Bill Àled in Senate to safeguard judiciary

SENATOR PANFILO Lacson has filed a bill creating the Philippine Judicial Marshal Service to safeguard the judiciary, by securing its officers and personnel so they can do their jobs independently and without fear of retaliation.

Lacson noted no less than Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta emphasized the need for judicial marshals to serve as the law enforcement arm of the Court, similar to the Supreme Court of the United States Police and United States Marshal.

“This legislative measure seeks to create a Philippine Judicial Marshal Service under the control and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court whose primary function is to protect, safeguard, watch over, provide security, and ensure the safety of justices, judges, court officials and personnel, and the various halls of justice, courthouses and other court buildings and properties all over the country,” he said in Senate Bill 1209.

He said at least 31 reported killings of members of the judiciary in the last two decades, including five during the Duterte administration.

Lacson’s bill also mandates the Philippine Judicial Marshal Service to investigate allegations of irregularities, including graft and corruption, committed by justices, judges, court officials and personnel.

The Philippine Judicial Marshal Service, he added, shall likewise assist in the execution and implementation of court orders.

Heading the service shall be the Chief Marshal, who shall have the same rank of a Court of Appeals associate justice. Assisting the Chief Marshal are three Deputy Marshals – one each for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Each Deputy Marshal shall have the same rank as a Regional Trial Court judge.

Lacson said the Chief Marshal and Deputy Marshals must be a lawyer and must have been at least a full Colonel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine National Police. “They shall be appointed by the Supreme Court en banc and shall serve until age 65. An initial funding of P50 million from the National Treasury will be appropriated for the wages and other expenses of personnel, and for supplies and equipment,” he said. (With additional reporting from the Mindanao Examiner.)