Sereno hosts ASEAN chief justices meeting in Boracay

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno served as this year's host of the two-day ASEAN meeting of chief magistrates in Boracay aiming for greater judicial cooperation.

The lone female chief justice, Sereno called to order the meeting on Monday involving  six other chief justices, the Supreme Court vice presidents of Camboadia and Laos and a senior associate justice from Thailand.

Guam Chief Justice Robert Torres Jr., who has Filipino roots, was also invited by the Philippines' Supreme Court, is also attending the sessions.

Participants are expected to discuss outstanding cross-border judicial issues and improve information-sharing and best practices in the use of technology.

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The meeting comes as the 10-nation bloc prepares for integration, which poses challenges to the judiciaries of the involved countries.

Filipino Supreme Court associate justices are also present in the event, the third of its kind since the 2013 meeting held in Singapore.

The Supreme Court en banc, meanwhile, remains in full force except for two associate magistrates on official leave, the high court announced.

On Friday, Senate President Franklin Drilon urged magistrates and leading ASEAN law practitioners to learn how to successfully navigate multiple legal jurisdictions.

"Full ASEAN integration poses a challenge to every ASEAN member country. The existing legal framework may not be sufficient for the region to achieve a completely free exchange of goods and services," Drilon said at the ASEAN Law Association Assembly.

Drilon also proposed a liberalization of  the legal profession allowing foreign lawyers to practice in the country.

"This proposal for liberalization allows for collaborative work between Filipino and foreign lawyers where the matter or transaction involved both domestic and foreign law," he said.