(Eagle News)–Newly installed Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on Monday, Oct. 28, laid out his ten-point program as the country’s top magistrate, thanking President Rodrigo Duterte for the opportunity to serve.
In his first speech as Chief Justice during the SC’s flag ceremony, Peralta said under his ten-point program, he wishes to eliminate backlog in the SC and other courts, continue to revise the Rules of Court and other rules of procedure so they will become more “responsive” to court users, automate court processes and incorporate court technology in hearings and trials, continue the “weeding out of misfits” from the judiciary, and strengthen the Office of the Court Administrator and the implementation of the Judicial Integrity Board.
He said he also hoped to strengthen and improve the security of justices and judges, set up a 24/7 help desk in the Office of the Chief Justice and other offices to receive the concerns of court users, monitor the performance of all courts especially where the observance of the rules on hearing dates is concerned, the improvement of procurement and bidding processes and the creation of a Strategic Planning and Management Office under the Program Management Office.
“As the 26th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and as a long time public servant I will lead by example,” Peralta said, as he urged the judiciary to “be united” and to “follow rules.”
“As for these plans and goals that are meant uplift the judicial system and to improve public service I need your full support and cooperation,” he said.
Peralta’s wife Court of Appeals Associate Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta and six other SC justices were present during the flag-raising ceremony.
Peralta will retire on March 27, 2022, when he reaches the mandatory age of retirement of 70. Moira Encina
