Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office

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[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Paano ang proseso ng pagpapiyansa?

Panoorin ang buong video: https://t.co/rjhz9KRmBB

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Court operations in some areas in the Philippines are suspended on Thursday, October 29, 2026 (except as otherwise indicated).

Visit our Facebook page for full copies of memoranda:

Judicial Region (JR) 3
- 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧���𝐚, 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 - power interruption

JR 5
- 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐏𝐢𝐨 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧, 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐲 - power interruption

JR 11
- 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭�� 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚, 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 - 123rd Founding Anniversary
- 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥-𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧, 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 - 123rd Founding Anniversary

Please refer to the memos for additional details.

#SCPhWalangPasok #SupremeCourtPH

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Updated as of 2:00 P.M., October 28, 2026

JR 11
- 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 - precautionary measure to ensure public safety due to two consecutive earthquakes

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Court operations in some areas in the Philippines are suspended on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 (except as otherwise indicated).

Visit our Facebook page for full copies of memoranda:

Judicial Region (JR) 3
- ���𝐓𝐂 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐚, 𝐍𝐮𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐄𝐜𝐢𝐣𝐚 - power interruption

JR 6
- 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞-����𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐬-𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞, 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐨 - Cry of Lincud

Please refer to the memos for additional details.

#SCPhWalangPasok #SupremeCourtPH

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Updated as of 11:30 A.M., October 28, 2026

JR 11
- 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢, starting 9:30 A.M. - post-earthquake safety inspections and damage assessments

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Updated as of October 28, 2026

Please be advised of the rescheduled livestream for the Opening of Bids of the following project:

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 ���𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 1 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 11𝘵𝘩 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯
- postponed indefinitely

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

The public is advised of the schedule of livestreaming of the 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐬 of the following 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 - 𝐁𝐀𝐂 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬:

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 1 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 11𝘵𝘩 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯
- October 28, 2026, 2:00 PM

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 (𝘖𝘙𝘊𝘔) – 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘝𝘐, 2𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳, 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘈𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘰 𝘚𝘵., 𝘐𝘭𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺
- November 4, 2026, 2:00 PM

The Opening of Bids will be streamed live via YouTube at: https://t.co/DjuD4Dn2HD

VISIT https://t.co/IQV9hh3gFl for more information.

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Updated as of 9:15 A.M., October 28, 2026

JR 11
- 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂, 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚 - 𝐒𝐭𝐚. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 - 𝐃𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐀��𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 - 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢 - Founding Anniversary of the Province of Davao Occidental

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Nagpasya ang #KorteSuprema na hindi maaaring pagretiruhin ang mga empleyado bago ang sapilitang edad ng pagreretiro (compulsory retirement age) na 65 taong gulang nang walang malinaw at kusa nilang pahintulot.

Sa Desisyong isinulat ni Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, bahagyang pinagbigyan ng Unang Dibisyon ng Korte Suprema ang petisyon ni Rodolfo C. Ondevilla at pinanagot ang Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) sa Laguna sa illegal dismissal o ilegal na pagtanggal sa kanya sa trabaho.

Taong 2004 noong nagtrabaho si Ondevilla sa CSJL bilang Comptroller. Itinalaga siya bilang Assistant Vice President for Finance kalaunan at ilang ulit ni-renew ang kanyang pagkakatalaga.

Nang mag-60 taong gulang si Ondevilla noong Agosto 29, 2019, itinuring ng CSJL na nag-expire na ang kanyang pagkakatalaga. Dahil dito, naghain si Ondevilla ng reklamo para sa illegal dismissal.

Sumang-ayon ang Korte Suprema kay Ondevilla at binigyang-diin na dapat nakabatay sa kusang-loob na kasunduan ng employer at empleyado ang isang plano para sa boluntaryong pagreretiro.

At dahil hindi kusang-loob ang kanyang pagreretiro, itinuring ito bilang ilegal na pagtanggal sa trabaho.

Kailangang malaya at hayagang pumayag ang empleyado rito nang walang anumang pamimilit o panggigipit, sapagkat ang pagtanggap sa boluntaryong pagreretiro ay nangangahulugan ng pagsuko sa karapatan sa seguridad sa pananatili sa trabaho (security of tenure).

Sa kasong ito, natuklasan ng Korte na walang kapwa pagsang-ayon ni Ondevilla at ng CSJL ang maagang pagreretiro niya.

Binigyang-diin ng Korte Suprema na hindi kailanman nag-alok o nagmungkahi ang CSJL ng plano sa pagreretiro na malaya sanang matatanggap o tatanggihan ni Ondevilla. Wala ring palatandaang handang talakayin ng CSJL ang kanyang pagreretiro.

Sinabi ng Korte Suprema na may karapatan si Ondevilla sa buong halaga ng kanyang backwages at separation pay sa halip na muling ibalik sa trabaho. Iginawad din sa kanya ng Korte ang mga benepisyo sa pagreretiro para sa panahong nagtrabaho siya mula Hunyo 16, 2004, hanggang Agosto 29, 2024, nang sumapit siya sa sapilitang edad ng pagreretiro na 65.

Basahin ang press release sa https://t.co/soK1KXMrUd.

Basahin ang Desisyon sa https://t.co/F9EjBuigG5.

Sumunod sa Credit Attribution Policy ng SC PIO: https://t.co/F48RF1vtzZ.

#SupremeCourtPH
#SCphTranslations

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

The #SupremeCourtPH has ruled that employees cannot be retired before the compulsory retirement age of 65 without their clear and voluntary consent.

In a Decision written by Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, the SC’s First Division partly granted the petition of Rodolfo C. Ondevilla and found Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Laguna (CSJL) guilty of illegal dismissal.

Ondevilla joined CSJL as Comptroller in 2004 and later became Assistant Vice President for Finance. His appointment was renewed several times.

In 2018, CSJL underwent a management reorganization, and Ondevilla was reassigned as Controller. Although he objected to the reassignment, claiming it was a demotion, he continued working at the same salary and benefits.

When Ondevilla turned 60 on August 29, 2019, CSJL considered his appointment expired. Ondevilla then filed a complaint for illegal dismissal.

The SC agreed with Ondevilla, emphasizing that an optional retirement plan must be based on a voluntary agreement between the employer and the employee.

The employee must freely and expressly agree to it, without pressure or coercion, because accepting optional retirement means giving up the right to security of tenure.

In this case, the Court found that Ondevilla's early retirement was not the result of a mutual agreement between him and CSJL.

The SC noted that CSJL never made any offer or proposal for a retirement plan that Ondevilla could freely accept or reject. There was also no indication that CSJL was willing to discuss his retirement.

The SC thus ruled that Ondevilla was entitled to full backwages and separation pay instead of reinstatement. The SC also awarded him retirement benefits covering his employment from June 16, 2004, until August 29, 2024, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://t.co/soK1KXMrUd.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://t.co/F9EjBuigG5.

Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://t.co/F48RF1vtzZ.

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Updated as of 4:20 P.M., October 27, 2026

JR 1
- 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐲-𝐀𝐭𝐨𝐤, 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐭, starting 1:00 P.M. - power interruption

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Court operations in some areas in the Philippines are suspended on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 (except as otherwise indicated).

Visit our Facebook page for full copies of memoranda:

Judicial Region (JR) 1
- 𝐑𝐓𝐂 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝟔𝟒; 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐁𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐚𝐬-𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐧, 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐭 - power interruption
- 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧-𝐊𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧, 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐭 - power interruption
- 𝐑𝐓𝐂 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝟕𝟖 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟕𝟗 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐓𝐂𝐂 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝟓 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 - power interruption

JR 11
- 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐤, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨 - power interruption
Please refer to the memos for additional details.

#SCPhWalangPasok #SupremeCourtPH

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

#SupremeCourtPH Senior Associate Justice (SAJ) Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Chairperson of the SC Committee on Access to Justice and Underserved Areas and the Committee on Human-Centered Augmented Intelligence in the Judiciary, underscored the need to harness technology to expand access to justice, emphasizing that digital innovation should help bring legal and judicial services closer to the people.

In his keynote address during the 𝘦𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵: 𝘛𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮 2026 on October 19, 2026 held in Taguig City, SAJ Leonen discussed the Judiciary’s continuing efforts to modernize court processes, expand access to justice, and ensure that technological innovation remains anchored on fairness, inclusion, and accountability.

The Forum was organized by Twala, a Filipino legal technology company, SC-accredited electronic notarization facility, and official partner of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, to mark the first day of electronic notarization in the Philippines.

To illustrate the impact of technology, SAJ Leonen cited the launch of the Remote Hearing and Equal Access to Law and Justice (REAL Justice) Program in Tawi-Tawi in 2024.

According to him, technology contributes to access to justice by reducing the barriers created by geography and poverty. He noted that digital tools can enable hearings to proceed without long journeys, allow pleadings to be filed remotely, and make it possible for documents to be notarized without requiring individuals to miss a day of work.

He underscored that the Judiciary’s digital initiatives are guided by the 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴2022–2027, which identifies access to justice as a key outcome.

He emphasized that achieving meaningful access to justice requires not only technological innovations but also legal empowerment initiatives that enable individuals and communities to understand and assert their rights.

READ: https://t.co/UOhPEOwhTs

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

READ: https://t.co/B5qQGDesTl

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) today concluded the public panel interviews for the position of Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines, in view of the compulsory retirement of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo on November 6, 2026.

Interviewed on Monday, October 26, 2026, were #SupremeCourtPH (SC) Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda, Japar B. Dimaampao, and Jose Midas P. Marquez.

Chief Justice Gesmundo, Ex Officio Chairperson of the JBC and representative of the Judiciary, led the panel interviews. Joining him were JBC Members: Hon. Fredderick A. Vida, Secretary of Justice and JBC Ex Officio Member representing the Executive Department; Hon. Francis N. Pangilinan, Senator and JBC Ex Officio Member representing the Legislative Department; Hon. Gerville R. Luistro, Congresswoman and JBC Ex Officio Member representing the Legislative Department; Hon. Jose Catral Mendoza, JBC Regular Member representing the Retired SC Justices; Hon. Nesauro H. Firme, JBC Regular Member representing the Academe; Hon. Erlinda Piñera Uy, JBC Regular Member representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and Hon. Jose V. Mejia, JBC Regular Member representing the Private Sector.

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

@JBC_Ph The Judicial and Bar Council has concluded the @JBC_Ph public panel interviews of candidates for the position of Chief Justice.

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

The 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 (𝐉𝐁𝐂) will continue its public panel interviews of candidates for the position of 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 ����𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭, in view of the compulsory retirement of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo on November 6, 2026.

The following candidates are scheduled for interview today, October 26, 2026:

ZALAMEDA, Rodil Vaquilar
DIMAAMPАO, Japar Babay
MARQUEZ, Jose Midas Pascual

Read the full text of the @JBC_Ph Announcement at https://t.co/Nr9yVucPTR.

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

@JBC_Ph The final candidate for Chief Justice to be interviewed by the @JBC_Ph is #SupremeCourtPH Associate Justice Jose Midas Pascual Marquez.

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

The Judicial and Bar Council (@JBC_Ph) releases the shortlist of nominees for the position of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Updated as of 3:40 P.M., October 26, 2026

JR 4-A
- 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨-𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐳𝐨𝐧, starting 1:00 P.M. - power interruption

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

Updated as of 10:10 A.M., October 26, 2026

Court operations in some areas in the Philippines are suspended on Monday, October 26, 2026 (except as otherwise indicated).

Visit our Facebook page for full copies of memoranda:

Judicial Region (JR) 3
- 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐲, 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐚𝐧 - Annual Fiesta

JR 4-A
- 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐬 - Founding Anniversary
- 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬, 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐬 - power interruption - CANCELLED

JR 5
- 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬 - Foundation Day

Please refer to the memos for additional details.

#SCPhWalangPasok #SupremeCourtPH

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

READ: https://t.co/gNDg0bxSCb

[Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office @SCPh_PIO]

The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) and the Office of the Ombudsman signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening institutional coordination within the Philippine justice sector and advancing a more integrated, policy-driven response to corruption, on October 26, 2026, at the SC compound in Manila.

The JSCC is composed of the #SupremeCourtPH (SC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Under the partnership, the JSCC and the Office of the Ombudsman will create a system for consultation and coordination on matters of common concern involving justice sector reform and develop protocols for the secure and lawful sharing of relevant information and data. They will also hold consultations, policy dialogues, and technical discussions, and conduct joint capacity-building activities and training programs.

The signing ceremony was led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, DOJ Senior Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez, DILG Undersecretary Jon Paulo V. Salvahan, and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla. SC Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh and Assistant Ombudsman and Ombudsman Spokesperson Atty. Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV signed as witnesses, while SC Clerk of Court En Banc Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas notarized the MOU.

They were joined by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and SC Associate Justices Ricardo R. Rosario, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Raul B. Villanueva.

Chief Justice Gesmundo described the MOU as ground-breaking, as the JSCC now enters a new phase that brings the fight against corruption more deliberately into its efforts to strengthen the criminal justice system.

Justice Singh, Chairperson of the JSCC Technical Working Group on Processes and Capacity Building, reflected on the achievements of the JSCC since 2010. She said the MOU with the Ombudsman will help make the JSCC’s work even more comprehensive and decisive.

Ombudsman Remulla said the partnership with the JSCC would help improve initiatives to prevent, address bottlenecks in corruption-related cases, strengthen secure information-sharing and digital systems, and build institutional capabilities to address increasingly complex forms of corruption.