Velasco gets support from fraternity

New Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco will perform his duties and dispense justice in a manner expected of a member of the highest court of the land, his fraternity brothers in the Sigma Rho council have vowed.

This was the commitment they made as the UP College of Law fraternity feted Velasco on his appointment as the 15th member of the Supreme Court in cocktails held at the Manila Golf Club in Makati City Thursday night.

"The best gift that we can give to our fraternity brother, Justice Velasco, is not to approach him on anything that would compromise his principles and independence as associate justice of the Supreme Court," Senate President Franklin Drilon, the highest serving public official among Sigma Rhoans, said in congratulating Velasco.

Among the prominent members who attended the occasion were Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez, former congressman Ronnie Cosalan, Court of Appeals ustices Noel Tijam, Rory Carandang, Ching Veloso, Pol Brusuelas and Hakim Abdulwahid, and a number of trial court judges and colleagues in the legal community.

"You deserve to be appointed as associate justice of the Supreme Court. We truly believe that you can contribute in enriching the jurisprudence in law," Drilon told Velasco.

Drilon noted that Sigma Rhoans have been fortunate to have brothers who they can turn to for help, including those holding political positions in government, like him, but there is restraint in Velasco’s situation, because of the sensitive nature of his appointment.

"On my part, I will refrain from approaching you . . . except those that will affect our country," Drilon quipped, eliciting laughter from their fraternity colleagues. The Senate president is a staunch critic of the move to amend the constitution, either through constituent assembly or people’s initiative, which is expected to be brought before the Supreme Court.

Upon assuming his new post, Velasco will have to immediately attend to the resolution of some four hundred cases filed in the Supreme Court.

He also has other continuing tasks within the Action Program for Judicial Reforms (APJR) of which he was at the forefront since APJR’s implementation during the time of ex-Chief Justice Davide. Other projects that still need Velasco’s leadership and stewardship are the Case Administration Management Information System (CAMIS), the CaseFlow Management (CFM) and the establishment of the pilot Regional Court Administration Office (RCAO) in Judicial Region 7 (Cebu Province), and the implementation of the guidelines on pre-trial and different modes of discovery and deposition.

In an interview, Velasco vowed to would work for the expeditious resolution of cases filed before the tribunal.

"I have been a staunch advocate of the three E’s of justice–efficient, effective and expeditious delivery of justice. I believe that justice delayed is injustice. For my new position, I would expect work, work and more work," said Velasco.

Velasco, who would vacate his position as Court Administrator, was appointed by President Arroyo to assume the seat vacated by now Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban.

"I am very happy. I think this is God’s way of giving me what He wants me to be," he said, even as he vowed that he would continue to deliver public service to apply what the law really is to the people.

Velasco also made an appeal to the practicing lawyers to apply for 30 percent vacant positions in the bench.

"What we want to do is really to appeal to the lawyers for them to apply for positions in the bench because we lack lawyers, and the national prosecution service has 32 percent vacancy," he said.