To learn about how the judiciary thrived during the pandemic, Tarlac State University president Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari and School of Law dean Atty. Jose I. Dela Rama, Jr. led the courtesy call to Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta earlier today, January 8, 2021, at the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
Chief Justice Peralta has pursued the efficient delivery of the Philippine justice system amid COVID-19 situation in the country through continued court hearings and trials via videoconferencing.
The videoconferencing rules and guidelines of the judiciary were already approved en banc and published even before the pronouncement of the enhanced community quarantine.
“[Because of this pandemic] ang daming affected – liberty, lahat affected, mga humihingi ng hustisya; eh napagana po niya ‘yan [justice system],” Dean Dela Rama shared referring to how the high court and the chief justice endeavored to make the justice system work in the “new normal.”
Aside from his accomplishments on revision of the rules of court to accommodate the paradigm shift in the judiciary, he also shared how he values hard work mentioning that he “came from the ranks.”
“[The] only qualification that I have [as Chief Justice] – I am not a bar topnotcher; I am not an honor student – is the work that I performed since I joined the government. I know the value of hard work and I will continue to be that way,” the chief justice said.
“If you know the value of hard work, [you] came from the lowest and became the head of office, you will always carry the value of hard work when you started,” he added.
Since his appointment as the 26th Chief Justice of the Philippines on October 23, 2019, he has already accomplished 90% of his Ten-Point Program centered on judicial reforms for efficiency, integrity, security, and service.
The chief justice is known for his “speedy and scholarly disposition of cases,” particularly criminal cases; case management information system for efficient case-monitoring; and deciding cases within the reglementary periods.
He is currently juggling judicial work, administrative duties, and his advocacy on teaching – now at the Philippine Judicial Academy
President Mallari and Dean Dela Rama were accompanied Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Erwin P. Lacanlale, Vice President for Research and Extension Services Dr. Armee N. Rosel, and selected members of the university administration.
