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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;

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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

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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,

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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

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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

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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.)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)