The members of the Judicial and Bar Council.
MANILA, Philippines—On Day 3 of the Judicial and Bar Council’s interview, the panel heard again proposals for unclogging the court dockets and increasing compensation of court officials and personnel from the nominees for the Chief Justice position.
The JBC panel quizzed two Supreme Court Associate Justices – acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro – and two law deans -University of the East Dean Amado Valdez and former Ateneo Law Dean Cesar Villanueva.
Carpio and De Castro
Both high court justices believe that mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution can be an effective means of speedy dispensation of justice and clearing court dockets of cases that need not go to tedious full blown trial.
“I asked the Philja (Philippine Judicial Academy) to determine how much to resolve case through mediation compared to trial (but) I am sure it is much cheaper and the cost of mediation is paid for by the parties,” Carpio said.
Carpio said he would ask Congress for funds for the establishment of mediation center.
Mediation is one of the alternative dispute resolutions that is resorted to resolve a controversy other than by adjudication of a judge.
De Castro, meanwhile, said alternative dispute resolution could be a measure to reduce if not eradicate clogs in courts.
“We need to improve adjudication of cases as our main priority. Congestion of dockets has been a problem since the ’70s,” De Castro said.
Valdez and Villanueva
Valdez stressed on the need to equip judges and inspire them.
He called for the establishment of “integrity councils” and proposed mandatory legal aid service for judiciary members.
Villanueva, on the other hand, said judges and justices should be paid well.
“If we want good justice system, we must pay them well,” Villanueva said.
When asked about his priorities if ever appointed, Villanueva said his priorities are 1) unite the Supreme Court 2) study road map for the judiciary 3)ease case loads of judges and justices.
Friday will be the last day of interview of candidates for the Chief Justice post.
Facing the panel are Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco and Maria Lourdes Sereno, Securities and Exchange Commission chair Teresita Herbosa and former San Juan Congressman Ronaldo Zamora.