SC to make most of technology next year

Things are looking brighter for the Supreme Court in 2024 under Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo as it gears up to fully utilize modern technology.

Gesmundo, the 27th Chief Justice, said courts nationwide will accept electronic case filing, not only for the high court but also the lower courts.

"We expect the processing of cases will be expedited as we plan to use technology like the electronic case filing system which will be deployed by the middle of next year," he said.

Based on the data, Gesmundo said 3,711 court decisions were released as of 30 September 2023 — the disposition rate was 21 percent, up 19 percent from the 2022 clearance and 84 percent disposition rating.

Gesmundo said the disposition rate this year had improved and the use of technology next year will definitely improve all the processes.

The issue of bail for those who cannot afford it will also be taken up in 2024, which was one of the matters raised during the recent decongestion summit.

"This was one of the issues raised at the decongestion summit. The DoJ (Department of Justice) will revise the guidelines to lighten bail and the legislature will pass a new law where many cases will not need bail but there will be recognizance where a person will guarantee for the accused," Gesmundo said.

He said the summit was just the start as different agencies, as per agreement, will submit a final plan and wait for the passage by Congress of a new law that would pave the way for the improvement of jail facilities.

The summit was conducted to hear all the concerns of the stakeholders and for the judges to visit the facilities and see for themselves the conditions therein.

To expedite the release process, the stakeholders have sought the appointment of more judges, aside from the judges at large, to decongest the court dockets.

On the other hand, the Supreme Court's Office of the Judiciary Marshals is eying to start operations by the first quarter of next year.

The creation of the OJM is mandated under Republic Act 11691, or the Judiciary Marshals Act, which took effect in 2022.

Under the law, the OJM shall be primarily responsible for the security, safety, and protection of the members, officials, personnel, and properties of the judiciary, including the integrity of the courts and judicial proceedings.

Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez, who is overseeing the formation of the office, said the SC has opened the positions of Chief Marshal and three deputy marshals who will head the office.

The budget for the OJM, according to Marquez, is P200 million.

"They will be vetted, including their background, capacities and abilities. We have to start this right, bring in the best individuals to head this office. So hopefully by the first quarter next year we can appoint key officials. From there, we would gradually build up the judicial marshal's office," Marquez said.

The OJM is one of the goals of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, which is a brainchild of Gesmundo.

The SPJI lays down the plans, objectives and goals of the Court to increase efficiency, innovation, and access in the judiciary during the five-year period.

The qualifications for the Chief Marshal post are: natural-born citizen of the Philippines; preferably a member of the Philippine Bar; at least a full Colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines or Philippine National Police or Assistant Director of the National Bureau of Investigation; with experience in investigation in all instances

The deputy marshals will be assigned in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. The qualifications are: natural-born citizen of the Philippines; at least a full Colonel in the AFP or PNP or Assistant Regional Director of the NBI; with experience in investigation in all instances.

The SC noted that under Sections 7 and 8 of the Judiciary Marshals Act, a Chief Marshal or Deputy Marshal may be appointed despite not having been a full Colonel in the AFP, PNP, or NBI, if he or she has a proven track record and adequate experience in investigation and law enforcement.