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2 BENCHMARK | THE OFFICIAL QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE SUPREME COURT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

EDITOR’SNoteThe eminent scholar, historian, and nationalist, Fr. Horacio V. de la Costa, S.J., said during one of his homilies before

his alma mater that:

“x x x it is equally important to remember that respect for the truth must go hand in hand with respect for the individual conscience. To force the truth on the people’s minds, to ram the truth down people’s throats, is not only unjust: it is unwise. Nothing breeds error so quickly as truth accepted under constraint.”1

If we are to adhere to the thesis that justice is truth, and applying the logic of transitivity, then genuine justice is never forced upon anyone. Justice if deliberate, logical, and founded on reason and fairness, will eventually fi nd acceptance.

In the same homily, reference was made to teachers as speakers of truth. “x x x the essential duty of a teacher is to speak the truth. The truth is oft en unpleasant, oft en unpopular; but the teacher, if he wishes to be faithful to his profession, cannot aff ord to dilute or debase it. He must speak the truth as he sees it, no matt er how much it hurts.”

From what Fr. de la Costa, S.J. said, one can fi nd an uncanny parallelism between teachers and judges, for they both have the duty to seek and speak the truth no matt er how ugly, unacceptable, or deplorable it may be. We ask “why?” Because, the truth is most probably right.

Indeed, justice is sometimes like that nasty tasting elixir which our mothers would give us. We would revolt, cry, and whine each time we see our mother reach for that amber colored bott le. It is only when we hear our mother's soothing voice and upon seeing the fl ight of a make-believe airplane spoon that we calm down. We open our mouths wide, and just take it in. We know we will feel bett er aft er, and in fact we do. Yes, our Nation will be stronger.

Last June 11, 2019, the Supreme Court celebrated its 118th founding anniversary. Throughout the 118 years of the Supreme Court’s existence, it has remained steadfast in its role to render true and genuine justice. It is not the role of the Supreme Court to be popular, for justice is sometimes unpopular - just like the elixir.

In this issue of Benchmark, we welcome to the Supreme Court two new Associate Justices. They are Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting. With their long dedicated years in public service, we are all assured that they will continue the tradition of their predecessors – the tradition of being fearless in seeing and speaking the truth.

Korte Suprema: Napakarami pang kabanata.

1"Rizal and the Ateneo" by Horacio de la Costa, S.J., Homily delivered by Horacio de la Costa, S.J. at the Ateneo Alumni Mass on 19 June 1952

BRIAN KEITH F. HOSAKA Editor-in-Chief

BENCHMARK | THE OFFICIAL QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE SUPREME COURT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE 3


SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD, SO SHE DID

JUSTICE AMY C. LAZAROBy Tiff any Ines C. Atendido

Justice Lazaro-Javier addresses the SC Justices, SC offi cials, and employees during her fi rst fl ag ceremony on March 11, 2019.

Justice Lazaro-Javier takes her oath before Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin. Witnessing the event are (from left): Robert Voltaire Javier (son), Ms. Cely Santos (Voltaire’s mother-in-law), Dr. Paula Sigma Javier (daughter), Ms. Karen Macasaet (sister), Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, and (Ret.) Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro.

Amy Carillo Lazaro-Javier had eyes working only for the Offi ce of the Solicitor General (OSG) aft er becoming a full-fl edged lawyer. Having been familiar with the OSG from

reading numerous cases in law school, she saw it as the only place she wanted to work for. With retired Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Roberto A. Abad and retired Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice and later Court Administrator Alfredo Benipayo, her law professors in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) encouraging her to work in the OSG, the then 26-year old Thomasian lawyer fearlessly faced then Solicitor General (Solgen) Estelito P. Mendoza for a job interview. She was warned that Solgen Mendoza only preferred lawyers from the best law school in Diliman and male lawyers. Unfazed and determined to work in the biggest law offi ce in the land, she assured him that although she did not come from the best law school in Diliman nor belong to the male populace of the legal circle, given the chance, she would prove herself worthy of the honor of serving the premier law offi ce of the government as a hardworking, effi cient, competent, and dependable young public advocate. Right there and then, Solgen Mendoza took her in and that marked the beginning of her 24 years of life changing, edifying, and rewarding journey in the OSG.

Justice Lazaro-Javier worked at the OSG from 1983 until 2007 or for almost a quarter of a century. She fi rst worked as trial att orney and later as solicitor for about 11 years until her promotion as Assistant Solicitor General, a post she held for 13 years. Believing she had already maximized her stint with the OSG, she thought it was time to give the young lawyers a chance to also climb the ladder of the OSG hierarchy. Aft er all, the pinnacle of one’s career in the OSG and the dream of every lawyer there who loves the practice of law is to become an Assistant Solicitor General. She moved to the Judiciary to become a CA Associate Justice on September 13, 2007. She stayed there for almost 12 years until she got appointed as Associate Justice of the High Tribunal.

With a successful legal career behind her, one would think Justice Lazaro-Javier always wanted to be a lawyer. But hard times hit her family early on as she lost her father, Carlos Lazaro, when she was only four. Her mother, Mrs. Sigma Carillo Lazaro, only 32 then, suddenly became widowed with six children — a seven-year old boy as the eldest and a baby on the way as the youngest. Her maternal aunt, Libertad Carillo, stepped in to help raise all six Carillo-Lazaro children. “My aunt helped my mother raise all of us. I considered both of them my parents.”

Despite fi nancial diffi culties, Justice Lazaro-Javier was undaunted. She was in the honor roll all throughout her academic life _ fi rst honor in Bacood Elementary School, salutatorian in Quirino High School, magna cum laude from Philippine Normal College with a BS Education degree, then valedictorian (magna cum laude) from UST for her Bachelor of Laws.

Justice Lazaro-Javier's initial dream was to become a teacher. She admits that obedience to her elders led her to take up law. Her aunt Libertad was a big part in her decision to take up law because it was her aunt who saw something in her and convinced her to enroll in law school. She could not refuse the request from the very woman who stood as a second parent.

She stresses though that she cannot say she was forced to take up law because she agreed to it. She has since then stood by her choice and says she has no regrets. She believed she could do it, so she gave all her best to everything she poured her heart into. “When I get into something, I consider it as something worth doing well,” Justice Lazaro-Javier says. This has been her guiding principle for as long as she could remember. Undeniably, it is the reason behind her successful legal career spanning over 36 years now.

Even with choosing what to take up for college, her mother played a signifi cant role as the one who insisted she take up BS Education because “it was the only course we could really aff ord at that time.” A teacher herself, she told Justice Lazaro-Javier that she could readily land a job if she pursues teaching and told her to use it as a stepping stone to become what she really wants to be. Admitt edly an obedient daughter, she followed her mother’s advice and eventually fell in love with teaching. She taught Social Studies, Economics, History, and Araling Panlipunan to high school students during the day, while studying law at night. Being a product of the public school system, Justice Lazaro-Javier naturally chose to teach at public schools like Lakandula High School, Ramon Magsaysay High School, and Manila Science High School. Aft er passing the 1982 Bar examinations, she then became a law professor at her alma mater UST, teaching Political Law, Constitutional Law, Commercial Law, Legal Ethics, Civil Law, and Remedial Law. She would have wanted to continue teaching if not for the restrictions of her promotion to the SC.

A wife to Rolando, a mother to Robert Voltaire, Paula Sigma,

and Bertha Kamille, and grandmother to Andres Rolando, Justice


O-JAVIER Lazaro-Javier only took a short time off teaching when she was raising her three children. She wishes to go back to teaching aft er she retires from the High Court on November 16, 2026.

With a litt le over seven years left before she hangs her judicial robe, Justice Lazaro-Javier knows that there is much work to be done as an SC Justice. Her judicial philosophy is embracing the standard of excellence, integrity, and speedy justice in the performance of one’s sworn duties as a dispenser of justice. She wants her docket to constantly decrease, especially with new cases being raffl ed on top of those she already inherited. In doing so, she will make sure the quality of her work as a magistrate will never be compromised. For her, the best barometer of one’s worth as a professional, more particularly as a member of the Court, is how he or she is regarded by his or her own colleagues in the work place. In the Supreme Court, only the 15 members would truly know what goes on behind closed doors when they deliberate on the cases and how each performs in defense of his or her position and/or participate in the formulation of the decisions of the Court.

Bringing home work and working on cases has been her nightly routine nowadays. Her day starts early and ends late to be able to cope up with the increasing volume of cases she has to promptly act upon every single day.

Before she got appointed to the Court, she used to begin her mornings with the 6 AM Holy Mass at the Monasterio de Sta. Clara along Katipunan. This devotion started around October 2018 aft er a conversation over dinner with then Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro, a devotee herself. Justice Lazaro-Javier then started visiting the church every morning while bringing the contemplative sisters home cooked meals instead of the usual off ering of eggs. Eventually, she became friends with them and proudly shares they have become her “prayer warriors.” She continued with her daily 6 AM Holy Mass even aft er her appointment, but only for one month more. The arduous work and responsibilities she must now discharge as a member of the Court has compelled her to reduce her church visits from seven times a week to once or twice a week every Sunday and/or Wednesday.

She pursued law, graduated with honors, and passed the Bar. She shatt ered the glass ceiling by applying and gett ing accepted in a male-dominated government agency at that time, the OSG. She left a place of comfort, her second home, the OSG, and applied for the CA. She is grateful for the 24 years of her rigorous training, non-stop hard work and vast, nay, and extensive experience as a public advocate in the OSG. She owes her strong legal foundation and growth as a lawyer both to her alma mater, the UST Faculty of Civil Law, the OSG, and her mentors who painstakingly and patiently guided, taught, trained, and pushed her in the most inspiring way. They were among the best legal minds in the country. She kept her faith, pursued her destiny, and became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She believed she could and by God’s grace, she did.

Justice Lazaro-Javier has just started her journey in the SC. Expect her to leave a mark with her future ponencias in cases involving public interest, the burning issues of the day, and even ones aff ecting our daily lives. Truly, no less than the American poet and writer Maya Angelou said it, “nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”


1. My fi rst reaction when I found out I was appointed as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court was — I was thankful to Him fi rst and foremost.

2. If I were not an SC Justice, I would be a full-time high school teacher.

3. If I can revive someone dead, I would choose my mom, and I would bring her here in the Supreme Court.

4. My family’s favorite place to eat at is Mango Bistro at Trinoma, and we would always order their grilled chicken.

5. My ultimate success as a person is my success as a wife and a mother. I can give up everything in the world for my children and husband. They are my life.

6. A musical that I want to watch again is “Mamma Mia,” I watched it years ago.

7. I feel nervous when my children go through a process that will make or break their dreams.

8. My dream travel destination is wherever my fi rst grandchild, two-month old Andres Rolando, is and will be. He currently lives in Bangkok with his mother (my daughter) Bertha Kamille and his father Tijn Bremmers, an executive sous chef in Bangkok.

9. The most valuable lesson I have learned in life is every act of kindness does not go to waste. Kindness begets kindness.

10. The fi rst thing I do when I arrive at the offi ce is pray.

11. My favorite forms of entertainment are watching Netfl ix and on very rare occasions, singing karaoke with my friends in our home.

12. My go-to karaoke songs are “Unchained Melody,” “If,” and ABBA Songs.

13. While trapped in an elevator I would most likely pray.

14. The last non-law book I read was a biography about St. Claire.

15. My biggest guilty pleasure is shopping with pleasure.

16. The cheapest but most prized possession I have is a picture of my mom that’s displayed at home. It is incapable of pecuniary estimation. It reminds me that my mom is watching over me and my family every single day.

17. My hero is my husband. He is my soulmate, my best friend, my confi dante, and my superman. I consider him my greatest blessing; I would not live another life without him.

18. My advocacy is — living life for others. Along with some friends from the Court of Appeals and the Court of Tax Appeals, I support Balai Dangupan, a crisis intervention facility for abused

children in Davao City. Also, together with the same friends and other colleagues in the Court of Appeals and fellow alumni in the UST-

Faculty of Civil Law, I had put up art exhibits where I sold my own paintings and the artworks of other artists to fund the Marawi

scholarship grants for poor but deserving law students.

19. My biggest fear is losing a loved one.

20. Three words to describe myself and my legal career: prayerful, hardworking, and compassionate.

By Tiff any Ines C. Atendido


Finally, the Supreme Court (SC) has a designated area to honor and keep alive the memories of its past Chief Justices and Associate Justices as well as to feature its incumbent magistrates.

Th e Judiciary Memorabilia Hall, located at the former Session Hall of the Old Supreme Court Building along Taft Avenue, was inaugurated during the 118th anniversary celebration of the High Court on June 11.

Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin and retired Chief Justices Reynato S. Puno and Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro led the ceremonial ribbon cutting of the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall.

SC Inaugurates Judiciary Memorabilia HallBy Jay B. Rempillo

Chief Justice Bersamin said that he decided to convert the Old Session Hall as a Memorabilia Hall aft er fi nding it unutilized. “[T]his was where many of the dramatic legal arguments were made by lawyers….Th is was also the place that I signed the Roll of Attorneys. I also took my oath as a Regional Trial Court [Judge] here before Chief Justice [Claudio] Teehankee,” Chief Justice Bersamin said.

For his part, Chief Justice Puno, who keynoted the inauguration, extolled the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall, calling it “a worthy project” as it features the contributions of Chief Justices and Associate Justices who have led and served the High Court. “I hope that in a minimal way, it alleviates the dearth of in-depth literature on the role played by our Judiciary in promoting the Rule of Law as the foundation stone of our democracy,” said Chief Justice Puno.

Th e Memorabilia Hall has various sections including a photo gallery of the incumbent justices placed above their seats at the Bench, as well as separate galleries of the photos and retirement books of the past Chief Justices and Associate Justices. Th ere is also a “Featured Magistrate” section, showcasing mementos and personal collections of the said magistrate, which will be changed every quarter. Chief Justice Puno is the inaugural featured magistrate.

Th e winning entries as well as fi nalists of the paintings during the 1996 Search for Muralist to Portray the History of the Philippine Judiciary are also on display. Th e Memorabilia Hall also includes a lounge for the Ladies’ Circle composed of the spouses of the SC Justices and a gift shop.

Atty. Joyce Jazmin G. Dimaisip-Cunanan, Acting Senior Chief

Staff Offi cer of the SC Library Services, serves as the curator of the Memorabilia Hall.

Th e Memorabilia Hall is open from Mondays to Fridays, 9 AM to 4 PM, except during holidays. Visting groups can schedule a tour in advance with the SC Library Services and the SC Public Information Offi ce. Walk-in tours will also be entertained. Admission is free.


The 118th anniversary celebration of the Supreme Court on June 11, 2019 may go down as its most unique. Unlike previous years, the theme of this year’s celebration took a

nod to Filipino pop culture, specifi cally Pinoy Komiks. Hence its title, Korte Suprema: Ang Susunod Na Kabanata.

This year’s anniversary shirt in fact features two panels of comics by internationally renowned and multi-awarded Singapore-based Filipino cartoonist and illustrator-designer Dengcoy Miel who works for Singapore’s leading English daily newspaper The Straits Times. His work has also been syndicated in other international newspapers such as The International Herald Tribune, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Newsweek, among others. The anniversary shirt received rave reviews from the SC employees. And given the talent and stature of Dengcoy Miel, the anniversary shirt might just become a collector’s item and a valuable memento in the near future.

The highlight of the SC anniversary celebration was the inauguration of the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall located at the former Session Hall of the Old Supreme Court Building along Taft . (Read separate article on previous page)

Various contests were held to coincide with the anniversary celebration and its theme. There was Hudikatura at Karikatura: A Drawing Contest which had nine entries. The winners were Cecille De Los Reyes (1st Place, Printing Services), Ryan Coral (2nd Place, SC Health and Welfare Plan [SCHWP]), and Sheila Manzanilla (3rd Place, Offi ce of the Chief Att orney). SC employees also joined a costume competition entitled Komiks Costume Clash.

By Jay B. Rempillo

The winners were Rex Manlapaz (1st Place, Offi ce of the Clerk of Court-Third Division), Jhamel Bansao (2nd Place, Offi ce of the Clerk of Court-2nd Division) and Silvestre Brugaba (3rd Place, Printing Services). The judges include

Pugad Baboy creator Pol Medina, Jr., fi lm director and comic book writer Paolo Herras of Meganon Comics, and Mel Casipit of Mukat Comics.

There was also Himig P a t i m p a l a k , patt erned aft er t h e r e a l i t y t e l e v i s i o n s i n g i n g c o m p e t i t i o n The Voice. The judges include Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Esperanza R. Fabon-Victorino, a popular actress and singer in the 1960s and early 1970s; Court of Appeals (Ret.) Justice Magdangal N. De Leon,


composer of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines March and a former judge at the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and Yamaha Guitar Competition; Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind Aldecoa-Delorino and Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Laura C.H. Del Rosario, both accomplished singers; and SC Choir Musical Director Jose

Emmanuel Aquino. The winners were Robby Glen Homeres and Margeorene Liezel Jackson (1st Place, Offi ce of Administrative Services), Ronald Cadiz and Carol Guino-Trinidad (2nd Place, Medical and Dental Services/SCHWP), and Cris Agustin and Suzett e Valdez (3rd Place, Philippine Judicial Academy).

T r u e F a i t h , one of the well-loved and popular Original Pilipino M u s i c ( O P M ) bands in the 90s, staged a one-hour mini-concert. The SC employees sang along to the band’s popular songs that

inc luded Per f ec t , Huwag Na Lang Kaya, Kung Okey Lang Sayo, Ambon, and Muntik Nang Maabot Ang Langit.

This year’s SC Host Committ ee is composed of the Offi ce of the Chief Justice, the Offi ce of the Associate

Justices, the Program Management Offi ce, and the Public Information Offi ce.


Th e appointment of Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting completes the 15-member roster of the SC. Justice Inting fi lls the vacancy created by the promotion of then Associate Justice Lucas P. Bersamin to Chief Justice. Justice Inting is President Rodrigo Duterte’s ninth appointee to the High Court. All those appointees, with the exception of Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Justice Samuel R. Martires who were former Sandiganbayan Associate Justices, came from the Court of Appeals. Justice Inting will compulsorily retire on September 4, 2028 when he turns 70 years old.

MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Justice Inting’s distinction lies in his more than 30 years of service in government in various capacities, with extensive experience both in litigation and adjudication, giving him a well-rounded legal background.

He started his career in public service in 1978 as Clerk in the Bureau of Lands, Region 11 encoding documents. A year later, he served as Legal Researcher in the City Court of Davao. Aft er he passed the 1982 Bar Examinations, his fi rst job as a lawyer was Senior Corporate Attorney at the National Housing Authority. He then spent two years doing legal research as Appellate Court Supervising Staff Assistant at the Intermediate Appellate Court (as the CA was then named).

In 1986, he left the Judiciary and began a personally fulfi lling nine-year stint as a public defender at the Citizen’s Legal Assistance Offi ce (now the Public Attorney’s Offi ce [PAO]) in Quezon City (QC). For

nine years Justice Inting regularly went to the Quezon City jail to confer with his indigent clients. He found great satisfaction in successfully defending them to regain their freedom. He would have stayed even longer at PAO had not his father, who perhaps wanted his son to follow his footsteps, advised him to apply as a prosecutor.

Justice Inting was a QC prosecutor for three years before he was appointed in 1998 as Presiding Judge of the QC Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Branch 33. Aft er fi ve years, he was promoted to Presiding Judge of the QC Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge, Branch 95. He served for eight years as RTC Judge before his elevation to the CA in 2012, joining his oldest sister Socorro who was appointed there three years earlier. In the CA, they would at times have lunch together, a throwback to their halcyon childhood days in Davao, though he stresses that they never discussed cases, only family matters. Th e CA would prove to be the penultimate stop in the respective careers of the siblings. In 2018, Justice Socorro Inting was appointed as Commissioner of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and in May of this year, the younger Justice Inting was appointed to the highest court of the land.

FOLLOWING HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS

Justice Inting was born in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, the third of nine children of Enrique B. Inting, Sr., a long-time judge in Davao City, and Ursalina B. Balinghasay, a public school elementary teacher. Th e elder Inting originally hailed from Bohol. Th us, besides being a Davaoeño, Justice Inting considers himself a Boholano. In fact, aft er

Bringing More Th an 30 Years of Public Service to the SC

Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting by Atty. Maria Victoria Gleoresty Sp. Guerra

SC Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting (8th from left) is sworn in by Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin on May 29, 2019 at the SC New Session Hall in Padre

Faura Street, Manila. Also present are (from left) Court of Appeals (CA) Division Chairpersons, Associate Justices Ramon R. Garcia, Ramon M. Bato, Jr., Fernanda

Lampas-Peralta, and Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando, CA Presiding Justice Romeo Barza, Justice Inting's oldest brother Cephas Inting, Justice Inting's oldest sister

Socorro Inting, SC Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, and SC Associate Justices Mariano C. Del Castillo, Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, Marvic M.V.F. Leonen,

Andres B. Reyes, Jr., Jose C. Reyes, Jr., and Amy C. Lazaro-Javier.


Justice Inting was sworn in as SC Associate Justice on May 29, 2019, the Bohol Chronicle proudly claimed him as the “fi rst Boholano Justice at the High Tribunal.”1

Asked about his Gallic fi rst names, Justice Inting reveals that he is actually his father’s namesake, “Henri” being the French version of “Enrique.” “Jean Paul,” on the other hand, was adopted from the name of their French Canadian parish priest, Fr. Jean Paul Foisse, at the latter’s request. Justice Inting jokes that the initials of his fi rst names “HJP” can also stand for “Honorable Justice of the Philippines.” He is nicknamed “Jaypee.”

Like another brood of nine, the Kennedys, the Inting siblings (Socorro; Cephas, a retired Bureau of Internal Revenue employee; Justice Inting; Enrique Jr., Process Server, Branch 32 of the RTC, Lupon, Davao Oriental; Aurisa Inting-Stokum, Secretary, Offi ce of the Insurance Commissioner, West Virginia, USA; Fides Inting-Ching, Accounting Manager, Motorjoy Depot, Davao City; Stella Inting-Toothman, Research Nurse Coordinator, Bay Pines Veterans Healthcare Services, Florida, USA; Ernino Enrique [now deceased]; and Vivina Inting-Maninang, Patient Care Manager, AMITA Saint Joseph Medical Center, Illinois, USA) got along well under the loving discipline of their parents. A bachelor, Justice Inting to this day fi nds solace and support in his family.

Justice Inting describes himself as an obedient child. His was a happy childhood growing up in Davao City, which then had a bucolic atmosphere. Aft er school, he and his friends would go around town bonding by fl ying their kites, riding their makeshift sleds, and engaging in other fun activities before going home.

He is a product of Catholic schooling, having fi nished his elementary and secondary education as well as his law studies at Ateneo de Davao run by the Jesuits. He says that although he is not particularly religious,

Justice Inting (second from left), attends his fi rst fl ag ceremony on June 3, 2019 at the

SC New Building courtyard along Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila. With him are (from left)

SC Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier; Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) Vice

Chancellor (Ret.) SC Associate Justice Romeo J. Callejo, Sr.; SC Associate Justices Ramon

Paul L. Hernando, Andres B. Reyes, Jr., Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, and Mariano C. del Castillo;

PHILJA Chancellor (Ret.) SC Associate Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna; and SC Senior Associate

Justice Antonio T. Carpio.

his Catholic education imbued in him faith in God: “Aft er making your decisions [in life], you leave everything to God.”

Justice Inting earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from the Society of the Divine Word (SVD)’s University of San Carlos in Cebu City. Th e original plan of his father was for him to become a doctor of medicine. However, Justice Inting felt that the study of medicine was not for him. He also knew the high cost of medical school would defi nitely be a burden to their large family. He ended up following the footsteps of his father, and also his sister Socorro, in taking up law. Justice Inting laughingly reveals it was Socorro who scheduled his entrance exam at the Ateneo de Davao College of Law without telling him. Justice Inting only found out when it was near the time to take the exam. His taking up law in Davao had the seal of approval of their father. A diligent student, Justice Inting went on to graduate, like his sister Socorro, cum laude. His favorite subjects were Civil and Criminal Procedure, which he could relate to from observing his father at work.

Justice Inting’s hero is his father who he says was known to be strict, upright, and fair. Justice Inting’s father lived long enough to see his son appointed fi rst as a MeTC judge and then as an RTC judge. Justice Inting recounts that he feels happy whenever someone tells him that his father would have been proud of him. His mother for her part was able to witness his elevation to the appellate court. Sadly both his parents passed on without seeing Justice Inting reach the pinnacle of his legal career.

Justice Inting reveals it was Ateneo de Davao Law Dean Manuel B. Quibod who had nominated him to the position of SC Associate Justice. He acquiesced, thinking that if appointed he would have nine years to serve and make his mark in the SC. He felt “blessed” when he learned of his SC appointment and hopes to retire from the High Court with a zero backlog.

In his address aft er his fi rst fl ag ceremony he said, “With more than 30 years of experience in government, I sincerely hope to be able to make a signifi cant contribution to the judicial system….I look forward to working with my honorable colleagues and each and every one of you in maintaining an eff ective and effi cient Judiciary.”

1Th e Bohol Chronicle. 2019. “CA’s Inting becomes 1st Boholano Supreme Court Justice.” http://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2019/06/02/cas-inting-becomes-1st-boholano-su-preme-court-justice/, accessed June 5, 2019.


1. A movie I can watch over and over again is Crouching Tiger, Hidden

Dragon.

2. My heroes are my parents.3. A superpower I wish I had is having

a third eye.4. A famous person I want to meet

dead or alive is Jose Rizal.

5. My favorite food is Spanish cuisine

like paella.

6. A concert that I want to watch is that of Coldplay.

By Att y. Maria Victoria Gleoresty Sp. Guerra

7. Interviews with the Judicial and Bar Council make me nervous.

8. My dream travel destination is the Holy Land.

9. If I were not a Justice of the Supreme Court, I would be an architect.

10. I’m a frustrated singer.11. My biggest guilty pleasure is eating

chocolate.12. Last non-law book I read was Game

of Thrones, Volume 1, but I did not fi nish it.

13. The best time for me to write decisions is late afternoon.

14. The cheapest but most prized possessions I have are my New Balance shoes that I use for walking.

15. If I would be left with just one sense, it would be the sense of sight.

16. My hidden talent is painting.17. My favorite form of entertainment is

listening to classical music.18. The things I always bring with me are

my cellular phone and a bottle of water.

19. My biggest fear is heights.20. Words to describe my legal career: It

was a long journey to the SC. It may be fate or destiny.

Justice Inting with his father Enrique and his mother Ursalina

BENCHMARK | The Offi cial Quarterly Magazine of the Supreme Court Public Information Offi ce 13

“In [work], as in life, it is the follow-through that makes the diff erence.”

Upon his appointment as the nation’s top magistrate, Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin has expressed his plan to continue what his predecessors have placed in the pipeline: projects and programs that enhance delivery of and improve access to justice by strengthening mechanisms that promote ongoing judicial reforms; as well as initiate new ones.

FIRST: REVISING PROCEDURAL RULES On March 12, 2019, the Supreme Court promulgated Gios-Samar

Inc. v. The Department of Transportation and Communications (G.R. 217158), a decision that strongly signaled its resoluteness to fi lter out unworthy or frivolous cases from being fi led directly with it. The decision in eff ect helps manage the growing volume of cases in the Court. In this case, the Court held that the alleged transcendental importance of the issue presented for resolution—the stoppage of the bidding of several airport projects in Visayas and Mindanao on constitutional grounds—does not justify bypassing the lower courts (in this case, the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals), which have concurrent jurisdiction with the Supreme Court in the petition for writ of prohibition fi led by a taxpayer. The Court ruled that the doctrine of the hierarchy of courts was side-stepped or altogether ignored by the petitioners. Thus, the Supreme Court held that it would not entertain the petition, which entails determination of facts as it is not a “trier of facts.” Accordingly, the petition was dismissed by the Court as it emphasized that the doctrine of the hierarchy of courts was a “constitutional imperative” and a “fi ltering mechanism” that could not be ignored.

Moreover, the Supreme Court, through a resolution dated February 26, 2019, increased the threshold amount for money claims cognizable by the Metropolitan Trial Court (METCs) under the Revised Rules of Procedure for Small Claims (Revised Rule of Small Claims) from P300,000 to P400,000 beginning April 1, 2019. The Rules were

implemented in 2010 in response to the need for a new procedure for litigating cases involving purely money claims, which the trial courts had to resolve within 30 days from the fi ling of the claims. The adoption was aimed at solving the congestion of the dockets of fi rst-level courts brought about by the large number of such cases. During its fi rst implementation, the threshold was only P100,000.

In a speech delivered on December 18, 2018 before the University of Santo Tomas community, Chief Justice Bersamin bared his plan to make the Rules of Court adapt to fast evolving technology and to remove obstacles for the expeditious resolution of court cases because the Rules “still contain provisions that institutionalize delays.” Referring to the Committ ee on Revision of Rules of Court as “the most important of all the [C]ommitt ees in the Supreme Court,” the Chief Justice named Justice Diosdado M. Peralta as its Working Chairperson. Justice Peralta vowed to have the revised Rules of Civil Procedure out by the third quarter of 2019.

On January 14, 2019, the Court made offi cial the designation of Justice Peralta as the Committ ee’s Working Chairperson through Memorandum Order No. 03-2019. The re-organization also designated the following members: SC Associate Justices Francis H. Jardeleza, Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, and Alexander G. Gesmundo; Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra; Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) Chancellor Adolfo S. Azcuna and Vice Chancellor Romeo J. Callejo, Sr.; and law professors Att orneys Francis Ed Lim, Tranquil Gervacio S.

Chief Justice Bersamin’s 4-Point Agenda UpdatesBy Annie Rose A. Laborte and Darylle Evie Mae C. Catabay

14 BENCHMARK | The Offi cial Quarterly Magazine of the Supreme Court Public Information Offi ce

Salvador III, and Amador Z. Tolentino, Jr. On January 28, 2019, the Court also designated Court of Appeals Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh and Regional Trial Court Judge Jose Lorenzo R. Dela Rosa as additional members.

SECOND: IMPROVING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Next on Chief Justice Bersamin’s agenda to improve access to justice is the construction or renovation of courthouses and support buildings and the acquisition of bett er equipment for courtrooms.

The Chief Justice has led the inauguration of the following newly constructed or repurposed buildings: 1.) Hall of Justice (HOJ) of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) and Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Marikina City on March 22, 2019; 2.) HOJ of the MeTC Valenzuela on February 18, 2019; 3.) Archive Building of the HOJ of General Santos City on April 29, 2019; 4.) Expanded HOJ Building 2 of the Province of Sarangani on April 29, 2019; and 5.) HOJ of the RTC Quezon City on May 2, 2019. In anticipation of future court buildings, Chief Justice Bersamin also led the signing of the Deed of Donation for a new HOJ for San Pablo City, Laguna on March 4, 2019.

On the foregoing occasions, Chief Justice Bersamin took advantage of these occasions to express the Judiciary’s lasting gratitude to the local government of the abovementioned cities, municipalities, and provinces for their generosity in funding and initiating the said projects.

On May 7, 2019, the Chief Justice, along with Associate Justices Andres B. Reyes, Jr. and Alexander G. Gesmundo, also visited a 5.8-hectare lot donated by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to serve as a judiciary complex within the proposed National Government Administrative Center at the New Clark City, a planned modern metropolis in Tarlac.

THIRD: ENHANCING QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Chief Justice Bersamin is also working on improving the education of future lawyers in the country by shift ing to the experiential approach in legal education, which is used in some countries, particularly the United States of America.

Thus, the Court created an Organizing Committ ee for the fi rst-ever Philippine legal education summit, the 2019 Legal Education Summit, as embodied in Memorandum Order No 21-2019 signed on April 1, 2019. The Organizing Committ ee, among others, will be tasked to “consult the stakeholders in diff erent regions of the country to determine the problems encountered in legal education, and to formulate the proposed solutions to address them.” The Committ ee will also “consolidate these inputs during the regional consultations, identify the common problems encountered, and consider the solutions (including updating the basic law curriculum for purposes of admission to the [B]ar, and adopting the best practices to develop students to become practice-ready lawyers).”

Preparatory to the proposed two-day Summit, regional consultations were conducted in the following: for Central Luzon in Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City, Pampanga on April 30, 2019; for Northern Luzon in Baguio City on May 15, 2019; for the Visayas Region in Cebu City on May 30, 2019; for Southern Mindanao in Davao City on May 23, 2019; and for the National Capital Region (NCR) and CALABARZON at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila on June 3, 2019.

SC Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo is the Committ ee Chairperson. Assisting Justice Gesmundo is University of the Philippines College of Law Dean Fides Cordero-Tan, who was designated Vice-Chairperson. SC Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, (Ret.) SC Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion, and Att y. Carolyn Mercado of The Asia Foundation were designated consultants.

Committ ee members include PHILJA Research and Development Division Head Dean Sedfrey M. Candelaria, former dean of the Ateneo de Manila University College of Law; Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) President Dean Joan S. Largo of the University of San Carlos School of Law; former Ateneo de Manila University Dean Cynthia R. Del Castillo; and Father Saturnino Urios University College of Law Dean Josefe Sorrera-Ty; Att ys. Charisma I. Nolasco, Rigor R. Pascual, and Jeff rey G. Gallardo of the Offi ce of the Chief Justice; and Association of Law Students of the Philippines (ALSP) Executive Vice President Karizza Kamille M. Cruz. The Secretariat is composed of Att ys. Nashmyleen A. Marohomsalic and Gracielle Tejada-Mendoza of the Offi ce of Justice Gesmundo.

The Court also created a Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Revision of the Law Student Practice Rule under the Committ ee on the Revision of the Rules of Court, pursuant to Memorandum Order No. 13-2019 dated March 8, 2019. The TWG has the “urgent task” of amending Rule 138-A of the Rules of Court, otherwise known as the Law Student Practice Rule, to “provide the underprivileged the much-needed access to justice, adopt the best practices from diff erent law universities in the United States, establish legal aid clinics in the Philippines, and to make law students practice-ready individuals.” The TWG is an off shoot of the learning visit to the United States by Supreme Court offi cials, law school deans, and legal aid heads on October 1 to 12, 2018. The contingent observed clinical legal education in diff erent universities in the US, the management of diff erent legal aid clinics, and practices that help the underprivileged gain access to quality legal services.

Section 5 (paragraph 5) of Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution provides for the “Supreme Court to adopt and promulgate rules on the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice and procedure in all courts, the admission the practice of law, the Integrated Bar, and legal assistance to the underprivileged.”

FOURTH: DISCIPLINING THE RANKS

Recognizing that having ethical and competent members of the Bar is essential to the Rule of Law, Chief Justice Bersamin has fourth in his agenda the instilling of discipline in the ranks of the judges, court personnel, and the legal profession, and purging the Judiciary of the corrupt, the misfi ts, and the scalawags.

Statistics from the Offi ce of the Court Administrator show that in the period of 90 days from January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019, there were (a) 13 judges who were fi ned, reprimanded, or admonished; (b) 38 court employees who were either admonished, fi ned, reprimanded, had benefi ts forfeited, or suspended; and (c) four court employees dismissed for cause from the service. Statistics from the Offi ce of the Bar Confi dant show that since the Chief Justice’s assumption in November 2018, the Supreme Court has suspended 14 lawyers from the practice of law, fi ned 21, and either reprimanded, admonished, censured, or warned 14.

BENCHMARK | The Offi cial Quarterly Magazine of the Supreme Court Public Information Offi ce 15

In line with Chief Justice Bersamin’s objective of improving access to justice and “in order to enhance transparency and provide bett er access for lawyers, law professors, law students, and legal researchers to decisions, resolutions, issuances, and rules of the court,” the Court, through Memorandum Order No. 17-2019, dated March 20, 2019, allowed free public access to the Supreme Court (SC) electronic library (e-Library) aft er its 15 years of existence. The e-Library is a searchable database of jurisprudence including SC decisions and resolutions from 1901 to the present, laws including present and past constitutions, SC issuances such as present and past Rules of Court as well as resolutions in administrative matt ers, and other references like benchbooks, book catalogues of court libraries, index to Philippine periodicals, and a “Memorabilia Room” of past and retired SC Justices.

The announcement was offi cially made on April 11, 2019 during the launching of the redesigned and improved Supreme Court website, sc.judiciary.gov.ph. Att y. Joyce Jasmine Dimaisip-Cunanan, Acting SC Senior Chief Staff Offi cer of the SC Library Services, gave a walk-through on user registration to access the e-Library as well as introduced its features.

The SC through the Public Information Offi ce (PIO) also launched its newly improved and redesigned website. Assistant Court Administrator and PIO Chief Att y. Brian Keith F. Hosaka introduced the website, which features a user-friendly interface with its reorganized and additional tabs, including sections on Filing and Fees, Court Locator, Court Tour, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The announcement and the launch coincided with the 2019 Media Training, a forum organized by the SC PIO for reporters covering the Judiciary beat. The forum was held in Newtown Plaza Hotel, Baguio City.

The Chief Justice addressed and welcomed

the participants to the media training for justice beat reporters from the Justice and Court Reporters Association (JUCRA) and Justice Reporters Organization (JUROR), aptly dubbed Pressing Matt ers: A Forum on Judiciary Coverage. He reminded the media participants to write news reports in the most accurate and responsible manner, always being mindful that their and their media organizations’ obligation is to the people alone.

Att y. Hosaka then gave an overview and walk-through of the training program, and Deputy Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva updated the media participants on the judicial reform activities of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC).

Mr. Christian Eldon, Team Leader of the Justice Sector Reform Programme: Governance in Justice (GOJUST) gave an introduction about GOJUST and how their organization works with the JSCC to support its judicial reform eff orts.

Att y. Leah P. Laja-Ott o, Acting Chief of the Judicial and Bar Council’s (JBC) Offi ce of Policy and Development Research, talked about the JBC’s selection process as well as the rules and procedure of the Offi ce of the Court Administrator in disciplining judges.

Former Movie and Television Review and Classifi cation Board (MTRCB) Chair and Ateneo de Manila University Law School Professor Att y. Eugenio H. Villareal discussed press freedom and the law on libel, while Agent Michelle B. Valdez of the Cyber Crime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation lectured on cyber libel.

PIO Director IV and Assistant Chief Att y. Maria Victoria Gleoresty Sp. Guerra gave the closing remarks.

Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, Deputy Court Administrator Leo T. Madrazo, and Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Att y. Laura CH. Del Rosario also graced the event.

The 2019 Media Training, organized by the Supreme Court Public Information Offi ce in partnership with GOJUST, was aimed at enhancing the accessibility of the Court through its media partners as the Court recognizes the media’s role in the dissemination of news and information about the Court to the general public. The activity also aimed to further equip justice beat reporters with the knowledge and skills in covering the events and activities of the Supreme Court.

SIDEBAR: SC Launches its Redesigned Website @ 2019 Media TrainingBy Annie Rose A. Laborte, Darylle Evie Mae C. Catabay, and Helen Grace D. Santos

Assistant Court Administrator and PIO Chief Att y. Brian Keith F. Hosaka and Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin launch the redesigned Supreme Court website.

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