The Supreme Court (SC) has appointed the first-ever Deputy Marshals of the Office of the Judiciary Marshal (OJM), tasked with safeguarding court officials, personnel, premises, and critical judicial operations nationwide.

Out of 118 applicants screened since mid-2024, only three emerged to take on the role of Deputy Marshals for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The SC, in its En Banc session, announced on Friday that retired Major General Joel Napoleon M. Coronel, retired Colonel Randy O. Remonte, and former NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric B. Distor were selected to support Chief Marshal Manuel R. Gaerlan in leading this newly operational unit.

Their selection followed months of neuro-psychological and medical evaluations, and a final round of interviews with Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Associate Justices in January and February this year. They officially took their oath on 27 June 2025 at the SC Session Hall in Manila.

“The appointment of our Deputy Marshals is a milestone under our Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027,” the Court said in a statement.

The Office of the Judiciary Marshal was established to ensure court security and judicial integrity, a reform long sought by the SC to better protect its members and maintain the rule of law.

Battle-tested and Bar-certified

Each of the newly appointed deputy marshals brings with them a wealth of experience and decorated careers in public service.

Deputy Marshal Joel Coronel, who will oversee Luzon, served in both the Philippine Constabulary and the PNP. A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA, Class of 1987), he went on to hold high-ranking positions including Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Regional Director for Central Luzon. A lawyer since 1998 and former security consultant to the SC during recent Bar Exams, Coronel has also been recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines in 1997.

Retired Colonel Randy Remonte, designated for the Visayas, served almost 30 years in the Armed Forces. He graduated from PMA (Class of 1993), obtained a law degree from UP in 2008, and trained in national defense in Spain. Prior to his retirement in 2023, he served as the Provost Marshal of the Philippine Army, reviewing hundreds of military investigation reports. In 2023, he also led the ROTC unit at UP Diliman and was tapped by the Insurance Commission as a liquidator.

For Mindanao, Deputy Marshal Eric Distor brings extensive investigative credentials from his time at the NBI, where he played a central role in anti-drug and intelligence operations. Notably, he led the 2022 operation that yielded the country’s biggest shabu haul at PHP 11 billion. A lawyer and CPA, Distor holds degrees in business administration and law, and has additional licenses in real estate and insurance.

Protecting justice on the ground

The Judiciary Marshal Service is expected to professionalize and centralize court protection services across the archipelago. Its officers will secure courtrooms and justice halls, escort high-risk detainees, protect witnesses, and ensure order during high-profile judicial proceedings.

The SC emphasized that the operationalization of the OJM is in line with its long-term reforms to modernize and protect the judiciary.

By deploying highly trained and legally qualified deputy marshals to the country’s three major regions, the Court is sending a strong message that the safety of the judiciary is not only a logistical matter but a pillar of judicial independence.

With this move, the Supreme Court continues its commitment to safeguarding those who serve justice, ensuring that court officers, litigants, and the public can rely on a judiciary that is not only impartial but protected and prepared.