Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo reminded judiciary officials and employees to remain accountable in the performance of their sworn duties as public servants.
“From the lowest ranking employee of the Court up to the Chief Justice, we are accountable to the nation under the solemn mandate we call ‘public trust,’” Gesmundo said in his address during the 121st anniversary celebration of the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday, June 10.
“It is this trust that we are sworn not to break, not to betray, and not to diminish. This duty is what we, in turn, call accountability,” Gesmundo stressed.
The SC was formally organized under the Judiciary Law (Act 136) on June 11, 1901.
Since the 121st anniversary falls on a Saturday, the SC decided to hold the celebration on Friday, June 10.
Gesmundo also told judiciary officials and personnel of the SC’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 which, he said, is founded on four Guiding Principles– “the Judiciary’s delivery of justice will be Timely and Fair, Transparent and Accountable, Equal and Inclusive, and Technology Adaptive.”
The target outcomes of the plan, he said, are “efficiency, innovation, and access.”
He explained that the “efficiency” as the first outcome entails organizational review and restructuring in the Judiciary.
On “innovation,” the Chief Justice highlighted the projects spearheaded by the associate justices.
He mentioned that Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen serves as the Chairperson of the technical working group that will review the writs of Kalikasan and continuing mandamus, and the writs of Amparo and habeas data.
He also cited the success of the 2020/2021 Bar Examinations, with Leonen as chairperson of the committee, as the first-ever regionalized and digitalized Bar Examinations in Philippine history.
Chief Justice Gesmundo likewise recognized the Benchbook for Family Courts and the Benchbook for Commercial Courts spearheaded by retired Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, which were both launched before her retirement last May.
On “access” as the third outcome, Gesmundo highlighted the SC’s initiatives towards bringing judicial services closer to the public.
He then recognized the contributions of each of the associate justices – the summits on legal education and the Enhanced Justice on Wheels project led by Senior Associate Justice Leonen; the enhancement of Shari’ah justice and legal education system headed by Justice Japar B. Dimaampao; the promotion of gender sensitivity and fairness led by Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, with the adoption of the Guidelines on the Use of Gender Fair Language and Courtroom Etiquette for the Judiciary.
Also cited were the E-Notarization Committee headed by Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa; the promulgation of the Rule on Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons under the leadership of Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando; and the promulgation of the Rules on Expedited Procedures through the efforts of Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, who was then still a justice of the Court of Appeals.
In addition, the Chief Justice mentioned that Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez and Justice Marquez will also be working on the construction of various halls of justice and court buildings; the amended Rules of Procedure for Municipal Election Contests under the leadership of Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr.; the preparation of the module for the implementation of the Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras which Justice Mario V. Lopez is currently working on in coordination with the Philippine Judicial Academy; the establishment and operation of the Office of the Judiciary Marshals led by Justice Rodil V. Zalameda; and the important role of Justice Ricardo R. Rosario in the review of reports on the killing of lawyers.
Themed “Korte Suprema ng Makabagong Panahon: Nagbabalik Tanaw sa Kahapon,” this year’s celebration kicked off with “One Community,” a community pantry for court personnel held at the Old SC Compound Grounds last Thursday, June 9.