Marquez vows judiciary workers get priority

Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez vows to restructure court staffing patterns, standardize employee benefits, and rationalize compensation across the entire judiciary if chosen as the next Chief Justice.

This vision highlights his strategy to revitalize the judicial branch as he emerges as a contender for the 28th Chief Justice of the Philippines, backed by two key nominations from esteemed members of the legal community.

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion and the Association of Retired Regional Trial Court Judges of the Philippines have formally nominated Justice Marquez to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

The endorsements heavily highlight Marquez’s historic 11-year tenure as Court Administrator (2010–2021), during which he managed day-to-day operations and welfare for all lower courts nationwide.

During his JBC interview, Marquez unveiled a comprehensive five-year judicial reform plan that explicitly highlights court officials and employees as the judiciary’s most valuable asset.

Drawing from his experience defending the judiciary’s annual budget before Congress, Marquez committed to leveraging legislative frameworks — specifically Republic Act 12233, or the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act — to uplift court workers.

Reforms ready

Marquez also aims to implement major institutional personnel reforms such as salary and benefit rationalization. He intends to review, equalize, and standardize employee benefits across the entire judicial system to guarantee fair compensation for all ranks.

He also proposes a comprehensive study to implement standardized allowances for judges nationwide, reducing the judiciary’s reliance on localized, disparate arrangements currently provided by various local government units.

The magistrate also pledged to improve working conditions and strengthen employee wellness programs. “We will strive to give them the best working conditions, but we will also demand from them the best service for court users and the public,” he stated.