Page 35 - 2017 JAN-JUN - KAAKBAY

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.

The JBC Delegation is undertaking meetings and
consultations with counterpart Judicial nomination
commissions and other related bodies in the US to further
enhance the judicial nomination process in the Philippines.
Secretary Aguirre speaks about reforms in the judicial and legal system at the
Interactive Session

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
New York, the session focused on the Philippine
Government’s initiatives to improve the judiciary and justice L-R Rep. Reynaldo Umali, Atty. Jose Mejia, Atty. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, Amb.
system in particular on the screening and selection of Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Consul General Theresa Dizon-
De Vega, Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, and Judge Toribio Ilao
members of the Judicial Branch, the liberalization of law
practice in the Philippines, and the future of cross border Philippine Judicial and Bar Council Delegation
practice of law.
Meets Counterparts in New York
The other members of the JBC joining Secretary
Aguirre were Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali,. Ex-Officio member Members of the Philippine Judicial and Bar Council
representing the House of Representatives, retired Supreme (JBC) led by Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre met with the New
Court Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez representing the York State Commission on Judicial Nomination, the Appellate
retired justices of the Supreme Court, Atty. Jose v. Mejia Division of the New York State Supreme Court, and the New
representing the academe, Atty. Maria Milagros Fernan- York Court of Appeals on 19 and 20 April 2017 in Albany, New
Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, York.

and Judge Toribio Ilao, Jr. representing the private sector. The other members of the JBC who joined Secretary
Aguirre were Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali,. Ex-Officio member rep-
Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega in
introducing the event noted that it was part of the resenting the House of Representatives, retired Supreme Court
Consulate’s continuing commitment to provide platforms for Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez representing the retired
the community to interact with senior officials and policy- justices of the Supreme Court, Atty. Jose v. Mejia representing
makers in the Philippine Government. the academe, Atty. Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa represent-
ing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and Judge Toribio
During the event, Secretary Aguirre provided the Ilao, Jr. representing the private sector. (Continue to page 36)
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
discussed challenges in the screening and nomination
process for members of the judiciary. Congressman Umali
also spoke of the legislative initiatives which may need to be
undertaken to further improve the justice system. Atty. Mejia
spoke of the critical role of the academe and further training L-R Dep Consul General Felipe Cariño, Atty. Sheenalyn Tengco, Rep.Reynaldo
for judges and justices. Judge Ilao, a career jurist explained Umali, Judge Toribio Ilao, Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Presiding Justice
the critical role played by the JBC in ensuring that persons Karen Peters, Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Atty. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, Consul
chosen to sit on the bench are of utmost competence, General Theresa De Vega, Atty. Jose Mejia
probity, and integrity.