By Benjamin Pulta/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin on Tuesday urged court officials and workers throughout the country to stand by the independence of the judiciary and its role of dispensing justice to everyone.
Speaking at the 118th anniversary of the Supreme Court (SC), Bersamin thanked all magistrates and court personnel in supporting his four-point agenda he spelled out when he assumed the judiciary’s highest post.
These are the revision of the rules of court to expedite proceedings, improvement of the physical structure of the courts to make them more accessible to the people, enhancement of the selection process in the appointments to the judiciary, and eradication of corruption and other irregularities in the courts and in the legal profession.
“Ang totoo, napakarami na tayong dinaanan na mga pagsubok at paghamon sa ating Hudikatura. Sa wari ko, nalampasan at nadaig naman natin ang mga ito. Ang tagumpay ay kaya natin ipagpatuloy sa pagharap natin sa mga darating pa na pagsubok at paghamon kung tayo ay magkaisa at magkapit-bisig (The truth is we have gone through a lot of tests and challenges to our judiciary. As I see it, we have surpassed all these challenges. We can continue achieving success as we face more challenges together),” the Chief Justice said.
He said the judiciary has passed all the challenges against its integrity and unity “and these challenges honed the judiciary in effectively fulfilling its role of dispensing justice and upholding the rule of law.”
“Bilang inyong Punong Mahistrado, ako ay buong tiwala na ipagpatuloy natin ang ating samahan at pagkakapit-bisig, at tiyak ko na walang dahilan na hindi tayo magtatagumpay sa mga pagsubok at hamon na darating (As your Chief Justice, I fully trust that we will continue our good relations and working together, I am sure that there is no reason why we won’t succeed and surpass all forthcoming challenges),” he added.
The country’s judiciary was created on June 11, 1901 by the United States Philippine Commission Act 136, which provided for the “Organization of Courts in the Philippine Islands” headed by the SC – with trial courts in the provinces and municipalities.
Various courts were subsequently put up by amendatory laws to expand and enhance the judiciary’s jurisdictions on issues and cases that may be brought before the courts for adjudication.
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