Laoag hosts PACE Luzon summit

Court employees from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 attend the 1st PACE Luzon summit in Ilocos Norte on January 15-16, 2020. The summit aims to strengthen unity among its members and provide better service to people.  (Leilanie G. Adriano)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY—Court employees from the five regions in Luzon were in this northern part of the country feasting over longganiza and bagnet while strengthening their bonds for better public service.

Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Manotoc delivers his speech to the court employees. (Lei Adriano)

In his speech to the members of the Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE) during their first Luzon summit held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on January 15, 2020, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc welcomed the delegates though around 150 of them were not able to make it due to unpredictable circumstances.

“Thank you for your service. You are equally if not more important of the role you play in government. Fairness prevail because you exist (in the judiciary),” said Mr. Manotoc as he assured the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte is in full support of their endeavors.

The two-day PACE Luzon summit discussed fiscal management and the Code of Conduct for Court Employees. Specifically, the summit aims to reinforce the fiscal management skills and proper conduct of court employees in all trial courts, the offices of the clerks of court, and PACE officers.

Ilocanos were expecting Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta to deliver a message but due to conflict of schedule, he was represented by Court Administrator of the Supreme Court Jose Midas Marquez.

SC Court Administrator Midas Marquez address the participants. (Leilanie G. Adriano)

In his message read by Mr. Marquez, Justice Peralta reiterated to all court employees about his 10-point program and urged them to be united and follow the rules.

The Peralta Court vowed to eliminate backlog cases in the Supreme Court and all other courts as well as to ensure the implementation of duly approved revised rules of court and the continuous revision of the rules of court and other rules of procedure.

He also pushes for the automation of court processes and to adopt a system where the court may initiate on its own the investigation of cases being handled by members of the judiciary even in the absence of complaints.

Owing to the number of killings involving court workers, the Chief Justice also wants to strengthen the security of justices, judges, and halls of justice, to set-up a 24/7 helpdesk in the Office of the Chief Justice, monitor the performance of all courts and improve the procurement process through the creation of a designated office among others.