PH Chief Justice, DOJ, DILG Officials Visit Spain for Study
From left: DILG Undersecretary Bernardo Florece, Jr., Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, Acting Chief Justice Carlos Lesmes Serrano, Ambassador to Spain Philippe J. Lhuillier, General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) spokesperson and magistrate of the Supreme Court Mr. Rafael Fernández Valverd, and DOJ Undersecretary Adrian Sugay. (Madrid PE photo)
MADRID 15 October 2019 – A high-level justice and law enforcement delegation from the Philippines held an official visit to Madrid to study Spain’s justice system from 16 to 22 September 2019.
The 16-member delegation was led by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Peace and Order Bernardo Florece Jr., Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin, and Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary for Law Enforcement Adrian Ferdinand Sugay.
During their visit, the delegation attended several briefings at various Spanish government institutions concerning the workings of the country’s justice system, which is highlighted by its decentralized structure and the division of powers and responsibilities among the numerous agencies involved in law enforcement and justice administration.
The Philippine officials were received by senior officials from the Spanish judiciary led by Acting Chief Justice Carlos Lesmes Serrano, who heads both the Spanish Tribunal Supremo (Supreme Court) and the Consejo General del Poder Judicial (General Council of the Judiciary). The latter agency is responsible for selecting, training, promoting, and providing posts for Spanish judges.
The meeting was followed by a visit to the Fiscalía General del Estado (State Attorney-General), where the Philippine delegation met with Chief Prosecutor and Head of the Support Unit Francisco Moreno Carrasco.
The delegation’s itinerary also included a call on the Spanish Ministry of Justice and the
President of the Audiencia Nacional (National High Court), and a visit to two of Spain’s most prominent law enforcement institutions, the Policía Nacional (National Police) and Guardia Civil (Civil Guard).
The visit was funded and organized under the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme of the Philippines and the European Union. Throughout the visit, the delegation was supported by the Embassy under Ambassador to Madrid Philippe J. Lhuillier. END
The Philippine delegation, led by Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, in front of the Spanish Supreme Court in Madrid. (Madrid PE photo)
The Philippine delegation meets with the Chief Prosecutor and Head of the Support Unit under the Office of the Attorney-General Mr. Francisco Moreno Carrasco (third from right, first row). (Madrid PE photo)
Officials from Spain’s General Council of the Judiciary brief the Philippine delegates on the details of Spain’s justice system. (Madrid PE photo)
Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin (right) meets with the President of the Audiencia Nacional, Mr. José Ramón Navarro Miranda (left). (Madrid PE photo)
The Philippine delegates with senior officials from Spain’s Guardia Civil, after being given a tour of their headquarters. (Madrid PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.madripe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassymadrid.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSpain/.