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Chief Justice Annual Reports Bersamin Calls on Judges for Support for his 4-Point Agenda
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January 19, 2019
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Chief Justice Judicial
Lucas P.Excellence
Bersamin hasAwardees
appealed to all judges for their help and support for his 4-point agenda for the Judiciary that consists of the updating of the Rules of Court, purging the Bench of misfits and scalawags, initiation of Bar
reforms, and FAQs on theofCourt
the adoption legal clinics to enhance access to justice.
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He said that while his tenure as chief magistrate is short, “324 days to be exact,” he is confident that his 4-point agenda will come to fruition with all the help and support especially from the judges.
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Speaking during the testimonial dinner held in his honor by the Philippine Judges Association (PJA) at Diamond Hotel on Thursday, January 17, 2019, Chief Justice Bersamin also exhorted all trial court judges to “view criticism of our work
andBAR ADMISSIONS
our actuation as the necessary scalpels that help us excise our actual faults and perceived fallibilities.”
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“As the Chief Justice, I have assumed the greatest responsibility ever to be placed on the frail shoulders of any active judge. And in that task, I must ensure that our courts and judges function efficiently and competently. But I am
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confident, that with the PJA fully behind me, I will not fail,” he stressed.
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ChiefSUPREME COURT
Justice Bersamin TOURall judges about the qualities and characteristics that every judge, whether a member of the PJA or not, must have, which are integrity, probity, and competence. He emphasized that they “must stay
reminded
human…must
QUICKLINKS act human” in addition to these qualities that have qualified them to their judicial positions.
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“I think that the foremost one, that you, as trial judges should exhibit and not leave in your homes each day as you go to work is humanity. No judge will be worth his or her title if he or she ignores or abandons his or her humanity at work,”
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said Chief Justice Bersamin. He explained that he does not mean that their being human should mean that “you act in your usual ways.” He stressed that judges should remember that they “now wear the mantel of authority in your
jurisdiction.Court
And this ofoften
Taxrequires
Appeals [you] to be stern and serious. You must convince the communities you serve that you are the visible representation of the law. For if the laws were to be obeyed, the judges that administer them must be
credible andOffice of the Court
not ridiculous. Administrator
As judges, we are unavoidably leaders whether we like it or not. As leaders, we must lead and not mislead.”
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The Chief Justice cautioned them to “never hate nor decry criticism of our work and our persons.” He stressed: “We cannot be immune from the scrutiny of the people. It is their absolute right to do so no matter how criticism may be unjust
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or harsh or unfair, we should welcome it. We should view criticism of our work and our actuation as the necessary scalpels that help us excise our actual faults and perceived fallibilities. Criticism has a natural place in our scheme of
things. It is E-Library
our reminder of our own limitations. It opens our eyes to our shortcomings and mistakes which we do not correct without anyone telling us about. On the other hand, any degree of intolerance on criticism may lead us to
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become martinets, Reports
or worst, tyrants.Online
But that we do not what to be for we could not be martinets or tyrants.”
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Likewise, he underscored the importance of being humble, saying that “No judge should accord too much self-esteem to himself or herself.” He said that the lack of humility on the part of any person is always a sign of an inner weakness
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that is sought to be concealed from you by the appearance of pride and superiority. He stressed that “humility makes us love our offices much more.” He encouraged the judges to “be dedicated to and conscious of our tasks and
responsibilities.”

Chief Justice thanked the PJA, saying that such recognition from the association, which he once belonged to when still a Regional Trial Court Judge in Quezon City, “brings any other judge that high sense of validation of all the effort and
time expended in the demanding task of adjudication of judicial disputes.”

Chief Justice Bersamin, the 25th chief magistrate of the High Tribunal, noted that only a few trial judges have actually been appointed to the top SC post. Of the 24 other Chief Justices, the others who were trial judges like him were the
late Chief Justices Ricardo M. Paras and Felix V. Makasiar, and retired Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno He also mentioned his predecessor Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro who, as a justice of the Sandiganbayan, also took
part in conducting trials.

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