Honorable Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin and Mayor REX Gatchalian officially opens the newly refurbished 3,000-square-meter Bulwagang Pangkatarungan - Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Building located at C.J. Santos St., Barangay Malinta, February 18, 2019.

The structure which once served as the Municipal Hall in the 1960s and later on as the Hall of Justice back in 2010.  It underwent another rehabilitation after the Regional Trial Court Valenzuela City branches got their own building just beside it from generous support from the local government. It will now house the five branches of the Valenzuela City Metropolitan Trial Court – Branches 81, 107, 109, 108 and 82 – which each got their own courtroom.

Also holding office in the newly-renovated building are the offices of the City Prosecutor, Parole and Probation Administration, Public Attorney's Office, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP),  and the Philippine Mediation Center, practically creating a “Judicial One-Stop-Shop” with all concerned agencies literally just steps away from each other.

The newly inaugurated Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) is dedicated to the men and women who deliver swift and impartial justice, and that it may serve as a beacon of  hope for those who are in dire need of it. It shall also serve as an inspiration for Valenzuelanos in striving to live lives that are just and fair to all, its marker says.

In his message, Mayor REX Gatchalian said “It is very suitable that this historic building will house the MTC for the Valenzuelanos because once in their life, they will set foot here for whatever purpose and that they will feel the history. Small it may be, now that it has been refurbished it will deliver swift and efficient justice to everybody in the City.”

In his inspirational message, Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin expressed the judiciary’s lasting gratitude to the City Government for creating a building that would exclusively be dedicated to the delivery of justice.

“Inaugurating any kind of Halls of Justice will always be a pleasure and a happy moment for any incumbent Chief Justice,” Chief Justice Bersamin added.

The inauguration and opening of the Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) is part of Valenzuela City’s celebration for its 21st Charter Day.

The historic structure was originally built in 1967, as the Municipal Hall of the then Municipality of Valenzuela under the administration of Mayor Ignacio Santiago. In 2009, during the time of Mayor WIN Gatchalian, a new City Hall was constructed along MacArthur Highway, paving the way for the building to be renovated and become the Justice Hall (Bulwagang Katarungan); and now, under Mayor REX Gatchalian, the Justice Hall was once again renovated and inaugurated as an integrated Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC).

Joining the Mayor and the Honorable Chief Justice are the Executive Judge of Branch 81 – Metropolitan Trial Court – Valenzuela, Honorable Teresita Asuncion M. Lacandula-Rodriguez.

Also in attendance were Congressman WES Gatchalian, Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, Court Administrator Atty. Jose Midas Marques, Department of Justice Undersecretary Adrian Ferdinand Sugay, OIC-Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, Chief Probation and Parole Officer Mr. Ruperto Nicolas, District Public Attorney Atty. Dennis Kuong, Chief City Prosecutor Atty. Lemuel Nobleza and other City and Court officials.