Earlier this month, I stood shoulder to shoulder with Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and other justices, alongside local leaders, and hundreds of proud Tausug as we broke ground for the new Sulu Hall of Justice.

I have travelled to Sulu many times then as a soldier and now as Presidential peace adviser. I have been to villages where firefights used to rage, spoken with former rebels and violent extremists, and heard the pain of mothers who lost their sons to war.

But the emotions that swelled in my chest that day were different. I knew I was witnessing the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Sulu, one that marked a major shift wherein the province was letting go of the past and welcoming the present.

Patikul — once the epicenter of conflict — was brimming with optimism. The energy was palpable in the people smiling, taking photos using their cellphones and clapping as the shovels dug into the soil. Sulu was saying: “We are ready and moving forward.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice Gesmundo captured that moment best when he declared in his remarks: “Today, as we break ground for the new Sulu Hall of Justice, we affirm our unwavering belief in this truth: that peace, stability, and justice are inseparable.”

The nation’s top magistrate’s words encapsulated the significance of the occasion. Justice is not and should not be a luxury because it is the foundation of lasting peace. Justice underpins the democracy we are now enjoying.

For the longest time, Sulu’s people had to travel for hours, even days, to seek redress for the simplest disputes. And there were those who no longer bothered or didn’t have the time to formally air their grievances, leading to the escalation of conflict.

This new Hall of Justice will finally put an end to that mindset that justice is only reserved for those who have patience. The facility will show that justice is not merely an aspiration but something that should be dispensed in a timely and fair manner.

Also speaking at the event, Senior Associate Justice Leonen reminded us that the Supreme Court does not only serve those in Luzon: “It is your Supreme Court; it is the Supreme Court of our people. It is not the Supreme Court only in Padre Faura.”

Those words meant a lot for the people of Sulu. Because for decades, there was a sense among residents outside Metro Manila that government institutions were too distant — that justice, like development, was inaccessible.

Justice Leonen recalled how the Supreme Court honored the Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Mosque in Tawi-Tawi, how it recognized Shari’ah, how it entered Marawi’s Ground Zero during the pandemic in 2022. These were not just ceremonial visits but were acts of solidarity with Muslim Filipinos.

He emphasized that the new Hall of Justice “will be a place where every litigant has the chance to be heard, and where truth and justice will prevail” and where “we can make ourselves accountable, and that we can achieve social justice — can become a reality.”

This is exactly what the national government has been working hard for all these years, and that is, to make sure that every community, even in the farthest corner of our country, can feel the presence and concern of the government.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently signed Executive Order 91, which formally transfers Sulu to Region IX for administrative purposes. The EO directs all agencies to ensure “the continuity of government operations and uninterrupted delivery of critical public services.”

Under the president’s directive schools will stay open, health and social services will continue to be given, and roads and ports will keep getting built. This means that there will be no gap or vacuum as Sulu transitions from the Bangsamoro to Region IX.

There is no doubt that Sulu has come a long way from once being a hotbed of conflict to an emerging hub for trade, investment, and tourism. New infrastructure is being built, more jobs are being created, and business people are looking at the province with a fresh eye.

However, genuine peace and development can only take root if people can settle disputes in court instead of in the streets. It means land conflicts can be resolved lawfully, and people can sleep soundly knowing that they have a venue to be heard and seek justice.

The Hall of Justice will send a clear and strong message to every child in Sulu that they don’t have to pick up a gun to get justice; to every mother that the law will protect her family’s rights and welfare; and to every young man and woman that the future is worth investing in.

I left Patikul that day filled with pride and gratitude because the Judiciary, the Executive, local governments, and the people of Sulu demonstrated that through solidarity, true justice can be experienced by all.