SC @ 122: Acting Chief Justice Leonen Speaks on Social Justice
June 9, 2023
Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen underscored the importance of doing away with the usual procedures and bureaucracies and embracing technology “to show that justice can be done better, more efficiently” in his message during the celebration of the 122nd Founding Anniversary of the Supreme Court (SC) today at the SC-Court of Appeals Gymnasium in Ermita, Manila.
“We have to prepare ourselves so that we as a bureaucracy, starting from the Supreme Court leading the entire Judiciary, can show that we can adapt,” he said.
Acting Chief Justice Leonen also spoke about the SC’s reform programs under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, citing the National Legal Aid Summit, the 1st National Shari’ah Summit, the Guidelines on the Use of Gender–Fair Language in the Judiciary and Gender-Fair Courtroom Etiquette, and the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, among others.
Despite the Court’s achievements, however, Acting Chief Justice Leonen says that majority of Filipinos still suffer from “poverty, inequality, and disempowerment.” These problems, he said, must be replaced with “human dignity and social justice,” pursuant to the Constitution.
In closing, Acting Chief Justice Leonen implored his fellow SC Justices, as well as Court officials and employees: “Our people suffer and they have suffered for centuries. During our watch, while we are here, while we are not yet part of the legacy of the Court, we must do what we can. We should not fail them.”
Themed Korte Suprema: Kaagapay sa Pagtahak sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago sa Mundo ng Teknolohiya, this year’s celebration kicked off with outreach activities.
The SC offices were grouped into clusters and respective charitable organizations to give donations to, namely: Cluster 1: Office of the Chief Justice, Offices of the Associate Justices, and Public Information Office – Elsie Gaches Village, Muntinlupa City; Cluster 2: Fiscal Management and Budget Office – Asilo de San Vicente, Manila; Cluster 3: Office of the Clerk of Court En Banc, Office of the Division Clerks of Court, and Judicial Records Office – Asilo de San Vicente, Manila and UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Pediatric Ward; Cluster 4: Office of the Court Administrator and Judicial Integrity Board – Cribs Foundation, Rizal; Cluster 5: Philippine Judicial Academy, Judicial and Bar Council, Program Management Office, and Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Office – Bahay Aruga, Manila; Cluster 6: Office of the Bar Confidant, Office of the Reporter, and Office of the Chief Attorney – San Vicente de Paul Parish, Manila and UP-PGH; Cluster 7: Medical and Dental Services, Printing Services, Management Information Systems Office, and Library Services – Duyan Program (Cradling Children with HIV); and Cluster 8: Office of Administrative Services – Don Bosco Technical College-Technical Vocational Education and Training students.
The festivities started with a Thanksgiving Mass, followed by a short program which included a raffle, performances, and a talent contest participated in by SC employees. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)