Timely challenge

"Reform or perish" may be a little bit intimidating but very fitting and timely warning at this time.I just hope the message will be heard loud and clear particularly by our politicians who can’t seem to forgo in the meantime their political maneuverings for an election that may not materialize if the "perish" warning occurs ahead of time.

But even before this challenge to reform, there has already been an ongoing project "to change for the better" silently being carried out in another branch of our government. While the political branches are still having difficulty awakening to the necessity of undertaking reforms, an "Action Program for Judicial Reform" (APJR) has already been approved by the Supreme Court on December 8, 2000. Beginning 2001, a committee has been formed headed by Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide himself to handle the day to day implementation of APJR with a wide ranging and comprehensive set of reform projects aimed at "enhancing judicial conditions and performance for the improved delivery of judicial services".

The six-year APJR is the main focus in the latest book of Supreme Court Justice Artemio V. Panganiban whose commitment to public accountability and transparency is manifested by the six books he has written so far for every year of his service in the highest tribunal starting 1997.His first book is Justice and Faith followed by Battles in the Supreme Court (1998), then Leadership by Example: The Davide Standard (1999); Transparency, Unanimity & Diversity(2000); and A Centenary of Justice (2001). Entitled Reforming the Judiciary this latest book of Justice Panganiban explains the blue print of judicial reforms expected to be accomplished in six years and narrates the on-going efforts in their implemention.In the words of Justice Romeo J. Callejo, Sr., "the book bridges what would otherwise be a yawning abyss between Olympus and dwelling place of citizens by one who sits on the Supreme Court itself" as he "reaches out to the public and through its pages gives them a feel of the rhythm of the Court’s heart".

What is most reassuring about the APJR is that even the highest court of the land is not oblivious to the reality that there may be flaws in the judiciary which need fixing. The Court’s supremacy and superiority on matters concerning its own turf is enough reason for the Justices to remain unperturbed in their ivory towers. It is so easy for them to ignore the critics and what they perceived to be wrong in the judiciary. But they kept their minds and hearts open and found seven critical issues that must be addressed by the APJR through tangible projects – case congestion and delay, budget deficiencies, politicized system for judicial appointments, lack of judicial autonomy, need for re-engineering the human resource development system, dysfunctional administrative structure and operating systems due to deficient court technologies and facilities, and the need to improve public information and collaboration with civil society.

The projects undertaken under the APJR hopes to achieve in six years’ time: the delivery of speedy and fair dispensation of justice to all; judicial autonomy and independence from political interference; improved access to judicial and legal services; improved quality of external inputs and judicial process; efficient, effective and continuously improving judicial institutions; and a judiciary that conducts its business with dignity, integrity, accountability and transparency.

Whatever is our perception or impression of the judiciary and people in judicial robes, the future looks rosy for our justice system because the institution in charge of making it work has seen the need for reform and improvement. Such attitude calls for understanding and cooperation by all sectors. The work of the men and women of the bench are tough and formidable.Their caseloads are heavy but their compensation are not commensurate and their working conditions unsatisfactory.Sometimes their lives are exposed to danger as they try to move the wheels of justice. In the last few years five judges have died in the line of duty.

To be sure, there are bills in Congress supporting genuine judicial reforms, particularly those introduced in the Committee of Justice and Human Rights chaired by Senator Francis N. Pangilinan and likewise in the lower house by Congressman Allan Peter Cayetano. But they have not yet been acted upon by the body.Even the proposed appropriations for the judiciary is being pruned to an amount below the previous year’s budget of P7.651 billion to P7.611 billion.

If our legislators are really sincere in heeding the call for reforms, it’s tme for them to pass those pending bills. They should also not tinker with the budget of the judiciary by pruning it. Instead they should consider increasing it for the needed judicial reforms being undertaken by the Supreme Court.

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