speech delivered by chief justice maria lourdes p. a...
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Speech delivered by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno during the 24th National Convention Seminar and Biennial Election of the Philippine Trial Judges League, Inc. (PTJLI) on October 11, 2017 in Palo, Leyte
Marami pong salamat, mga minamahal kong kapatid sa hudikatura.
Taos-puso po akong nagagalak na nandito po ako sa piling ninyo ngayon.
Naalala ko po nung 2012 nagsama po tayo sa Fort Ilocandia [Resort
Hotel] (crowd mumbles 2013) — ah sabi nila 2013 daw iyon oh, 2013 po.
Tinanong ko nga po kay [Philippine Trial Judges League, Inc. (PTJLI)
President] Judge [Ricky C.] Begino, sabi niya sa akin 2012. Pero marami pong
salamat at ikinagagalak ko na nakasama ko kayo ngayong hapon. (Crowd still
mumbling) Ano po, may sinasabi kayo? 2013 iyon, March? Ay hindi po, iyong
gusto ko pong sabihin iyong nasa PTJLI po tayo, 2012 ano po? Ayun po, sa Fort
Ilocandia. Nandito po ako noong March 2013, [Leyte] Governor [Leopoldo
Dominico Petilla] at [Leyte] Councilor [Ciriano Andres Sr.], kaya iniinsist nila
na 2013, kaya nagkaroon ng unang kalituhan. And I remember napakaganda
ho ng lugar na ito. And I thought na pagbalik ko, medyo kalungkutan, ngunit
nung dumating ako, ang sabi ko eh ang ganda ganda, simula sa airport
hanggang sa hotel, napakaganda po at ngayon na nakita ko itong hotel, naka
recover na talaga [from Typhoon Yolanda]. Harinawa ay tuloy-tuloy ang
pagunlad, hindi lamang ng mga siyudad ng Palo, Tacloban, Ormoc, at iba pang
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magagandang bayan ng Leyte, kung hindi ang buong lalawigan ng Leyte at ng
mga karatig pa po nito, ang buong Region XIII. Mabuhay po kayo! (applause) At
gayun din po ang Region XIII judges, mabuhay po kayo sa inyong maalab na
pagtanggap sa aming lahat dito. Salamat po. Maaari po ba hingi tayo ng special
mention at patayuin ang mga Region XIII judges? (applause) Salamat po.
(Thank you very much, my beloved brothers and sisters in the judiciary. It is
very heartwarming that I am here with all of you today. I can still remember
when we were gathered together in 2012 at Fort Ilocandia [Resort Hotel]
(crowd mumbles 2013) — oh some are saying that was in 2013. I asked
[Philippine Trial Judges League, Inc. (PTJLI) President] Judge [Ricky C.] Begino
and he said 2012. But I am very thankful and happy that I am with all of you
this afternoon. (Crowd still mumbling) What is that you are saying? It was
2013, in March? I think you got me wrong, I meant when we were together for
PTJLI — that was 2012, right? Yes, at Fort Ilocandia. I think the cause of
confusion was because I was here last March 2013, right [Leyte] Governor
[Leopoldo Dominico Petilla] and [Leyte] Councilor [Ciriano Andres Sr.]? That’s
why some of you are insisting March 2013. And I can still remember how nice
this place was. I thought that coming back would be sad, but to my surprise
when I came back everything was beautiful — from the airport, to the hotel —
it was all beautiful and now looking at the hotel, you have truly recovered.
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Looking forward, I wish for your continued recovery and progress, not just for
the cities of Palo, Tacloban, Ormoc, the other beautiful towns of Leyte, but also
the entire province of Leyte and its neighboring towns and the entire Region
XIII. Long life to all of you! (applause) And of course, the judges from Region
XIII, my warmest gratitude for your hospitality, thank you very much! May I
please ask the judges from Region XIII to rise and be recognized. (applause)
Thank you very much.)
Kagalang-galang na Silvestre Bello [III, Department of Labor and
Employment Secretary], na maraming umaasa na magdadala ng kabutihan sa
kabuhayan nating mga Pilipino, natutuwa po ako na nagkita tayo muli.
Governor Petilla, na guwapong anak ng napakagandang Alkalde [Remedios
“Matin” Petilla]. At Councilor, salamat po talaga. Judge [Ireneo] Illustre —
asan si Judge Illustre — Judge De Leon, salamat po for hosting — [Municipal
Trial Court] Judge [Anabelle S. Donasco-] Balledo, nagkamali kami — salamat
po sa paghost. DCA (Deputy Court Administrator) Jenny [Lind R. Aldecoa-
Delorino], so si DCA Jenny po tinatanong ko kung kamusta, maganda naman
daw po ang morale ng mga huwes dito sa lugar na kaniyang sinusupervise. And
of course, President Ricky Begino, salamat po at inimbita ninyo ako dito
(applause). Alam ninyo po eh naalala ko po at babalik po ako doon sa time na
nandoon tayo sa Fort Ilocandia, marami ho akong memories noon at mamaya
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ay babalikan ko sa aking sasabihin. But allow me to speak both in English and
in Filipino. (Honorable Silvestre Bello [III, Department of Labor and
Employment Secretary], whom a lot of Filipinos are counting on for good
news on livelihood programs, I am very happy to see you again. Governor
Petilla, the handsome son of one of the most beautiful Mayors, [Remedios
“Matin” Petilla], and Councilor, thank you so much. Judge [Ireneo] Illustre —
where is Judge Illustre — Judge De Leon, thank you for hosting — [Municipal
Trial Court] Judge [Anabelle S. Donasco-] Balledo, oh we made a mistake —
thank you very much for hosting. DCA (Deputy Court Administrator) Jenny
[Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino] — so I’ve been asking DCA Jenny, who’s assigned
to supervise this jurisdiction — how the atmosphere here has been, and she
said the morale of the judges is very good and positive. And of course,
President Ricky Begino, thank you for inviting me here today. (applause) I will
always look back and reminisce about that time at Fort Ilocandia, there were
just too many memories, and later I will go back to those in my speech.)
And let me begin with a memory. It happened when I was a young
lawyer, and all of us were young lawyers once, and still it remains — we are
still young, actually, noh? (right?) Lahat tayo (All of us) — it remains
particularly stark, specially now as I head one of the three branches of
government.
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Almost fresh out of passing the Bar — and for all of us, those memories
of our first years of practice, we cannot forget them — I handled the case of a
carpenter, a neighbor of a gardener who was accused of killing his employer.
Dinampot yung gardener nang walang pasabi at walang warrant, binugbog
hanggang sabihin na lang niya ang unang pangalang pumasok sa isip niya:
yung pangalan ng kapitbahay niya. Kasi hindi daw sila titigil hanggat hindi sila
makakuha ng mga pangalan. Kinailangan ko ngang maglamay sa presinto para
masigurong makakauwi iyong aking kliente nang buo at buhay. (The gardener
was picked up by the police without any warrant; he was beaten up until he
said the first name that came to his mind: his neighbor’s name. He said that
those that picked him up would not stop beating him up until they got a name.
I had to stay with him at the jail in order to ensure that my client will be safe
and alive.)
Personal pa rin ang hapdi ng mga kuwentong tulad nito; at kayo naman
lahat po palagay ko may mga ganoong personal po kayong mga karanasan
(Stories like these always carry a personal burden on me, and I know that
most of you here also have a similar personal experience) — stories of
injustice that pain our hearts. I’m sure that as judges you know that until we
feel pain in our hearts, we know that our hearts are still beating correctly
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when we see injustice. In fact, that is the reason why we are judges, because it
pains us to see injustice.
We were young once, and all of those stories are formative for all of us,
including Secretary Bello, who was once known as a very strong human rights
lawyer. I remember all those legends, Secretary. (applause)
At least, for me, what that story did to me is to refine my sense of
outrage at injustice, it sharpened my desire for fairness and life. And fairness,
of course, calls upon us to construe the law with a recognition, an openness, to
the plight of those among us who are in the margins. At sa mukha ng mga
taong tulad ng hardinero at karpintero sa alaala ko: mga taong wala man lang
pamasahe papunta sa presinto, mga breadwinner ng pamilya na inaasahan ng
mag-anak niya para sa susunod na almusal. Lahat ho tayo, lalo na ngayong mga
huwes na kayo, first-level, alam ninyo po ang mukha ng kahirapan. Alam ninyo
po iyong mga nakikita ninyong nanggaling pa sa malalayo at naghahanap ng
hustisya at umiiyak ang puso nila sa atin: hustisya kasing halaga ng pagkain.
(And to those like the gardener and carpenter in my story: they who do not
even have a single centavo to commute to the jail, the breadwinners of their
families, whom their loved ones look up to for their next meal. All of us,
especially to you, first-level court judges, you know the face of poverty. You
know those who’ve come far and wide crying for justice, to them justice is
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valued just as much as food on the table.) I firmly believe that for each poor
person upon whom injustice is done, five others — his entire family — suffers.
At alam po natin iyon, naririnig po natin sa mga kawani man lang natin na
lubog na sa utang, naririnig natin kung gaano naapektuhan ang pag-aaral ng
mga anak niya. Paano pa po iyong mga napagkakaitan ng hustisya na
dumudulong sa ating korte kung paano nila ikukuwento ang kahirapan ng
kanilang buhay na lalong nalulugmok dahil sa kakulangan ng paginob ng
hustisya. (And we know it, we’ve heard it from our staff — those deep in debt
— we’ve heard how their children’s schooling has also been affected. What
more for those who have been deprived of justice when they go to court, how
will they share their life story — deep in poverty — that will just be overcome
by lack of justice.)
Every injustice, especially when it is done to the poor, draws us further
into a spiral of hopelessness and crime. Conversely, doing justice ignites, at
every turn, a cycle of faith: In our systems, in the law, and in each individual’s
capacity to seek refuge in the law. It strengthens a person’s belief that playing
by the rules will allow you to move forward. Hindi kailangang magsinungaling,
o manlamang, o mandaya para umangat sa buhay. Ito po ang pinakapayak na
kahulugan ng hustisya. (We do not need to lie, or wrong others, or cheat in
order to get ahead in life. This is the most basic definition of justice.)
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I am certain that with all similar stories that you bear in your memories:
of people trampled upon by the powerful and well-connected few, of those in
the margins seeking refuge in the law. You, my beloved judges of the first-level
courts especially, are our frontliners in the courts, you know the anguish of
our people; you stand as daily witness to their frustrations. Rinig na rinig
ninyo po ang kanilang mga daing sa buhay. (You hear firsthand the anguish in
their lives.) And if you are anything like me, these stories serve to stir our
consciences, individually and collectively, and pull us back on course, towards
our true North [Star] as judges. For me, these stories serve as a constant and
powerful reminder of why I entered the law profession in the first place.
You see, as some of you may know by now, growing up, I was one of
those people in the margins. Laking Kamuning po ako; kung mayroon pong
taga-Quezon City sa inyo, naiintindihan ninyo ang ibig sabihin kung ikaw ay
batang Kamuning: laki ka sa kalye. Sa public school po ako nag-aral. Kung hindi
nga po dahil sa mga scholarship, at mga tulong ng gobyerno gaya ng marami sa
ating mga kababayan, hindi po ako nakapagtapos. (I grew up in Kamuning, if
there’s anyone here from Quezon City, you can relate to me when I say kids of
Kamuning: we grew up in the streets. I graduated from a public school. If not
for scholarships, and grants from the government, like many of our
compatriots, I would not have been able to finish my studies.) My mother was
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a public school teacher; my father, despite his keen intellect, was a promdi1
from Sulu for whom doors did not open automatically. My parents put in long
hours so we could scrape by and have food on the table. There is another
particularly stark memory of my mother stifling her sobs by her bedside as
she prayed, perhaps for some respite from the hardships common to people of
our social standing. It is no secret that I am a practicing Christian; perhaps my
spirituality was inherited from my mother, who turned to God when things
became particularly difficult. And I think, to many of you, my story is similar to
your own journey in life.
As I matured, I learned that there exists another refuge for people like
us; and it is the law. Just as people are equal in the eyes of God, so too is every
citizen equal in the eyes of the law. Applied properly, the law strips one of
money, of power, of connections. I realize now that my parents, through their
example and the lessons they taught me, also bequeathed this steadfast faith
in the law. Throughout their lives, it was their simple faith that guided them:
Huwag magsisinungaling, huwag mandadaya, huwag manlalamang ng kapwa.
(Do not lie, do not cheat, and do not wrong others.) Play by the rules, and over
time, through hard work, you can inch your way forward. This, my dear
colleagues, is the simple, sacred promise that the law holds for every person 1 a Filipino slang word, meaning "from the province"
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who enters our salas. And you, my dear brothers and sisters of the judicial
robe, you hold that promise in your hands. And I believe that our people look
to you, especially our first-level court judges, that you will keep faith to our
promise to the Filipino people. (applause)
Colleagues, I hope and I trust that you know enough of our work
towards judicial reform to know that, while much remains to be done, we are
doing our utmost best to empower you to effect positive, meaningful, genuine
change. And I mean that when I first met you in 2012, I remember all my
promises to you, not only will you find yourselves as champions of reform,
and [at] the cutting edge of the best in technology that we will bring to our
people in our judicial service, but I promised you that I will look after your
welfare.
So allow me first to start with each of the promises that we have kept
true to each other. I asked you at the end of my speech to keep your faith in
the vision that we will have a revitalized judiciary. That one day, our people
will believe in us and will hold us in highest esteem. I promised you then that
if we work doubly hard, the administration in Padre Faura will do its best to
first bring in the resources that are necessary to uplift the conditions of every
personnel in the judiciary. And what have we been able to do? I think that you
perhaps know already that since we started to focus on our budget, our
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budget has kept on increasing and has been significantly augmented every
year. Every year we go to Congress, and every year we hear claps of applause
and appreciation for the enormous reforms that we have already instituted.
And now, here is one distinct promise I made to you in 2012 that I am able to
say has been fulfilled. Remember when you were all telling me that you had to
wait for one year for your computer to be repaired for you to be able to get the
equipment and office supplies you wanted? Last year, we were able to put into
our budget a provision that put in a significant amount of MOOE (Maintenance
and Other Operating Expenses) that will be directly downloaded to the courts
(applause). Eh ano po ba nag MOOE, hindi naman ho kayo dati humahawak ng
budget items, noh? Alam ninyo lang po ay i-check iyong performance ng inyong
mga tao. Ang MOOE po stands for “Maintenance and Other Operating
Expenses.” Naririnig ko po iyong mga reklamo ninyo tuwing ako’y umiikot sa
inyong mga korte, “Chief, tingnan ninyo naman panay mimeograph paper na
hindi naman namin ginagamit; mga ballpen na hindi sumusulat; coupon bond
na dikit-dikit.” At ipinakita niyo sa akin iyong mga supplies na hindi ninyo
magamit. Ano po ba ang pinagusapan natin noon sa Fort Ilocandia, gagawa
tayo ng paraan, hahanap tayo ng paraan upang ang mga tao na nasa ground,
kayo ang bibili ng supplies ninyo, hindi na kayo pipila sa Maynila (applause).
Bukas po, andito si Atty. [Michael B.] “Mike” Ocampo [Court Attorney VI, Office
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of the Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno] para ikuwento kung paano
magstart iyong piloting ng MOOE po. Mayroon na po tayong pipiliing mga korte
na iyong judges, pasensya na ho ah hindi ko ibibigay sa mga Clerks of Court
ninyo, iyong judges, kayo mismo ang unang bibigyan ng tranches ng cash,
basta’t faithful lang po kayo sa pagliquidate. Mayroon po tayong ilalabas na
financial guidelines. Huwag po kayong magagalit sa pagliquidate, kailangan po
iyan otherwise ma-COA (Commission on Audit) po tayo lahat. Puwede na ho
kayo gumawa ng small purchases ng mga coupon bond ninyo, printer,
cartridges, puwede na ho kayong magkaroon ng ballpen, lapis, kung ano ano
hong kailangan ninyong office supplies. Kayo na ho ang bibili, hindi na ho kayo
susulat pa. kailangan lang po, titingnan natin, si Atty. Mike po, ayan si Atty.
Mike ikukuwento niya, sa kanya ho kayo magrereklamo — hindi biro lamang po
iyon. (But what is the MOOE? As judges, you did not have to concern yourself
with budget items before; your role was simply to check the performance of
your staff. MOOE stands for “Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses.” I
hear your concerns whenever I go around the different courts nationwide,
“Chief, look at the stacks of mimeograph paper that we do not use; pens that
don’t write; and coupon bond that have already stuck to each other.” And you
showed me the supplies that you could no longer use. Do you remember what
we talked about back at Fort Ilocandia? We will find a way, a way for those
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who are on the ground to be the ones to personally buy their own supplies;
you do not have to line up in Manila anymore. (applause) Tomorrow, Atty.
Mike Ocampo will be here to teach you about the Piloting of the MOOE. We
have selected certain judges — I am sorry, but this will be the judge’s
responsibility and not the Clerk of Court’s — who will receive the tranches of
cash, just please be truthful when you liquidate. Of course we will release
financial guidelines. Please do not get upset over the liquidation reports you
will have to submit, it is a necessary requirement, otherwise we might get in
trouble with the COA (Commission on Audit). With this, you will now be able
to make small purchases, from coupon bond, printer, cartridges, to pens,
pencils, and other office supplies. You now have the responsibility to purchase
them, you do not have to request anymore. Atty. Mike will teach you
tomorrow about this, blame him if you have any concerns — I’m kidding.) So
we are going to liberate you from the tyranny of over centralization in Manila.
We were able to convince the DBM (Department of Budget and Management)
and Congress to add money to us so that this can finally happen.
Pangalawa po, naalala ninyo nagrereklamo kayo [na] ang mga paycheck
ninyo, lalo na iyong sa probinsya, nawawala sa mail, dinidiscount sa grocery
kasi huli, ang laki na ng bawas by the time that it comes — di ba po mayroon
na tayong lahat na ATM (Automated Teller Machine) [cards]. (Second,
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remember when you complained about your paychecks, especially those in
the provinces, that it gets lost in the mail, it is discounted at the grocery
because it is late, there’s already a large deduction by the time that it comes —
but now you already have your ATM (Automated Teller Machine) [cards])
(applause). So it only happened I think in 2014 that we were able to have a
nationwide ATM system, hindi lang po ang Metro Manila (not just for those in
Metro Manila). Huwag na lang po natin iencourage ang mga empleyado isangla
iyong kanilang ATM card ano po. (Let us just discourage our staff from using
their ATM card as collateral for loans).
Naalala ninyo po iyong sinasabi ninyo sa akin, ”Chief, parang hindi
naman ho kami ang nabibigyan pansin ng JBC (Judicial and Bar Council).”
Maniwala po kayo, ang JBC po, ako po, ang boto ko po para sa promotion,
laging mula sa rango ninyo (applause). Inuuna ko po kayo. At pinaguusapan na
po namin kung paano magiging pantay ang oportunidad ng mga first-level
court judges doon sa mga outsiders na gustong mapromote sa RTC (Regional
Trial Court) (applause). Inuulit ko po sa kanila na kailangan ipaglaban po kasi
iyong career ninyo, nariyan na kayo, dapat po naman bigyan ng supisyenteng
atensyon ang inyong sitwasyon. (Remember when you also told me, “Chief, it
seems like we are being bypassed by the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council). Please
believe me, in the JBC, my vote is always for your promotion, always from
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your ranks (applause). You are my priority. We are also in talks about how to
make the first-level court judge’s opportunities level up to that of the
outsiders interested to also be promoted to the RTC (Regional Trial Court)
(applause). I keep on reminding them that I have to fight for the careers of the
first-level judges because they are already in the judiciary and such position
deserves a considerable amount of attention.)
Marami na rin po tayong sinimulang pinapadala sa mga training abroad
at ang PHILJA (Philippine Judicial Academy) pinupukpok ko na paigtingin ang
pagtrain at pagbigay ng mga seminar sa inyo. Mayroon na po akong mga
mangilan-ilan na papadala po natin sa best training institutions abroad para
makita ninyo po ang best practices. So dinadamihan natin ang conferences at
scholarships. At gusto ko pong ibalita sa inyo na ang future natin para sa
MOOE downloading, ayan po si Atty. Mike, sinabi ko in the future basta’t kaya
lang natin gumawa ng guidelines that are workable, pati ho conference fees
ninyo, isusubsidize na namin. (We have also sent many judges abroad for
training and I keep on telling the PHILJA (Philippine Judicial Academy) to
develop and provide more training and seminars for you. Some of you have
already been sent to the best training institutions abroad in order to observe
their best practices. We are trying to provide more conferences and
scholarships. And I would like to inform all of you that the future for MOOE
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downloading — Atty. Mike is here — I said that in the future, as long as we can
make workable guidelines, we will subsidize even the conference fees.)
(applause)
Sana po napansin ninyo, kasi iyong ibang mga tao dahil sa marami na
silang financial obligations, hindi nila ho napapansin na ang mga bonuses nila
ho papalapit na ng papalapit sa bonuses level ng Supreme Court. Sana ho
napapansin ninyo yan, kasi every year tumataas na po ang bonuses ng lower
courts, pinipilit kong lumapit sa bonuses ng Supreme Court (applause). Para
hindi ko na ho marinig sa inyo iyong una kong narinig sa PTJLI, “para naman
kaming pinsan lamang at hindi kapatid.” (I hope you have noticed — especially
for those of you who have too many financial obligations that they have
overlooked their bonuses — that your bonuses are slowly catching up with
the bonus level of the Supreme Court. I really hope you have noticed this
because every year I try to increase the bonuses of the lower courts, in order
to be closer to that of the Supreme Court’s (applause). So that I will never hear
again what I heard before from the PTJLI, “We’re treated like a cousin rather
than as a sibling.”) (laughter)
Nagtry po ako [gumawa] ng nationwide HMO (health maintenance
organization) plan. For one year, nagsucceed pero may mga segmente ng
empleyado na nagreklamo ngunit ang sinabi ko, ganito po: kailangan ng mga
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judges ng HMO. Kaya mayroon ho tayo dapat na committee na kinokonsulta
kayo upang mabigyan kayo ng HMO na ang minimum objective ko ay kaya ng
bawa’t huwes ng executive check up, and enough money for hospitalization
expenses. (I have tried to lobby for a nationwide HMO (health maintenance
organization) plan. It succeeded for a year, but some employees complained,
so I said judges need an HMO plan. That is why we have a committee we
consult in order to provide an HMO for you, and my minimum objective is for
you to have an executive check up, and enough money for hospitalization
expenses.) (applause)
Alam ninyo po, mga three Christmases ago, mga December 26,
nakatanggap ho ako ng text message mula dun sa mga kaibigan nating judges
from Cebu — natanggap na daw ng Supreme Court ang bonus nila, ang lower
courts hindi pa. Na-shock ako na ganoon pala, laging nadedelay. Kaya’t kung
napansin ninyo po, hindi po nagrerelease ng kahit anong bonus maski kanino
pang mahistrado, pati sa akin, hanggat hindi po tayo sabay sabay na tatanggap
(Three Christmases ago, on or about December 26, I received a text message
from our Cebu-based judges: that how come the Supreme Court already
received their bonuses, meanwhile the lower courts have not. I was shocked
that it was delayed. So if you have noticed, we do not release any bonus, not
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even to the Associate Justices, including myself, until everyone will be able
receive such at the same time.) (applause)
Iyong pangako naman po na itaas iyong salary grade level (cheers and
applause), noon ninyo pa po sa akin nireklamo iyan eh. Ang ginawa po namin,
unti-unti po naming kinausap ang DBM at ang mga kaalyado natin sa Kongreso
para bigyan tayo ng karampatang kapangyarihan upang magkaroon ng
judiciary-wide plantilla review, at ako personally sinusuport ko ang pagtaas ng
salary grade level ninyo (applause). Maghintay na lamang po tayo kasi hindi po
madali ito kasi 30,000 people po ang pinaguusapan nating nirereview ang
plantilla items. (Now to my promise of increasing your salary grade level
(cheers and applause), which you have been long complaining about. What we
did was we talked to DBM and our allies in Congress to give us the power to
have a judiciary-wide plantilla review, and I personally support the increase in
your salary grade level (applause). Just be patient, this is not an easy feat, and
after all we are talking about reviewing 30,000 plantilla items.)
Tinupad ko po ang mga pangako ko sa inyo kaya’t natutuwa po akong
bumalik sa inyo para sabihing napakasipag po ng mga tao sa Korte Suprema
kasama na ang team members ko, iyong mga batang abogadong andoon, at
iyong mga management na kilala ninyo na po sa finance, sa OCA (Office of the
Court Administrator), sa OAS (Office of Administrative Services), lahat po sila
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nag pupursige at iyong Budget Committee para gumanda po ang working
conditions ng bawa’t isa, kasama na po ang pinapangako naming
computerization ng courts ninyo. At tuwang-tuwa nga po ako kasi ang RTCs ng
Tacloban, electronic courts na. Ang RTCs po ng Quezon City ay electronic
courts system na ang ginagamit at magkakaroon ho tayong nationwide
electronic court system, nationwide connectivity, maraming messages sa inyo,
SMS na lang ipapadala or e-mail. (I have fulfilled the promises that I made to
you, and it gives me great pride and joy to tell you that I have very diligent
people in the Supreme Court along with my team members, young lawyers,
and those you know from the management from finance, from OCA (Office of
the Court Administrator), from OAS (Office of Administrative Services), they
have all been very diligent alongside the Budget Committee in order to better
the working conditions of each and every one of you, including the promised
computerization of your courts. It also brings me so much joy that the RTCs of
Tacloban are now electronic courts. The RTCs of Quezon City have long
started the electronic courts system, and we will also be having the
nationwide electronic court system, nationwide connectivity, and messages
sent simply through SMS or e-mail.) Eventually the future will be much more
efficient. Iyon po ang naipangako ko sa inyo at alam ko po naririnig ko sarili
kong hiningi ang isang bagay sa inyo: na mahalin ninyo po ang inyong trabaho,
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doblehin ang ating kayod; at tuwang tuwang po akong sabihing nakikita ko po
iyon. Congratulations po (applause) pagkat pareho po tayong tumupad sa ating
mga pangako. (That is what I have promised to deliver to you, and I know that
I can hear myself asking one thing from you: that you love your job, work
twice as hard; and I am proud to say I can see this from you. Congratulations
(applause) because we have both met our promises to each other.) I’m so
proud of the first-level court judges especially because the data that keep on
coming from the first-level courts are really outstanding; The [2016] Revised
[Rules of Procedure for] Small Claims [Cases] — people are now feeling we care
for them, congratulations po sa inyong lahat! (congratulations to all of you!)
Alam ninyo po gaano kaliberating (Do you know how liberating it feels) every
time I go and tell people about our Small Claims — tuwang-tuwa po sila, biruin
ninyo, wala nang lawyer’s fees (they are so happy, especially because there are
no longer any lawyer’s fees). Oh magkano, 500 — affidavit, tinutulungan ninyo
pa nga sila gumawa ng affidavit, affidavit lang rin iyong kabila, one-day
hearing lang usually and then next day may judgment na sila. (Let’s say for
500 — you even help them draft their affidavit, and then it’s also just an
affidavit for the opponent, then a one-day hearing, and then judgment the next
day.) So people now believe that judges care for them. But we have to make
that message even stronger and more deeply felt.
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Of course, marami na po tayong rules na pinalitan. Meron po tayong
[Revised] Continuous [Trial] Guidelines [of Criminal Cases], iyong Enhanced
Rules natin sa Small Claims, iyong mga decongestion programs po natin ng
dockets ninyo pati ng jails, madami na po. At si [Associate] Justice [Diosdado
M.] Peralta at isang team po mula sa Supreme Court ang manggagaling para
makipagtalakayan sa inyo at masagot ang mga tanong ninyo tungkol doon sa
mga iba’t ibang reforms natin po. (Of course we also had to update some rules.
We have the [Revised] Continuous [Trial] Guidelines [of Criminal Cases], as well
as the Enhanced Rules for Small Claims, the decongestion programs for your
court dockets, including jail decongestion, etc. We have [Associate] Justice
[Diosdado M.] Peralta and a team from the Supreme Court who will gladly
answer your questions regarding our different judicial reform programs.)
Our constituents demand that our government be accessible through
the web, and we are doing that — lahat po ng kontrata natin nandoon (all our
contracts are available online.) The Supreme Court has never been [more]
transparent as it is now. Even procurement contracts are already there, wala
pong kahit anong itinatago ang Korte Suprema sa taong-bayan. Hindi po sila
kailangan mag alinlangan na nawawala kahit isang kusing sa kaban ng bayan
pagkat ang Korte Suprema po ipaglalaban ang kalinisan sa paghawak ng pera.
(Even procurement contracts are already available online because the
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Supreme Court would like to convey to our people that we are not hiding
anything. We want them to feel secure that we are not wasting public funds
and we are fighting for a clean judiciary.) (applause)
Our people demand that government processes be made simple, and we
have been doing that. Remember po iyong ipinagmamalaki natin na
eSubpoena na lang — ang dating napakahirap papuntahin ang mga pulis sa
mga hukuman natin, ngayon pag na implement na more widely ang
eSubpoena, e-mail na lang po, pag hindi dumating ang pulis, may
administrative problem sila. (Remember the eSubpoena we have been proudly
showing off — what used to be a tedious process of summoning police
witnesses to appear in our courts —after we implement the eSubpoena, we
will just have to send them an e-mail and if the police witnesses fail to appear,
they will be liable administratively.) In the cities where the eSubpoena is
already being done, people are feeling how much faster things are happening.
And not only are first-level court judges disposing of cases so fast, it is
unbelievable what is happening in our first-level courts, our second-level
courts are also gearing up especially with the Continuous Trial Guidelines. Ang
model po natin (The sample model we are using is), one which achieved
international recognition, in five months time, from filing all the way to
conviction, tapos ang kaso (the case is resolved within) five months. Ano iyong
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kaso (What’s the case?): human trafficking case. And this case already
received international recognition and the template is already for that.
Pakisabi po sa mga kababayan natin that starting September 1, [2017] ang
mga criminal cases po eh bibilis na. Alam ko po na kinakabahan po ang lahat,
lalo na ang mga judges: “Kami po ba ay mapepenalize kapag hindi namin
matapos iyong mga period compliance na hinihingi? Ang sinasabi ko po, eh lalo
na kung ang problema ay sa prosekusyon, walang prosecutors po sa inyong
mga [lugar] ano po, walang PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) [lawyer] (crowd
agrees). Okay ganito po, we are fair. Kung hindi kayo ang may kasalanan, hindi
kayo ang may kasalanan, but record it. Okay po? (applause) Kasi noon ko pa ho
sinasabi sa Department of Justice, hindi maghihintay ang Supreme Court, hindi
maghihintay ang judiciary. Galit na ang mga tao natin, napakahaba ng mga
litigation natin; ang mga detention prisoners natin ang tagal tagal na
nakakulong pa — you have to be as fast as the judiciary is fast. Ang kailangan
ko lang ay proof na tayong judges, hindi tayo ang mabagal; tayong judges,
hindi tayo ang absent; tayong judges, handa tayo sa bawa’t hearing. Tuparin
ninyo po iyon. (applause) I promise you wala po ni isang judge mapepenalize
kung hindi ninyo ho kasalanan. Huwag ho kayong matakot. (Help me to inform
the general public that starting September 1, [2017], the process for criminal
cases will be faster and more efficient. I know everyone is nervous, especially
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you my dear judges. “Will we be penalized if we fail to comply with the period
compliance in the new rules?” Let me tell you this, if the problem is with the
prosecutorial services — the lack or absence of prosecutors — let’s say there
is no PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) [lawyer] (crowd agrees), we will be fair. If
it is not the fault of the court or judge, please put it on record. Is that okay with
you? (applause) Because I have long been telling the Department of Justice
that the Supreme Court will not wait, the judiciary will not wait. Our people
are already restless and mad, litigation is prolonged, the detention prisoners
have been detained for way too long — you have to be as fast as the judiciary
is fast. What I am asking is that you give me proof: that judges are not slow;
that judges are not absent; that judges are always ready to hear their cases.
Carry these out, (applause) and I promise you that not a single one of you my
dear judges will be penalized if it is not your fault. Do not be afraid.) But I
want proof that we are doing our level best to bring justice fast to our people.
So now that you see that this is the spirit within which we are doing our
reforms: faster, better, more intelligent service, continuously communicating
with our people.
Now that I have brought to you the status of our reforms, and the status
of the promises I have made to you in 2012, I now come to talk to you about
the present situation. And I want to talk about the elephant in the room. Alam
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ninyo naman po ako, siguro iyong iba sa inyo kilala na ako ngayon, direcho po
ako magsalita hindi ho ako nagtatago sa inyo ng problema. (Some of you here
already know me — I do not run away from problems, I face them head on.)
I am sure you have been monitoring the news reports regarding the
proceedings in the lower house of Congress. Kapag binasa natin ang balita,
parang may napakalaking gulong nangyayari, ano? (News articles and reports
make it appear like there is a very big problem, right?) To tell you the truth, I
do not feel as embattled as the news stories may portray me to be. (applause)
As one of my younger staff remarked, “Ang chill ni CJ (Chief Justice), bagay ang
pangalan — Sereno, as in serene. Kalmado.” (“CJ (Chief Justice) is so chill, her
name fits her well — Sereno, like serene. Calm.”)
I am like this because I know that the truth is on my side. And in a time
of constant spin, when narratives are co-opted to serve the personal agenda of
a few, the truth is our bedrock. Alam kong hindi ako nagsinungaling, hindi ako
nandaya, hindi ako nanlamang ng kapwa, at ginawa ko nang tama ang trabaho
ko bilang Punong Mahistrado. (I know that I did not lie, I did not cheat, I did
not wrong others, and I simply did my job as Chief Justice.) (applause) I have
enough faith in the truth to sleep soundly at night; I have enough faith in our
people, and in our democratic system, to know that narratives built on lies
will eventually crumble.
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I did not come here to, as some would advise, rally the troops and ask
you to wear armbands or hold placards for me. I know that, ultimately, such
political maneuverings can only erode our branch of government in the long-
term, however gratifying it may be at the moment. I have no interest in
feeding my ego.
The greatest demonstration of support you can give me is to stay true to
your oaths. Remain steadfast in the conduct of your duties, zone out the
politics, and decide on your cases with openness, sobriety, and fairness. Work
hard, work with integrity, and be honest in all your dealings; defend the
constitution as we all swore to do. Again, as my parents said: Huwag
magsisinungaling, huwag mandadaya, huwag manlalamang ng kapwa. At
maaari ko po bang idagdag, mahalin ninyo ng husto ang isa’t-isa at ang bayang
Pilipinas. (Again, as my parents said: Don’t lie, don’t cheat, and don’t wrong
others. And if I may add, love each other and our beloved country, the
Philippines.) (applause)
Colleagues, the greatest battle for our democratic system is not
happening in the newspapers — that is overblown — or in other august halls
in Manila. So long as the truth remains the truth, and the law remains the law,
and the spirit of fairness holds, then there is little to worry about. The real
battle is happening in your courtrooms. Mamayang gabi, lulubog ang araw;
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bukas, sisikat ang araw; at may mga kaso pa rin tayong dapat trabahuhin
(applause), may mga reporma pa tayong dapat isulong. (Tonight, the sun will
set; tomorrow morning, the sun will rise; and the cases we have to dispose of
will still be there (applause), and our reform programs will still need to be
carried out.) All I ask is that tomorrow, you wake up and resolve to do the
best, most honest, fairest work that you can do, and again the day after that,
and again the day after that. There is nothing more that a Chief Justice can ask
of you.
I remain so proud to lead our branch of government. Thank you very
much. (crowd gives a standing ovation)
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