Chief Justice Gesmundo: OCA is a Strong Partner in Judicial Reform
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo delivers a message before officials and personnel of the Office of the Court Administrator in celebration of their 48th Founding Anniversary held on November 17, 2023 at the Old Building of the Supreme Court in Ermita, Manila. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo extolled the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) as the Court’s strong partner not just in administratively supervising thousands of trial courts around the country, but in pursuing the path of reform that it has laid out for the Judiciary during OCA’s 48th Founding Anniversary Celebration held on November 17, 2023 at the Old Building of the Supreme Court in Ermita, Manila.
“Our reform agenda, the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 or the SPJI, has just finished its first year of implementation, during which we were able to accomplish key milestones and projects—a feat only made possible by the coordinated and dedicated efforts of the entire Judiciary, led by offices like the Office of the Court Administrator,” the Chief Justice highlighted.
Consistent with this year’s theme, “OCA @ 48: Partners in the Quest for Judicial Innovations and Reforms,” Chief Justice Gesmundo cited OCA’s instrumental role to achieve the SPJI’s vision: a Judiciary that is responsive to the people who comprise it and to the people it serves; a Judiciary that is efficient, innovative, and accessible; and a Judiciary that delivers justice in real time.
“Sa inyong lahat, para sa inyong tapat at mahusay na paglilingkod sa ating mga korte at sa buong Hudikatura: maraming, maraming salamat,” Chief Justice Gesmundo said in his message before OCA officials and personnel.
The Chief Justice also praised OCA officials and personnel for their collective efforts and individual contributions to conduct an outreach program on November 16, 2023 as one of their anniversary projects. OCA officials, led by Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, visited Strike Halfway House in Bacoor, Cavite and Silang Bahay Pag-asa in Silang, Cavite and educated the Children in Conflict with the Law housed therein about their rights and distributed shoes, shirts, toiletries, and snacks.
Joining the Chief Justice during the anniversary celebration were Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Clerk of Court En Banc Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas, Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino, Deputy Court Administrator Leo T. Madrazo, Assistant Court Administrator Lilian C. Barribal-Co, Assistant Court Administrator Maria Regina Adoracion Filomena M. Ignacio, and other OCA officials.
Simultaneous with the celebration, OCA also directed all judges and clerks of court of first and second level courts nationwide to undertake an inventory of civil and criminal cases, especially those involving persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and set them for hearing or promulgation under its National Judgment Day Program. Last year, the 2022 National Judgment Day was held on November 16, 2022. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
(Seated, 3rd from left) Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, joined by (seated, 2nd from left) Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, poses for posterity with some officials and personnel from the Office of the Court Administrator, led by (seated, leftmost) Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, during OCA’s celebration of their 48th Founding Anniversary held on November 17, 2023 at the Old Building of the Supreme Court in Ermita, Manila. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva lectures on Republic Act No. 10630 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act before Children in Conflict with the Law during the Office of the Court Administrator’s outreach program at Strike Halfway House in Bacoor, Cavite on November 16, 2023, in celebration of OCA’s 48th Founding Anniversary Celebration. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) officials and personnel, led by (second from right) Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, pose for posterity with Mayor Kevin A. Anarna (fifth from right) after the outreach program conducted by OCA at Silang Bahay Pag-asa in Silang, Cavite on November 16, 2023 in celebration of OCA’s 48th Founding Anniversary. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
