Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo expressed the Philippine judiciary’s gratitude to the United States government, through the US Embassy in Manila, for the support to the reforms initiated by the Supreme Court (SC) and for the donation of equipment for the courts’ video conferencing hearings.

The turnover of the donation was made during the courtesy call of US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava and other US embassy officials last Thursday, Feb.17, at the SC’s session hall.

The SC’s public information office (PIO) said that other US officials present during the courtesy call were International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Director Kelia Cummins and INL Legal Specialist Atty. Chudney Ngo.

SC Senior Associate Estela M. PerlasBernabe and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, Amy C. LazaroJavier, Rodil V. Zalameda, Mario V. Lopez, Ricardo R. Rosario, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Japar B. Dimaampao and Jose Midas P. Marquez were present.

Also present were Assistant Court Administrator and SC Spokesperson Brian Keith F. Hosaka, Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Laura C.H. Del Rosario, and Management Information Systems Office Chief Jed Sherwin G. Uy.

The PIO said Chief Justice Gesmundo discussed with the US embassy officials the ongoing judicial reforms.

One of those discussed was the policy document entitled “Justice Real Time: A Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations, 2022-2026” – a framework and set of approaches formulated by the SC to achieve better results on the judiciary’s fundamental function, which is to deliver justice.

Also, the PIO said, Gesmundo discussed the bill on Office of Judicial Marshals which is now with the office of President Duterte for consideration as a law.

Gesmundo said the Philippine judiciary will seek the assistance of the US government in the operationalization of the Office of the Judicial Marshals, especially in establishing a judicial marshals academy.

He also briefed the US embassy officials on the efforts done by the Philippine judiciary in maintaining the operation of the courts despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

For her part, Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava reaffirmed the commitment and support of the US government to the SC’s judicial reform projects, as well as to the creation of the Office of the Judicial Marshals.

She said it was “great to see how technology is being used for court proceedings” and that the U.S. government will “help and support you in ways we can. We highly value your friendship.”