SC’s Gesmundo hails women of the judiciary
AS PART of the celebration of “Women’s Month” this March, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo extolled women justices and judges who exhibited “efficiency and resilience under uncertain circumstances and challenging conditions” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Judiciary would do well to support and recognize your accomplishments for both women and men to emulate,” Gesmundo said during the convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) last March 21 in Pasay City.
“The SC is committed to give all the support it can to our magistrates, women and men, so they may develop coping mechanisms, improve personal development skills, and realize their full potential, as the Court moves toward greater speed, efficiency, and innovation in its operations and processes,” Gesmundo assured.
As of Feb. 28, 2023, there are 1,105 lady judges compared to 938 male magistrates in the country’s trial courts – from the regional trial court (RTC) to the municipal trial court (MTC).
The 15-member SC is still male-dominated – 13 male justices and 2 lady jurists. SC Justice Amy C. Lazaro Javier is the president while Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh is the executive vice president of PWJA, respectively.
The 66-member Court of Appeals as of March 23, 2023 is headed by Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar A. Fernando with 28 other lady magistrates.
The anti-gaft court – Sandiganbayan –Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje Tang. There are seven other lady magistrates in the anti-graft court.
The nine-member Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) is dominated by lady jurists. The only male magistrate is Presiding Justice Roman G. Del Rosario.
The SC’s public information office (PIO) said that in his message, Gesmundo also stressed the importance in looking after the mental health of judges and court personnel.
“Cognizant of the important role that mental health plays in our lives, whether at home, school, or workplace, the Supreme Court, as part of its reform agenda, the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 or SPJI, will institutionalize a health insurance system for officials and employees,” he said.