'clock in the afternoon; that the court employees became hostile
toward each other as they vied for the right to read the epistle; and that the water supply in
the entire building was cut off during the mass because the generator was turned off to
ensure silence.
Valeriano believed that such practice violated the constitutional provision on the separation
of Church and State and the constitutional prohibition against the appropriation of public
money or property for the benefit of a sect, church, denomination, or any other system of
religion.
The OCA, in its memorandum dated August 7, 2014, believed that the practical
inconveniences cited by Valenciano were unfounded. It, thus, recommended that his letter-
complaints, dated January 6, 2009, May 13, 2009 and March 23, 2010, be dismissed for lack
of merit and that the RTC and MeTC Executive Judges of QC be directed to closely regulate
and monitor the holding of masses and other religious practices within the premises of the
QC Hall of Justice. 1âwphi1
Issues: Whether the holding of masses at the basement of QC Hall of Justice violates the
separation of Church and State and the prohibition against appropriation of public money or
property for the benefit of a sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution, or system of
religion.
Ruling: The prayer of Tony Valeriano to prohibit the holding of religious rituals in the QC Hall of
Justice and in all halls of justice in the country is DENIED.
DISPOSITION:
WHEREFORE, the Court resolves to:
1. NOTE the letter-complaints of Mr. Tony Q. Valenciano, dated January 6, 2009, May 13,
2009, and March 23, 2010;
2. NOTE the 1st Indorsement, dated September 21, 2010, by the Office on Halls of Justice,
containing photocopies and certified photocopies of previous actions made relative to the
complaint;
3. NOTE the Letter-Comment, dated September 9, 2010, of Quezon City Regional Trial
Court Executive Judge Fernando T. Sagun, Jr.;
4. NOTE the undated Letter-Comment of Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Executive
Judge Caridad M. Walse-Lutero;
5. DENY the prayer of Tony Q. Valenciano to prohibit the holding of religious rituals in the
QC Hall of Justice and in all halls of justice in the country; and
6. DIRECT the Executive Judges of Quezon City to REGULATE and CLOSELY
MONITOR the holding of masses and other religious practices within the Quezon City Hall
of Justice by ensuring, among others, that:
(a) it does not disturb or interrupt court proceedings;
(b) it does not adversely affect and interrupt the delivery of public service; and
(c) it does not unduly inconvenience the public.
In no case shall a particular part of a public building be a permanent place for worship for
the benefit of any and all religious groups. There shall also be no permanent display of
religious icons in all halls of justice in the country. In case of religious rituals, religious icons
and images may be displayed but their presentation is limited only during the celebration of
such activities so as not to offend the sensibilities of members of other religious
denominations or the non-religious public. After any religious affair, the icons and images
shall be hidden or concealed from public view.
The disposition in this administrative matter shall apply to all halls of justice in the country.
Other churches, religious denominations or sects are entitled to the same rights, privileges,
and practices in every hall of justice. In other buildings not owned or controlled by the
Judiciary, the Executive Judges should coordinate and seek approval of the building
owners/administrators accommodating their courts.
