message delivered by chief justice maria lourdes p. a...
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Message delivered by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno during the
Inauguration and Blessing of the New Regional Trial Court Building of
Valenzuela on November 20, 2017
Maraming salamat po, mga kaibigan. Magsi-upo po tayo. (Thank you, friends.
Please take your seats.)
[Angelito] “Nono” [Malay] (Administrative Assistant V, Office of Councilor
Marlon Paulo C. Alejandrino), ako ay fan mo na. (I am already a fan of yours.)
Salamat sa iyong energetic na pag-host sa atin ngayong umaga. (Thank you for your
energetic hosting this morning.) We are just going to take off actually from your
energy. Thank you, Nono.
And I would like to say that I am very, very impressed. And I rarely use
superlatives with [the] division of the city of Valenzuela under your “Rex”ponsible
mayor, Mayor [Rexlon] “Rex” [T.] Gatchalian. (applause) Vice Mayor [Lorena C.
Natividad-Borja], thank you also for having a vision that no citizen, no resident of
Valenzuela will ever be left behind. Thank for having a very inclusive vision.
Damang dama ko po ang pagmamahal ninyo sa maliliit na taga-Valenzuela.
Sana si Congressman [Weslie] “Wes” [T.] Gatchalian (1st District, Valenzuela City)
nandito. Wala siya ngayon, ano? Si Congressman Eric [M. Martinez] (2nd District,
Valenzuela City), ipaabot ninyo na rin po ang pagbati ko sa mga magagandang
nangyayari dito sa Valenzuela. Thank you very much for everything. May mga
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konsehal po tayo dito. Sana ho tama ‘yong pagkakilala ko sa inyo. Si Councilor Marlon
[Paulo C.] Alejandrino. Salamat po, Councilor Marlon. Councilor Ricardo Ricarr [C].
Enriquez—yes, thank you. Siya po eh dinefer daw niya ‘yong ‘pag-take ng Bar dahil
kinukulang ang oras niya. Kailangan niyang igugol talaga sa mga butihing tao ng
Valenzuela. Salamat po. Sana po pagpalain kayo next year. Mas maluwag sana ang
Bar exam para hindi po kayo magsisi. (laughter) Si Konsehal Antonio “Tony” [R.]
Espiritu po, salamat po, Konsehal. At si Konsehal Andy [C.] Francisco, salamat.
Mayroon pa po akong na-miss, ano? Konsehal [Crissha] “Charee” [M.] Pineda, okay,
thank you. At si Councilor Rovin [Andrew M. Feliciano] Padilla. (laughter) Hindi
binigay sa akin ‘yong apelyido kaya binigyan ko na lang kayo, para tambal po kayo
kay Charee. (I definitely feel your love for the ordinary citizens of Valenzuela. I hope
Congressman Wes is here. He is not here, right? Kindly extend my gratitude for the
developments here in Valenzuela to Congressman Eric also. Thank you so much for
everything. We also have the councilors here. I hope I get your names right.
Councilor Marlon Alejandrino, thank you. Ricardo Ricarr Enriquez—yes, thank you.
He deferred taking the Bar examinations due to lack of enough time. He needs to
focus on the people of Valenzuela. Thank you. I hope you make it next year. I hope
the Bar exam next year is easier so that you will not have regrets. Councilor Antonio
“Tony” Espiritu, thank you, Councilor. And Councilor Andy Francisco, thank you. Did
I miss anyone? Councilor Charee Pineda, okay, thank you. And Councilor Rovin
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Padilla. They did not give me his last name so I just gave you one, to pair you up with
Charee.)
‘Yong aming mga butihing opisyales na galing sa Padre Faura—si DCA (Deputy
Court Administrator) Thelma [C.] Bahia po, Thelma pakita mo ‘yong beauty mo. Ang
bagong kaluluklok lamang na dalawang Assistant Court Administrators, Lilian
Barribal-Co at si [Maria Regina] “Gina” [Adoracion] Filomena [M.] Ignacio,
panandalian pong hindi natin sila muna idedestino sa Visayas at Mindanao ‘pagkat
tutulong pa rin po sila sa mga ongoing projects ng Supreme Court at ipapakita po
natin kung ano ‘yong mga iilan lamang sa mga ongoing projects ng Supreme Court.
(To our officials from Padre Faura—DCA Thelma Bahia, show them your beauty. Our
two recently appointed Assistant Court Administrators, Lilian Barribal-Co and Gina
Filomena Ignacio, we will not assign them to Visayas and Mindanao as of now
because they will help in the ongoing projects of the Supreme Court.)
Indeed, everyone should feel elated at this morning’s celebration. There is so
much reason to congratulate the city of Valenzuela on its 394th Foundation Day
Celebration which is, I understand now, a month long celebration. You have a long
history of great struggles, sacrifices including the greatest sacrifice of shedding
blood for the ultimate cause of freedom, and now we witness a very progressive city
born from that struggle. Today’s inauguration of the new Valenzuela City Regional
Court’s building marks another milestone in your city’s continuing progress as one
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of the top cities in the National Capital Region and as a commercial and
manufacturing hub, and now you are going to be a pioneer in the justice system.
I remember that when I interviewed as Chair of the Board of Judges of the
TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men) Award where [Senator] Sherwin [T.
Gatchalian] was there. I had to admit I was very impressed by his vision. And what I
was really scared of is that vision will be compromised if he keeps on being engaged
in even longer and more elevated levels of politics. So I was actually, and I will have
to share with you, Valenzuelans, tinanong ko siya, “Ikaw, kaya mo bang panindigan
ang mga prinsipyo mo kahit na magkabakbakan sa hirap ng national struggle ‘pag
national politics na ‘yan?” (I asked him, “Can you stand by your principles despite
the difficult national struggle when it comes to national politics?”)
In-assure po ako ni Ginoong Sherwin, na dati ninyong mayor noon, na
ipagpapatuloy—or congressman yata at that time pero parang mayor po—na
ipagpapatuloy niya kung anong lebel ng paninilbihan niya noon sa mga taga-
Valenzuela at kung papalarin siyang maging isang national politician, ipagpapatuloy
niya po. Kaya’t pinanghahawakan ko po na sana ay ganoon sana lahat ng pangako, at
sana matupad ang mga ganoong pangako. Kaya’t noong sinabi ninyo po sa akin na
ang tema ng inyong pag-ce-celebrate ay “Tuloy-tuloy ang asenso!” ay nagkaroon po
ako ng kasabikan. Ano po ba ang ibig sabihin ng tuluy-tuloy na asenso sa larangan ng
hudikatura? Kaya’t ‘pag tayo ho ay nagbubuo ng mga Halls of Justice gaya ng
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binuksan natin ngayon, naaalala ko po na dapat nating isaalang-alang na ‘pag tayo
ay bumubuo ng Halls of Justice, ang binubuo po natin ay mga buhay, mga pamilya,
mga kumunidad ‘pagkat ang hustisya po ay ukol sa tao. Hindi po ito tungkol sa
proseso. Ang proseso ay isa lamang pamamaraan upang ipakita natin ang pagsasa-
alang-alang natin sa karapatan at future ng mga residente natin. (Mr. Sherwin—who
was then a mayor or a congressman, but I think he was a mayor—assured me that
he will continue the level of service he has been giving the citizens of Valenzuela if
given a chance to service as a national politician. I wish that all promise are like that,
may they all be fulfilled. So when you told me that the theme of your celebration is
“Progress will be continuous,” I was really excited. What does this mean for the
judiciary? That is why when we build halls of justice such as the one we inaguruated
today, I remember that we must always keep in mind that we are building lives,
families, and communities because justice is for the people. It is not about
procedures. Following procedures is only a way to prove that we are doing this for
the rights and future of the people.)
With your P64 million investment—thank you—and the Supreme Court with
its modest P17 million counterpart, together we are insuring that the people who
we serve will have their rights vindicated. And when you said that you are witness
to people saying, “Sa korte tayo magkita kung hindi maayos ang problema sa baba,”
(We will meet in court if the conflict is not settled at the base level.) I am quite
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impressed that you have accepted the reality that the trust of the people in courts
must be maintained, trust that they will have their rights vindicated, life, liberty and
property secured and will be afforded the dignity that every citizen should expect
under the Rule of Law.
Simula po nung ako’y naluklok as Punong Mahistrado, umikot naman po ako sa
mga korte natin, at ang isa pong kahabag-habag na kondisyon ng ating mga
mamamayan ay nagpapataw po ng hustisya o nagpapahinog po ng hustisya sa mga
gusaling walang dignidad, mga opisinang hindi po respetable. At naaawa po ako sa
mga huwes namin at mga empleyado po, kung saan nagtitiis po sila sa mga kwartong
hindi po kaayaaya sa malalimang pag-iisip ukol sa kailangang gawing desisyon ukol
sa hustisya. Hindi po natin masasabi na irerespeto [tayo] ng taong-bayan natin kung
ganoon po ang makikita nilang sitwasyon. Ngunit iba po ang nakita ko ngayong araw.
Babaliktad po ang pag-iisip na ganito. (Ever since I was appointed as Chief Justice, I
visit courts, and one unfortunate condition of our people is that justice is delivered
in buildings which are no longer fit for the effective administration of justice, and
offices do not look respectable. How can the people respect us in such conditions?
But today, I saw something different. This opinion will change.)
You know, your support is a testament really to your leaders’ and our
people’s commitment to justice, Rule of Law, and love of country. Ito po ay
kongkretong halimbawa sa pagmamalasakit para sa mga maliliit dahil hindi po ba
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ang maliliit po dapat ang dapat pong makinabang sa patas na pagtingin at
pagkakapantay kung tunay na umiiral ang Rule of Law? Kaya lubos po ang ating
pasasalamat at pagpupugay sa mga lider at mamamayan ng Valenzuela sa inyong
pagpupursigi kasama ng ating mga judges at court personnel at opisyal ng Supreme
Court upang maisakatuparan ang proyektong ito. (This is a concrete example of
compassion for the underprivileged because aren’t they the ones who should benefit
from fairness and justice if the Rule of Law really prevails? That is why we are very
thankful to leaders and residents of Valenzuela for your efforts together with our
judges and court personnel and Supreme Court officials in order to fulfill this.)
Kaya’t ngayon, babanggitin ko po sana isa-isa ang ating mga huwes sa parteng
ito. So sana po ‘pag binanggit ko po ang pangalan ninyo, tumayo po kayo o kumaway.
Unang-una po, si Executive Judge [Maria] Nena [J.] Santos at ang kanyang staff sa
Branch 171. (applause) Itaas ninyo po ang kamay ninyo. Congratulations po. Si
Nanay-nayan Judge Nena po, kung hindi po nagpursigi noon pang panahon ni
Sherwin hanggang ngayon, mahirap pong gawin ang mga infrastructure projects na
ganito. Kung hindi po kayo nagtiyaga ng ilang taon, hindi po mangyayari ito. Si Judge
Emma [C.] Matammu at ang staff ng Branch 269, tama po ba? (applause) Si Judge
Nancy [Rivas-]Palmones, Branch 172, ‘yong staff ng Branch 172, nandoon. Judge
Evangeline [Mendoza-]Francisco, Branch 270, congratulations, at [ang] kanyang
magagaling na staff. Si Judge Lilia [Mercedes Encarnacion A.] Gepty, Lilia, thank you.
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At Branch 75, Judge Arthur [B.] Melicor—kasama ko po siya sa dati ko pong
pamantasan, UP (University of the Philippines). Branch 284, nandito rin po sila, ano?
Si Judge Orven [Kuan] Ontalan, Branch 285, Judge, nandoon sa dulo ang staff mo.
Judge Snooky [Maria Ana B.] Sagayo, Branch 283, Snooky at ang butihing staff niya.
[Judge] Elena [A. Amigo-]Amano, Branch 282. Doon naman mula sa METCs
(Metropolitan Trial Courts) po. Nandito po ba si EJ (Executive Judge) Mateo [B.]
Altarejos? EJ? Andoon naman po at ang staff niya. Judge Teresita [Asuncion M.
Lacandula-]Rodriguez, Branch 82 at [ang] staff ni Judge Rodriguez. Judge Romello
[C.] Camarillo, Branch 107, at ang staff niya. Judge [Marita Iris] “Marites” [B. Laqui-]
Genilo, Branch 109. (cheers and applause) O, ‘yon ang pinakamaingay na staff. At si
Judge [Ghia] Chrystellyne [O. Hurtado-]Juan at ang staff niya. Congratulations po sa
inyo. Kasi kung hindi po kayo nagpilit nang nagpilit na nag-coordinate sa Padre Faura
kay DCA Bahia, kay ACA Gina, at kay ACA Lilian, hindi naman po nagkabuo-buo itong
panaginip natin na ngayon ay nakikita natin at na-e-enjoy na natin. (So at this point,
I will mention the names of our judges. Please stand or wave to the people when you
hear your name. First, Executive Judge Santos and her staff in Branch 171. Please
raise your hands. Congratulations. If not for Judge Nena, a mother figure who has
been working hard since the time of Sherwin, it would be difficult to build
infrastructure projects such as this. If she did not persevere for many years, this
would not have happened. Judge Emma Matammu and the staff of Branch 269, am I
correct? (applause) Judge Nancy Palmones, Branch 172, the staff of Branch 172 is
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there. Judge Evangeline Francisco, Branch 270, congratulations, and to her excellent
staff. Judge Lilia Gepty, Lilia, thank you. And Branch 75, Judge Arthur Melicor—we
worked together at my former university, UP. Branch 284, they are also here, right?
Judge Orven Ontalan, Branch 285, Judge, your staff is there at the back. Judge Snooky
Sagayo, Branch 283, Snooky and her staff. Elena Amano, Branch 282. Let us go to the
MeTCs. Is EJ Mateo Altarejos here? EJ? His staff is there. Judge Teresita Rodriguez,
Branch 82, and the staff of Judge Rodriguez. Judge Romello Camarillo, Branch 107,
and his staff. Judge Marites Genilo, Branch 109. (cheers and applause) That is the
loudest staff. And Judge Chrystellyne Juan and her staff. Congratulations to all of you.
If you did not persist in coordinating in Padre Faura with DCA Bahia, ACA Gina, and
ACA Lilian, this dream project of ours would never have seen the light of day.)
Nais ko sana at this point na ibahagi ang tatlong adhikain na sana ay
maisakatuparan sa pamamagitin ng imprasrakturang ito. Kasi ho, hindi lamang
naman ‘to kailangang gamitin, ngunit kailangan itong gamitin with a purpose. Una
po, sana ay maging instrumento ito ng makabago at patas na pag-usad ng hustisya.
Okey, at ikukuwento ko po ang vision ng Korte Suprema na kaninang nagkausap kami
ni Mayor Rex ay susuportahan niya at ng kanyang mahuhusay na vice mayor at
konsehal. Ang building po na ito ay may local area network. Ngunit ang gusto po
namin talaga ay national connectivity, so nationwide connectivity. Hindi pa kasama
ang Valenzuela sa first phase ng connectivity? Wala pa po, ano? So eventually, ang
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buong judiciary ay magkakaroon ng nationwide connectivity pero meron na po sila
ngayong local area network. So dapat may internet na rin po at wi-fi facilities na
magiging building blocks ng ating court automation program. (At this point, I would
like to share my three goals which I hope will be fulfilled through this infrastructure.
This should not only be utilized, it must be used with a purpose. First, I hope this
becomes an instrument for an innovative and fair administration of justice. I will tell
you the vision of the Supreme Court for which Mayor Rex expressed support from
him, the vice mayor, and the councilors when we talked a while ago. This building
has a local are network. But we really want a nationwide connectivity. Valenzuela is
not yet included in the first phase of connectivity, right? So eventually, the whole
judiciary will have a nationwide connectivity, but right now, they have a local area
network. So there must be internet and wi-fi facilities which will serve as building
blocks of our court automation program.)
Ang gusto po namin sa Korte Suprema ay lahat ng mga hukuman ay maging
(What we in the Supreme Court wish is for all courts to become) electronic courts or
e-courts which means that, like in advanced countries, we can already process our
cases through applications. Our aim is to have a future where lawyers can file their
pleadings by uploading them online in the comfort of their offices. And in order for
that to happen, our EISP (Enterprise Information Systems Plan) program, which is a
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program that is more than P4 billion worth, should have at the base level the
digitization of all case records.
Kaya tuwang tuwa po kami na sinunod ninyo ‘yong template namin, na meron
na nga pong digitization room. Kaya tuwang tuwa po kami. Ngayon lang po ako
nakakita ng digitization room. Ito ang una, Gina? Congratulations po! (applause)
Nakita ko po na handa na mag-digitize ang city of Valenzuela, at sinasabi nga po ni
Mayor Rex na willing silang mauna sa actual digitization. Kung gayon po ay
paguusapan po namin sa EISP team at itatanong ko sa Korte Suprema kung puwede
na po mauna sa lahat ang city of Valenzuela. Sinabi po sa akin ni Mayor na lahat po
ng inyong proseso ay nasa mobile system na, na connected na po kayo, na lahat ay
internet-based na ang services, na may internet service na to support the services
that Valenzuela is providing. (That is why we are so glad that you followed our
template of having a digitization room. We are so glad. It is my first time to see a
digitization room. Is this the first one, Gina? Congratulations! I saw that the city of
Valenzuela is ready to digitize, and Mayor Rex told me that they are willing to be the
first one to do actual digitization. If this is the case, we will discuss it in the EISP
team, and I will ask the Supreme Court if the city Valenzuela could go first. Mayor
told me that all your procedures are already on a mobile system, so you are
connected, all the services are internet-based, and you have internet service to
support the services that Valenzuela is providing.)
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So kung gayon naman po, dinadagdagan ko na ang speech ko dahil ang
daming kinwento sa akin ni Mayor Rex kanina. Kung gayon po, ako po ay tuwang
tuwa na willing po kayo na tulungan kami sa pag-digitize ng court calendar, at sinabi
po ni Judge Nena, gusto po niya ‘yon. Of course, kailangan natin ng permiso ng Korte
Suprema, ngunit wala naman po akong nakikitang balakid doon. Kasi as long as hindi
po confidential ‘yong court calendar, pwede po nating ilagay ‘yon. And if it can be
seen either in a screen in a terminal that will be installed at the lobby, or it is
possible that the city is even willing to develop a mobile based app. Just imagine,
lawyers will just log in into that app, makikita na nila lahat ng schedules ng mga
courts. Kung mangyayari po ‘yon, kayo na naman ang una. (applause) Hayaan ninyo
po, aayusin po natin. Inuudyukan ko po at ginagatungan ‘yong competitive spirit ng
mga Gatchalian. (laughter) (So if this is the case, I am lengthening my speech
because Mayor Rex told me a lot of things. I am very glad that you are willing to help
us digitize the court calendar, and Judge Nena told me that she would want that. Of
course, we need the permission of the Supreme Court, but I do not see any obstacle
to that. As long as the court calendar is not confidential, we can do that. And if it can
be seen either in a screen in a terminal that will be installed at the lobby, or it is
possible that the city is even willing to develop a mobile based app. Just imagine,
lawyers will just log in into that app, they will see all the schedules of courts. If that
happens, you will again be the pioneer. Do not worry. We will work on this. I am
convincing them and feeding a fire into the competitive spirirt of the Gatchalians.)
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Just imagine, think of a future where lawyers can check the status and even
litigants, not only litigants, because what you are going to do is take out the mystery
behind lawyer’s scheduling kasi ‘yong may mga ari ng kaso mismo, mga litigants ma-
che-check nila mismo ‘yong mga lawyers kung binobola sila, o ‘di ba? [Sinasabi nila]
may hearing. Wala naman palang hearing. (…because the parties in the case, the
litigants themselves can check whether the lawyers are deceiving them, right? [They
would say] that there is a hearing even if there is none.)
Lawyers and litigants can check the status of their cases online and when we
go into the digitize mode, they can also view the online case records through
computers or smartphones.
Now, if you are going to invest because you want to have the bragging right of
saying you were the first, I think this is a very, very smart ambition on the part of
the city of Valenzuela. And I will give it my full support. Imagine also, where all
notices to parties are automatically sent via e-mail or SMS. Nangyayari na po ‘yan
ngayon sa Quezon City kasi nagkaroon po ng (That is transpiring in Quezon City
right now because there was a) pilot program wherein they were provided money
from a development partner to send notices through SMS. But if you are going to
include that in your budget, you will be the first city na kayang mag-SMS (that can
send messages through SMS) through LGU (local government unit) budget. So first
pa rin ‘yon, kasi ‘yong nauna sa inyo, development partner’s money ang ginamit. (So
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you would still be the pioneer because the first one was funded by a development
partner.) Imagine judges issuing almost all court orders immediately after cases are
heard. And this is such good news I want to impart to all court employees.
O, alam ninyo ang ipinangako ni Mayor Rex kanina, pakinggan ninyo ha. Kasi
kinuwento ko sa kanya ‘yong isang istorya ng isang judge na gumagamit ng
automated hearing. Kasi ginagamit ninyo naman na iyan ‘di ba? ‘Yong iba sa inyo.
Kung hindi pa, basically, ‘yong automated hearing kasi, the order is given orally. You
all do that, no? In open court, while the order is being given, tina-type na ng
stenographer or legal researcher. Tapos the judge’s terminal monitor is connected to
that of the stenographer or legal researcher so nakikita na niya ‘yong itsura ng order.
I-co-correct lang ni judge tapos mag-o-order siya na i-print, ‘yong printer nandoon na
sa table ng stenographer, lalabas iyon, titingnan ni judge, pipirmahan ni judge, and
immediately it is served to the parties while they are there. (You know what Mayor
Rex promised? Listen to this. I told him a story about judge who practices
automated hearing. Some of you already do this, right? If not yet, basically, in
automated hearings, the order is given orally. You all do that, no? In open court,
while the order is being given, the stenographer or legal researcher already encodes
it. The, the judge’s terminal monitor is connected to that of the stenographer or legal
researcher, so he already sees the written order. The judge will just make necessary
corrections and will give the order to print it. The printer is on the table of the
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stenographer. When the paper comes out, the judge will check it, he or she will sign
it, and immediately it is served to the parties while they are there.)
Kasi ang traditional system, Mayor, ay tatapusin na ‘yong hearing, i-clo-close
muna ‘yong file, tapos kung magkakaroon na ng free time ‘yong mga tao, ‘yong
stenographer, legal researcher, clerk of court, or si judge, doon nila gagawin ‘yong
mga orders na written. So nag-re-replicate—alam niya na kung ano ang order,
gagawin pa niya, pag-aaralan pa niya. Hahanap pa siya ng time to do that. And then,
dadalhin sa mailing system ng LGU or ng Philippine Post Office, i-me-mail. The delay
in mailing alone will take one to two months, the entire system. (The traditional
system, Mayor, is that the hearing is adjourned, the file will be kept, and when the
stenographer, legal researcher, clerk of court, or the judge has free time, that is only
when they will work on the written orders. The work is doubled. The judges already
know what the order is, they will work on it, and they will study it. They will still
find time to do that. And then, the papers will be brought to the mailing system of
the LGU or Philippine Post Office and mailed.)
If we have [an] automated hearing system, mabilis kasi 15 minutes lang
actually basta hindi mahaba ‘yong order, serve kaagad. Walang nang hintay-hintay.
Iyong abogado can immediately go to his client and say, “Eto, nag-appear talaga ako”
at i-o-order ni judge na puwede na siyang maningil, no? So ganoon kabilis po, pero
ang sabi ko sa kanya, in-interest ko pa si Mayor Rex, sabi ko, “Alam mo, Mayor Rex,
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‘yong isang Judge, bumili pa ng sariling flat wall LED screen. Nilagay niya sa court
niya, so habang siya ay nagfa-final editing, nakikita ng lahat.” Isipin ninyo na lang
ang mangyayari sa mindset ng tao—nakapaka-transparent naman pala at
professional ng system. Kaya naman palang right away i-serve ang order sa akin.
Hindi na ako maghihintay ng mail. E nakikita niya na it is being professionally done,
walang misteryo. At ‘pag natapos na, e ‘di i-pi-print nalang ulit at ibibigay. But the
fact that everyone is watching a screen, I think, will already show that we have a
very transparent system. Sabi ni Mayor Rex, done daw ‘yan for the city of Valenzuela.
In other words, all of your courts will have a flat wall LED screens in your
courtrooms, in your hearing rooms. Maganda na rin po ‘yon, ‘yong calendar doon na
rin po, tapos doon narin nakikita ng mga tao kung ano nangyayari. (If we have [an]
automated hearing system, everything will be fast because it will only actually take
them 15 minutes as long as the order is not long, it is served immediately. There’s
no waiting time. The lawyer can immediately go to his client and say, “Look, I really
appeared in court,” and the judge will order that he can already collect his fees,
right? So can be that fast, but I told Mayor Rex, “You know, Mayor Rex, one judge
even bought a personal flat wall LED screen. The judge placed it in the court and
while the judge does final editing, everyone can see it.” Just imagine what will
happen to the people’s mindset—the system is transparent and professional. It
turns out that they can serve the order right away. I do not need to wait for the mail.
People will see that is professionally done and with no mistery. When it is done, it
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will be printed and given. But the fact that everyone is watching a screen, I think,
will already show that we have a very transparent system. Mayor Rex said that will
be done for the city of Valenzuela. In other words, all of your courts will have a flat
wall LED screens in your courtrooms, in your hearing rooms. It will be better if the
calendar is also there, and the updates will also be there.)
So you know, people will feel as if they are involved in the system because
they are witnessing with their eyes a process that is usually being done behind
closed doors.
Palakpakan po natin si Mayor Rex. (applause) At sabi niya babalik daw ako at
makikita ko daw ‘yong mga flat wall screens na ‘yan. Hindi po ‘to pressure ha. Hindi
po ‘to pressure, suggestion na gentle. (Let us give Mayor Rex a round of applause. He
said that when I come back, I will see those flat wall screens. I am not pressuring
you. It is but a gentle suggestion.)
Just imagine a future where judges are managing all their dockets simply
through accessing their monitors and when we are fully online and connected, even
from the comfort of your homes. Si judge nagbabakasyon, puwede niyang bantayan
‘yong docket niya. Hindi na ‘yan ‘yong parang clueless kung ano’ng nangyayari.
(While on vacation, the judge can monitor his docket and is not clueless anymore.)
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Eventually, Mayor, the nationwide connectivity program, the electronic court
system will reach all the way to the Office of the Chief Justice so that I could monitor
the progress of all cases nationwide, our hundreds of thousands of cases. So ‘yon po
ang future natin, kasi nagagawa na po ‘yan sa ibang bansa, bakit po hindi pwedeng
gawin dito sa Valenzuela. So that is our future. It is already being done in other
countries. Why not do it here?)
This building also has impressive provision for our family courts. In fact,
nakita ko ‘yong mga mesa na child-friendly doon sa witnesses room, doon sa holding
room. At alam natin later on na magkaka-closed circuit television connectivity. But I
was even impressed with the dignity of the set-up—‘yong kahoy parang stable hindi
‘yong parang inaapi ‘yong judge which has been the condition for how many years.
Meron pang design ‘yong ceiling na napaka-dignified. Ang ganda tuloy kuhaan ng
litrato na this is a dignified courtroom. So ‘pag mag-short circuit camera na po tayo
na fed into the courtroom, mas mag-co-comply na po tayo sa provisions ng Family
Court Act na talagang dapat bantayan ‘yong mga bata ‘pag nag-wi-witness na hindi
ma-ha-harass na kung ‘yong inaakusahan niyang nag-molestya sa kanya ay naroroon
sa vicinity. Kaya ang building po ay hindi lamang high-tech. Ito po ay child-friendly
at sumasabay sa agos ng siyensya partikular sa mga bagong kaalaman ukol sa
psychological aspects ng delivery of justice. (This building also has impressive
provisions for our family courts. In fact, I saw a child-friendly table in the witnesses;
19
holding room. And we know that later on, there will be closed circuit television
connectivity. But I was even impressed with the dignity of the set-up—the wooden
table is stable and not dilapidated, which has been the condition for how many
years. The ceiling which has design also looks dignified. It is nice to take a photo that
this is a dignified courtroom. So when we already have short circuit camera fed into
the courtroom, we can comply with the provisions on the Family Court Act that
children should be given protection as witnesses and not feel harassed that the
accused is in the vicinity. The building is not the only thing that is high-tech. It is also
child-friendly and adaptive of innovations particularly on psychological aspects of
delivery of justice.)
Ang pangalawa po na gusto ko pong i-share sa inyo ay may relasyon sa
matandang kasabihan na “Aanhin mo ang bahay na bato kung ang nakatira ay
kwago?” Ngayon, tuwang tuwa po ako sa mga hukom natin at ang mga empleyado ng
Valenzuela City kasi alam po nating lahat ang kagalingan ng mga huwes natin. Kaya’t
importante po na pangalagaan natin lahat ang ating reputasyon. Wala pong
makakapalit sa malinis na reputasyon. Ang ibig sabihin po ay hindi lang po dapat tayo
mag-invest sa building. Mag-invest po tayo sa mga taong kumikilos at sa mga
prosesong ipinaiiral natin sa loob ng bulwagang ito. (The second thing I would like to
share to you is related to the old saying “Of what use is a stone building if the
inhabitant is an owl?” Now, I am really fond of the judges and employees of
20
Valenzuela City because we know how competent our judges are. That is why it is
important to take care of our reputation. Nothing can beat clean reputation. This
means that we should not only invest on a building. Let us invest in people who
work well and in the procedures that we will follow in this hall.)
Noon pa man, simula’t simula pa ay na-meet ko na ang mga huwes ninyo at ilan
sa inyong pong mga empleyado lalo na sa mga opisyales ninyo sa mga iba’t-ibang
court employees’ associations, at marami na po akong nai-deliver doon sa mga
pangakong binitawan ko po sa inyo. Naalala po ninyo na noon na sinabi ninyo, Judge
Nena, na hirap na hirap po kayo, na kailangan lagi na lahat ay centralized lahat sa
Padre Faura—simula sa leaves, sa pag-file ng forms, pagproseso ng papeles, human
resources requirements, sa pag-procure ng mga supplies, sa pag-repair ng mga
computers, lahat po centralized. (Since then, I have met your judges and some of
your employees especially your officials in the different court employees’
associations, and I have delivered many of the promises I have made. Judge Nena, do
you remember when you said that you were having a hard time because everything
is centralized in Padre Faura—starting from leaves, filing forms, processing of
papers, human resources requirements, procurement of supplies, repair of
computers—everything is centralized.)
Gusto ko pong i-announce na simula po sa first quarter ng 2018, magpa-pilot
na po tayo ng sistema kung saan magbibigay na nang diretso ng pera para sa
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maintenance operations and other operating expenses diretso sa mga huwes. So
kayo po, maaari na po kayong makaramdam ng kaginhawaan. Ang ni-request ko po
na sana si Judge Nena ay gawing isang pilot court. At kung maging successful po ito,
tuloy-tuloy na po natin na ibibigay ang pera sa mga lower courts para sa inyong
office supplies. Hindi na po kayo kailangan laging pupunta pa sa Padre Faura. Mayor
Rex, si Judge Nena na po muna ang isasama natin. (I would like to announce that
starting the first quarter of 2018, we will pilot a system wherein we will give funds
for maintenance operations and other operating expenses directly to the judges. So
you will feel relieved. I requested that Judge Nena’s court be the pilot. If this turns
out to be successful, we will continue with the giving of funds to the lower courts for
office supplies. You do not need to always go to Padre Faura anymore. Mayor Rex,
let us do this in Judge Nena’s court first.)
Eventually, lahat ng computer needs ninyo, kasi papasok po tayo sa
nationwide procurement ng mga laptops, ang gagawin po na lang natin ay lease na
lamang. Para po ang pag-repair po noon, hindi ninyo na dadalhin sa Padre Faura,
kundi isasama na natin sa contract para kayo na ang pupuntahan ng mga service
providers. So ‘yon po ang mangyayari, hindi na po kayo maghihintay ng action mula
sa Padre Faura pa. (Eventually, all your computer needs—because we will go into
nationwide procurement of laptops, what we will do is we will lease so that when
they need to be repaired, you do not anymore need to bring them to Padre Faura,
22
but we will include repair in the contract so that the service providers will come to
you. So that will be the new system. You do not need to wait for the computers to be
repaired in Padre Faura anymore.)
Pinag-aaralan na rin po namin kung paano pa po madadagdagan ang Court
Decongestion Officers (CDO) ninyo. Hindi po ba meron na tayong mga CDOs? Sino po
‘yong mga huwes na humingi na po ng mga CDOs? Nakatulong po ba nang husto? So
‘yong mga CDOs ninyo, kung sino pa po ang mataas ang dockets, hahanap pa po tayo
ng paraan para tuluy-tuloy, kasi alam ko nga ‘yong mga CDOs e nag-apply na clerk of
court, ‘yong iba e na-hire na, ‘yong iba e nagkaroon na talaga ng career dito sa
judiciary. (We are studying how we can add more Court Decongestion Officers. We
have CDOs, right? Who among you judges have CDOs? Were they able to help a lot?
For those who a high number of dockets, we will find a way to for you to have CDOs
continuously because I know that some CDOs already applied as clerks of court,
some of them were already hired, and others already have a career here in the
judiciary.)
So itutuloy po natin ‘yan hangga’t ang docket ng bawa’t court ay hindi lalagpas
sa 300. Iyan ang goal ko. So okey ba, mga kawani? Ang ambisyon ko ay ang court
dockets ninyo ay hindi more than 300. Ngayon, ang ginawa natin ay 500 and above,
kasi ang gusto ko naman po ‘yong mga judges natin at kayo mismo ay magkaroon ng
life [outside work.] Wala na raw kayong work-life balance kasi ini-implement na
23
natin ‘yong Continuous Trial [of Criminal Cases]. Naiintindihan ko po ang hirap ninyo.
(applause) Pagpasensyahan ninyo na po muna. (So we will continue with that until
the docket of each court will not exceed 300. That is my goal. Is that okay with you,
employees? My ambition is that you court dockets are not more than 300. At
present, we have targeted those who have 500 and above because I want the judges
and you employees to have a life [outside work]. I heard you do not have work-life
balance since the Continuous Trial was implemented. I understand your
predicament. Please extend your patience.)
Alam ninyo po, kailangan ko pong sa palagay ko ulit-ulitin ang dahilan bakit
tayo kailangan may Continuous Trial [of Criminal Cases]. Sa pinakamahabang
panahon, hindi po naniniwala ang mga tao na puwede maging mabilis ang litigation.
Paano naman po, kung deka-dekada ang pagtapos ng litigation e hindi po hustisya
‘yon. Tama po ba? E ang ginawa po natin e gagawin na po natin na susundin natin
ang Speedy Trial Act, co-comply tayo sa guidelines. At Mayor, ganito po ‘yong
Continuous Trial Guidelines na nilabas namin para sa criminal cases—bawal po ang
postponement except for the most serious reasons. Prohibited po ‘yon. Ang trials are
scheduled just one day apart, and very tight ‘yong timeline kaya magkakaroon po
kayo ng mga—ang dami ko na po naririnig ng mga decisions na in months tapos na,
no? Sino po ang nakaka-experience na ng mabilisang pagtapos ng kaso? Ay hindi,
November pa lang naman e, beginning pa lang naman. But in one pilot court that we
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tested a system on because there are 54 pilot courts, one human trafficking case was
finished in as little as five months, human trafficking, where usually it would be five
to seven years. So kaya na pong paikliin ang trial time. We can now look forward to
trial being finished in as little as two years, even six months for some. (You know, I
think I have to say again and again the reason why we need to implement the
Continuous Trial. For the longest time, people have not believed that litigation can be
fast. If it takes decades to finish litigation, that is not considered justice. Am I right?
What we will do is we will follow the Speedy Trial Act and comply with the
guidelines. And Mayor, the Continuous Trial Guidelines for Criminal Cases is like
this—postponement is not allowed except for the most serious reasons. That is
prohibited. Trials are scheduled just one day apart, and the timelines are very tight. I
have heard many instances wherein decisions are rendered in just a few months.
Who has been experiencing fast resolution of cases? Oh wait, it is just November so
it is just the beginning. But in one pilot court that we tested a system on because
there are 54 pilot courts, one human trafficking case was finished in as little as five
months, human trafficking, where usually it would be five to seven years. So we can
reduce trial time.)
Alam ko pong kinakabahan kayo. Kinakabahan rin naman po ako e. Pare-
pareho lang ho tayo. Kaya kailangan po, Mayor, pukpukin na ang mga prosecutors
are enough. Do you have enough prosecutors here? Everytime po na nagsasalita ako
25
maganda ‘yong response except po ‘yong sa Continuous Trial [in Criminal Cases]. Iyan
po ‘yong may shock sila, parang may post-traumatic stress disorder kasi po
dumadaan kami sa napakabigat na reporma ngayon.
Kapag hindi po enough ang prosecutors, Mayor, I will already tell you the
outcome. Eto ang predicted ko—maraming ma-di-dismiss na criminal cases, tama po
ba? Iyan po ang gagawin ng mga judges namin kasi po kung hindi naman handa ang
prosecutors in the first place, bakit po nagsampa ng kaso? Kaya ‘yong mga
prosecutors—nandito po ba? Nandito po ba ang prosecutors natin? Wala po ba
tayong invited dito? Nandiyan po?—itaas ninyo naman po ang kamay ninyo. Ayaw
nila. (laughter) (I know that you are nervous. I am nervous, too. We all feel the same.
Mayor, we have to make sure that our prosecutors are enough. Do you have
prosecutors here? Everytime I speak in public, the response is positive except when
I talk about Continuous Trial. It seems that they are in shock or have post-traumative
disorder because we are going through a big reform right now. If the prosecutors
are not enough, Mayor, I will already tell you the outcome. This is my prediction—
many criminal cases will be dismissed, right? Many of our judges will do that
because if the prosecutors are not ready in the first place, why file a case? So the
prosecutors—are they here? Are our prosecutors here? Did we invite them here?
Are you there?—please raise your hands. They do not want to.)
26
Kasi po, Mayor, hindi po tama sa paningin ko, nakakulong ang mga tao nang
napakatagal lalo na ‘yong detention prisoners dahil mabagal ang sistema. (You
know, Mayor, I think it is not right that some are in prison for a long time especially
the detention prisoners.) It is the duty of the government to make the system work.
It is not that of the detained accused. The detained accused has nothing to do with
the process. We must work together to make sure that either we have a speedy trial
where the rights of the accused are observed and the witnesses and the victims and
the victims’ families are able to present their case with enough evidence where we
either reach conviction or an acquittal. But it is fair for everybody that the system,
the litigation be speedy. Agree po ba ‘yong mga konsehal at mamamayan? (Do the
councilors and does everyone agree?)
Kung ito po talaga ang kailangan ng mamamayan, mabilis ang ating sistema,
pangungunahan po ng judiciary ‘yan. Kaya tignan ninyo naman po, at maawa po kayo
sa mga empleyado natin, mga mukhang kulang sa tulog. Hindi na po sila nakakatulog
nang husto kaya dagdag po kami nang dagdag ng mga stenographers. Iyong mga
contractual stenographers, ilang judges na ang humingi ng stenographers kasi ang
pangako ko sa inyo, basta’t kailangan ninyo, ibibigay ko po sa inyo kaagad, mga
contractual stenographers, para hindi na po kayo hirap na hirap. So, ‘yong mga
empleyado, magbalikatan po muna kayo kasi kailangan po nating patunayan sa
taong-bayan na tayo po ang nangunguna sa pag-improve ng justice system, at hindi
27
natin tatanggapin ang kakulangan ng tao at resources para bigyan ng katwiran ang
kabagalan ng hustisya. No excuses ang ating gagawin. Siyempre a little
understanding from the people kasi hindi po madali itong ginagawa namin. Kawawa
po ang mga empleyado. Kaya’t gusto ko na rin pong sabihin sa inyo, for the first time
in history, gumawa na po ako ng task force para pag-aralan ang overtime pay ng
lower court employees. (applause) Because for the longest time, Mayor, hindi kami
nagbabayad ng overtime pay na cash sa employees except na-ke-credit din ito sa
leave. Parang sa leave lang natin dinadaan. Papagurin kayo, tapos mag-li-leave kayo
e ‘di babagal din ‘yong trabaho sa korte. It is self-defeating. (If this is what the people
need, a speedy system, the judiciary will take the lead. Look at our employees, they
look sleep-deprived. They cannot sleep well, that is why we are adding more and
more stenographers. We have contractual stenographers—how many judges are
asking for stenographers because I promised you that I will immediately give you
what you need including contractual stenographers to lessen your burden. To the
employees, please help each other first because we need to prove the public that we
are leading the reforms to improve the justice system, and we will not accept the
lack of personnel and other resources as reasons for delayed justice. We will not
accept excuses. We also ask for a little understanding from the people because what
we are doing is not easy. Our employees are pitiful. That is why I want to tell you
that for the first time in history, I created a task force to study overtime pay for
lower court employees because for the longest time, Mayor, we do not give cash as
28
overtime pay for employees except for leave credits. We only give them leave
credits. You will get tired, you will go on leave, so work in the courts will be delayed.
It is self-defeating.)
So what I want to do is to find a way to pay overtime pay in cash to lower
court employees. (applause) In other words po, ginagawa namin ang lahat ng
paraan para sagutin ang inyong pangangailangan kasi tao rin po ako, naiintindihan
ko po ‘yong situation ninyo. Hirap na hirap na po kayo sa inyong mga trabaho. But
please, we are doing everything we can. I am also going to assure you na nag-usap
po kami ng mga employees associations ninyo—COSTRAPHIL (Court Stenographers
Association of the Philippines), PACSWI (Philippine Association of Court Social
Workers), PACE (Philippine Association of Court Employees). At ngayon ko lang
nalaman na gusto ninyo, na ayaw ninyo—well, dalawang version po ito. Pero sabi ko,
itutuloy nating hanapan ‘yong HMO (health maintenance organization) desire ninyo.
So ‘yon po, pinaghahanapan natin ng paraan ‘yan. Ngayong nakita ninyo na po na ang
lahat ng resources ay gagawin natin, para patunayan—Mayor, and you can hold us
accountable to this—it is not something that I am afraid of. I always have in me the
desire to hold us, the judiciary, accountable to the people. (So what I want to do is to
find a way to pay overtime pay in cash to lower court employees. In other words, we
are doing everything we can to solve your needs because I am also human. I
understand your situation. I know that you are having a hard time in your work. But
29
please, we are doing everything we can. I am also going to assure you that I am
talking to your employees associations—COSTRAPHIL, PACSWI, PACE. And I just
discovered that some of you want and some of you do not—well, there are two
versions. But I told them that we will continue to look for an HMO for you. We will
find a way. Now that you can see that we will use all resources to prove that, Mayor,
and you can hold us accountable to this—it is not something that I am afraid of. I
always have in me the desire to hold us, the judiciary, accountable to the people.)
Ngayon, ang pangatlo ko po naming adhikain ay isang mensahe lalong lalo na
sa mga judges at key officers ng courts. Alam ninyo po, tingin ko, ang building na ‘to
ay tatak Valenzuela, may tatak ni Pio Valenzuela. Kung alam ninyo po ang story ni
Pio Valenzuela, sabi ng ating historians, ‘yong rebolusyon natin laban sa España hindi
po po posible kung hindi nagkakaroon ng Dr. Pio Valenzuela na kasama sina Andres
Bonifacio at Emilio Jacinto ay nagbuo ng triumvirate that spread the message of
freedom and independence that the Katipunans stood for. He took heavy risks in
publishing the newspaper of the Katipunan named Kalayaan and upon the
suggestion of this doctor-revolutionary. When it failed, he was imprisoned in Spain
and in a Spanish-outpost in Africa. Biruin ninyo po ‘yong ninuno ninyo, tinapon sa
España at sa Africa. Nung nakabalik po siya noong 1899, ang mga Amerikano takot
pa rin sa kanya. Kinulong na naman siya. (Now, our third goal is a message especially
to judges and key officers of courts. You know, I think this building has that brand of
30
Valenzuela and Pio Valenzuela. If you know the life story of Pio Valenzuela,
according to our historians, our revolution against the Spaniards would not have
been possible if not for Dr. Pio Valenzuela who, together wil Andres Bonifacio and
Emilio Jacinto, formed a triumvirate that spread the message of freedom and
independence that the Katipunans stood for. He took heavy risks in publishing the
newspaper of the Katipunan named Kalayaan and upon the suggestion of this
doctor-revolutionary. When it failed, he was imprisoned in Spain and in a Spanish-
outpost in Africa. Imagine, your ancestor was exiled in Spain and Africa. When he
was able to go home in 1899, the Americans were still afraid of him. He was then
imprisoned again.)
He was again imprisoned because they thought he would again infect the
people with his revolutionary spirit. But the people of Polo elected him municipal
president, and the authorities had to bow down to the people’s will and released
him to you. He then served the people of his district as their leader from 1902 to
1919. Then, he served as governor of Bulacan for two terms from 1919 to 1925.
Ayon sa historian na si Karl Chua, imbes na yumaman sa pwesto, nagbenta pa
siya ng mga lupa at tumangging magpasuhol sa mga mang-jue-jueteng. Naging
matatag si Dr. Pio Valenzuela laban sa katiwalian. Kaya ang tatak Valenzuela ay
tatak ng matapang at matuwid na paglilingkod sa bayan. Congratulations po for
having such a brand. (According to historian Karl Chua, instead of getting rich while
31
in position, he sold lands and did not accept bribes from jueteng lords. Dr. Pio
Valenzuela stood his ground against corruption. That is why the leaders of
Valenzuela are known for brave and honest public service. Congratulations for
having such a brand.)
And to my fellow judges, when we took our oath of office, we also took some
difficult vows to uphold, you and I, to uphold the Constitution and Rule of Law first,
dictated never—and never—by political winds but by our conscience and the power
of our convictions; to remain incorruptible; to remain committed to the protection
of the weak and the rights and the dignity of every citizen; to zealously guard our
independence as jurists notwithstanding the political consequences. These are
challenging times, and it is difficult to keep on saying no to the powers that be but
this part of the sacred part for which we have made our vows. Daily, we recommit
ourselves to these, our sacred oaths. May the courage and convictions of Dr. Pio
Valenzuela and the great lives of the past generations be our guides. I am so proud
to be among you, Valenzuelans. And if all of these hopes turn into reality, I am
confident that Valenzuela City will not only be famous as the gateway to the North,
but it will be famous as the gateway to justice.
Mabuhay kayong lahat! (applause)
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