Philippine Judicial and Bar Council Holds Interactive Session with Filipino Community

Secretary of Justice Vitaliano N. Aguirre speaks about reforms in the judicial and legal system at the Interactive Session.

25 April 2017 NEW YORK – Members of the Philippine Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) led by Ex-officio member Secretary of Justice Vitaliano N. Aguirre held an Interactive Session with members of the Filipino-American Community organized by the Philippine Consulate General in New York on April 18 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center as part of the Consulate’s continuing commitment to provide platforms for the community to interact with senior officials and policy-makers in government.

The session focused on the Philippine Government’s initiatives to improve the judiciary and justice system in particular on the screening and selection of members of the Judicial Branch, the liberalization of law practice in the Philippines, and the future of cross border practice of law.

Secretary Aguirre provided the participants with updates on major cases of public interest in the Philippines while Justice Sandoval Gutierrez shared her views on liberalization of law practice in the Philippines and cross border practice.

JBC Regular member Atty. Fernan-Cayosa discussed challenges in the screening and nomination process for members of the judiciary. Congressman Umali also spoke of the legislative initiatives which may need to be undertaken to further improve the justice system. Atty. Mejia spoke of the critical role of the academe and further training for judges and justices. Judge Ilao, a career jurist explained the critical role played by the JBC in ensuring that persons chosen to sit on the bench are of utmost competence, probity, and integrity.

At least 60 members of the Filipino-American community, most from the legal profession, shared their insights on the justice system and the practice of law in the Philippines with the JBC members. Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. joined the open forum at the event.

The JBC Delegation is undertaking meetings and consultations with counterpart Judicial nomination commissions and other related bodies in the US to further enhance the judicial nomination process in the Philippines.

The other members of the JBC joining Secretary Aguirre were Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali, Ex-Officio member representing the House of Representatives, retired Supreme Court Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez representing the retired justices of the Supreme Court, Atty. Jose v. Mejia representing the academe, Atty. Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and Judge Toribio Ilao, Jr. representing the private sector.

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHConsulateNY. END

From left: L. Locsin, Jr., Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, and Judge Toribio Ilao (photo by NYPCG)