JELAC FORMED. Calling it a “historic moment in our democracy,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signs a memorandum of agreement that forms the Judicial Executive Legislative Council (JELAC). Witnessing the signing are (from back L-R) Senator Francis Pangilinan, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and House Majority Floor Leader Arthur Defensor; (front L-R) Speaker Prospero Nograles, Vice President Noli de Castro, Senate President Manuel Villar, and Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Photo taken by LIRA D. FERNANDEZ/INQUIRER.NET
MANILA, Philippines -- Calling it a "historic moment in our constitutional democracy," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led leaders of the three branches of government in the signing of the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC) Tuesday.
The JELAC will work together to institutionalize "consultation, cooperation, and coordination in pursuit of the rule of law and the advancement of our nation," the President said in her opening statement.
Signing for the judiciary branch was Chief Justice Reynato Puno and for the legislative branch Senate President Manuel Villar and Speaker Prospero Nograles.
Witnesses to the signing were Vice President Noli de Castro, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Senator Francis Pangilinan, and House Majority Floor Leader Arthur Defensor, Sr.
Holding their first meeting after the signing, Pangilinan said the council agreed to prioritize budgetary support for the judiciary. He said there was an agreement to work on allocating a 20 percent increase in the judiciary's budget to raise the salary of government lawyers and upgrade the capability of the courts to make them more responsive to the needs of the people.
"By the legislative and executive action, the beneficiary of the JELAC is the judiciary," he told reporters in an interview.
Senate President Manuel Villar said the greater aim of JELAC would be to make the three branches work together for the people.
Asked if specific issues like extrajudicial killings and press freedom were discussed as among the priorities, Villar said he believed that the council would tackle them in the coming days.
Puno said he reviewed the structure of the JELAC and found nothing that would lead to an encroachment on each other’s independence.
While the separation of powers of the three co-equal branches of government is mandated in the Constitution, the President said this should not mean they could not work together.
"Separation does not mean isolation. Rather, among our co-equal branches, there should be consultation and cooperation to advance shared priorities in the national interest and welfare of all Filipinos" she said.
"We envision JELAC to be the venue where representatives of the three branches can identify issues pertaining to the primacy of the rule of law and formulate and undertake solutions to strengthen due process and the institutions of justice, and implement our laws better," Arroyo said.
"The JELAC's mandate is centered on the rule of law," she said.
The agreement signed showed a section specific to the judiciary.
Under the agreement, the council is mandated to formulate solutions to the budget of the judiciary, its infrastructure requirements, creation of new positions and filling of vacancies, career development programs, compensation and security of judicial officials, and security of tenure of judicial personnel.
The council will be composed of nine members, with the President sitting as chairperson and the following as members: Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, Chief Justice, one member of the Cabinet to be designated by the President, one member of the Senate to be designated by the Senate President, one member of the House of Representatives to be designated by the Speaker, and one member of the Supreme Court to be designated by the Chief Justice.
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