Philippine Judiciary Participates in 2023 CACJ Retreat Meeting and 14th ASEAN Law Association General Assembly; to Host Next Year’s CACJ Meeting and ALA General Council Meeting
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines led a delegation from the Philippine Judiciary who took part in the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices (CACJ) Retreat Meeting 2023 and the 14th ASEAN Law Association (ALA) General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
With the Chief Justice were Supreme Court Associate Justices Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Mario V. Lopez, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Maria Filomena D. Singh.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (fifth from left) joins his fellow Chief Justices from the ASEAN Region Judiciaries and the Heads of the ASEAN Law Association during the welcome reception in conjunction with the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices Retreat Meeting 2023 & the 14th ASEAN Law Association General Assembly on October 18, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Courtesy of the Office of the Chief Justice)
The CACJ traces its origins to the inaugural ASEAN Chief Justices Meeting held on August 23, 2013. It provides a regular forum for the Chief Justices to discuss and exchange views on common issues facing the ASEAN Judiciaries. The CACJ also serves as a platform to promote close relations and build mutual understanding among the ASEAN Judiciaries. In addition, the CACJ facilitates judicial cooperation and collaboration to enhance economic growth and development of the ASEAN region.
The ALA General Assembly, on the other hand, involves representatives from all 10 ASEAN countries: the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Held once every three years, the general assembly aims to promote regional cooperation among lawyers’ organizations, law faculties, legal research centers, and similar institutions within the ASEAN region.
The CACJ Retreat Meeting 2023 and the 14th ALA General Assembly were held from October 18 to October 21, 2023.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (4th from right, first row) with the Supreme Court Associate Justices and the other delegates of ALA Philippines pose for posterity at the 14th ASEAN Law Association General Assembly on October 19, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Courtesy of the Office of the Chief Justice)
Also with the Supreme Court Associate Justices attending the 14th ALA General Assembly were Court of Appeals Associate Justices Ramon M. Bato, Jr. and Rogelio G. Largo; Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Michael Frederick L. Musngi, Geraldine Faith A. Econg; Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Marian Ivy F. Reyes-Fajardo; retired Chief Justice and ALA Philippines President Artemio V. Panganiban; retired Senior Associate Justice and ALA Philippines Officer of the National Committee Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe; Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino; and Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Atty. Laura C.H. Del Rosario.
At the Convening of the ALA 14th General Assembly on October 19, 2023, retired Chief Justice and ALA Philippines President Artemio V. Panganiban announced that Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo will be the incoming President of ALA Philippines in 2024 and conveyed that the Philippines is willing to host the 45th ALA Governing Council Meeting next year.
During the CACJ Retreat Discussion on October 20, 2023, it was agreed among the ASEAN Chief Justices that the Philippines shall host the 11th CACJ Meeting in 2024.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo participates in the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices Retreat Discussion on October 20, 2023. (Courtesy of the CACJ Secretariat)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo arrives at the Istana Kehakiman (Palace of Justice) in Putrajaya, Malaysia on October 19, 2023. (Courtesy of the CACJ Secretariat)
The 2023 Council of ASEAN Chief Justices Retreat Delegates, which includes Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, pose for posterity the Istana Kehakiman (Palace of Justice) in Putrajaya, Malaysia on October 19, 2023. (Courtesy of the CACJ Secretariat)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo signs the newly launched Council of ASEAN Chief Justices (CACJ) “Commemorative Stamp Collection” during the Commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the CACJ at the Istana Kehakiman (Palace of Justice) in Putrajaya, Malaysia on October 19, 2023. (Courtesy of the Office of the Chief Justice)
(From left to right) – H.E. Nguyen Tri Tue (Standing Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam); H.E. Khoun Phasouk (Vice President of the People’s Supreme Court of Lao PDR); The Hon. Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong Wan Oon (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam); The Hon. Alexander G. Gesmundo (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines); The Hon. Sundaresh Menon (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Singapore); The Hon. Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat (Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia and CACJ Chair); The Hon. Anocha Chevitsophon (President of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Thailand); The Hon. Chief Justice Muhammad Syarifuddin (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia); H.E. Justice You Ottara (Vice-President of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Cambodia); and The Hon. Thar Htay (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Union of Myanmar). (Courtesy of the CACJ Secretariat)
