Access to justice is not merely a legal principle but "literally, a court that travels to a person who cannot travel to it," Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said, stressing that the justice system must reach even the country's most isolated and marginalized communities.

Leonen made the remarks as he accepted an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Saint Louis University, where he challenged future lawyers to use the law as a tool for justice, inclusion and public service.

Addressing graduates, Leonen said members of the legal profession have a responsibility to ensure that justice reaches every Filipino, especially those living in remote communities.

"Access to justice is not a phrase you cite in a pleading. It is, quite literally, a court that travels to a person who cannot travel to it," he said.

Leonen cited the municipality of Simunul in Tawi-Tawi, where the judiciary has used digital technology to connect litigants with trial courts located across the sea.

Through satellite internet and remote court hearings, he said residents who previously could not afford to travel by boat can now participate in judicial proceedings without leaving their communities.

The initiative, he said, shows how technology, when used responsibly, can remove barriers that have long prevented many Filipinos from obtaining justice.

At the same time, Leonen emphasized that technology should remain a tool rather than a substitute for human judgment.

He also discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence, cautioning future lawyers against relying blindly on the technology.

"A machine can do law, but it cannot do justice, because justice is not a computation," Leonen said.

He urged graduates to master emerging technologies while ensuring that decisions affecting people's rights remain subject to accountable human judgment.

Beyond technology, Leonen encouraged graduates to develop a critical understanding of society and reject the idea that existing institutions should always be accepted without question.

He distinguished the "rule of law" from the "rule by law," saying the legal system must always be guided by justice rather than the interests of those who wield power.

Leonen also pointed to the country's continuing literacy crisis, noting that millions of Filipinos remain unable to read and fully understand written material.

He said those privileged to receive an education have a responsibility to expand opportunities for others.

The senior associate justice likewise cautioned against choosing convenience over fairness, warning that justice is often denied when institutions prioritize efficiency at the expense of people, particularly the poor and marginalized.

Quoting Brazilian educator Paulo Freire's concept of "critical consciousness," Leonen urged graduates to become lawyers who question injustice, defend the vulnerable and use the law to promote genuine social change.

He ended his address by reminding graduates that freedom and justice ultimately depend on people's own actions.

"Walang magpapalaya sa atin kung hindi tayo mismo" ("No one will free us but ourselves"), Leonen said.