Officials of the House of Representatives have assured Supreme Court of the immediate approval of the bill creating the Office of the Judiciary Marshals to protect members of the Judiciary and ensure that lawful court orders, ignored by government enforcement units, are carried out.
Immediately after Court Administrator Midas Marquez raised the urgency of creating the judiciary enforcement unit, House leaders vowed to fasttrack the bill legalizing it.
Deputy Speaker Misamis Oriental Rep. Henry Oaminal disclosed that the House Committee on Justice chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso has approved such bill, adding that the measure will be presented to the Committee on Appropriation’s approval as soon as the budget hearings are over.
“There is a proposal for judicial marshals, who, aside from providing protection for justices and judges, will also aid and ensure the implementation of court orders,” Marquez disclosed during the budget hearing for the Judiciary’s proposed 2021 expenditure allocation.
"Our reliance to other agencies will be reduced because we will have our own judiciary marshals,” he said.
Marquez made this disclosure in response to interpellation by Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate who inquired into the difficulty of parties to seek the issuance of a Writ of Amparo from the courts.
Zarate cited the case “perfunctory” dismissal of a petition for the writ sought by human rights advocate Sara Alvarez by a court. She was killed by still unidentified gunmen after the junking of her petition.
A Writ of Amparo may be issued by a court to a petitioner whose right to life, liberty, and security is being violated or is under threat.
Marquez said the rules on the issuance of a Writ of Amparo that was first released in “2007 or 2008” requires a thorough review.
“I am sure the Chief Justice will review the procedure,” said Marquez, referring to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta who heads the rules committee of the Judiciary.
To enforce the writ and similar court directives, the Judiciary must now be allowed to create the office of the judicial marshal that will guarantee that these are carried out, he said.
Veloso, together with Oaminal and Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, proposed the setting up of this enforcement unit.