Page 35 - 2017 KA'AKBAY January-June
P. 35
January to June 35
2017
Philippine Judicial and Bar Council Holds A lively discussion took place during the session with
Interactive Session with Filipino Community over 60 members of the Filipino-American community, most of
whom come from the legal profession, sharing their insights
on the justice system and the practice of law in the Philippines
with the JBC members.
Philippine Permanent Representative to the United
Nations in New York Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. joined the open
forum at the event.
Secretary Aguirre speaks about reforms in the judicial and legal system at the The JBC Delegation is undertaking meetings and
Interactive Session consultations with counterpart Judicial nomination
commissions and other related bodies in the US to further
enhance the judicial nomination process in the Philippines.
Members of the Philippine Judicial and Bar Council
(JBC) led by Ex-officio member Secretary of Justice
Vitaliano N. Aguirre held an Interactive Session with
members of the Filipino-American Community on 18 April
2017 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New
York.
Organized by the Philippine Consulate General in L-R Rep. Reynaldo Umali, Atty. Jose Mejia, Atty. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, Amb.
New York, the session focused on the Philippine Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Consul General Theresa Dizon-
Government’s initiatives to improve the judiciary and justice De Vega, Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, and Judge Toribio Ilao
system in particular on the screening and selection of
members of the Judicial Branch, the liberalization of law Philippine Judicial and Bar Council Delegation
practice in the Philippines, and the future of cross border Meets Counterparts in New York
practice of law.
Members of the Philippine Judicial and Bar Council
The other members of the JBC joining Secretary (JBC) led by Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre met with the New
Aguirre were Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali,. Ex-Officio member York State Commission on Judicial Nomination, the Appellate
representing the House of Representatives, retired Supreme Division of the New York State Supreme Court, and the New
Court Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez representing the York Court of Appeals on 19 and 20 April 2017 in Albany, New
retired justices of the Supreme Court, Atty. Jose v. Mejia York.
representing the academe, Atty. Maria Milagros Fernan-
Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, The other members of the JBC who joined Secretary
and Judge Toribio Ilao, Jr. representing the private sector. Aguirre were Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali,. Ex-Officio member rep-
resenting the House of Representatives, retired Supreme Court
Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega in Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez representing the retired
introducing the event noted that it was part of the justices of the Supreme Court, Atty. Jose v. Mejia representing
Consulate’s continuing commitment to provide platforms for the academe, Atty. Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa represent-
the community to interact with senior officials and policy- ing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and Judge Toribio
makers in the Philippine Government. Ilao, Jr. representing the private sector. (Continue to page 36)
During the event, Secretary Aguirre provided the
participants with updates on major cases of public interest in
the Philippines while Justice Sandoval Gutierrez shared her
views on liberalization of law practice in the Philippines and
cross border practice.
JBC Regular member Atty. Fernan-Cayosa L-R Dep Consul General Felipe Cariño, Atty. Sheenalyn Tengco, Rep.Reynaldo
discussed challenges in the screening and nomination Umali, Judge Toribio Ilao, Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Presiding Justice
process for members of the judiciary. Congressman Umali Karen Peters, Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Atty. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, Consul
also spoke of the legislative initiatives which may need to be General Theresa De Vega, Atty. Jose Mejia
undertaken to further improve the justice system. Atty. Mejia
spoke of the critical role of the academe and further training
for judges and justices. Judge Ilao, a career jurist explained
the critical role played by the JBC in ensuring that persons
chosen to sit on the bench are of utmost competence,
probity, and integrity.
