FOR THE SECOND year in a row, the Philippine Supreme Court will play host to an international forum among judicial officers from around the globe.
     Dubbed as the Global Forum on Liberty and Prosperity, representatives from judiciaries and bar associations from various continents will meet on October 18 to 20 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel to tackle issues related to Liberty and Prosperity – two concerns, Forum Chairman Senior Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno says, “that have haunted mankind from the beginning of history, and are still haunting us.” Over 500 local and foreign delegates are expected to attend the Forum. Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, who has been underscoring the necessity of upholding the twin beacons of Liberty and Prosperity since he assumed his post as chief magistrate in December last year, will be the Forum’s keynote speaker.
     Upon his appointment, Chief Justice Panganiban laid down his vision for the Judiciary. He said that in cases involving liberty, the scales of justice should weigh heavily against the government and in favor of the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized, the dispossessed, and the weak. He said laws and actions that restrict fundamental rights come to the courts “with a heavy presumption against the constitutional validity.” On the other hand, in conflicts affecting policies on prosperity and development, deference must be accorded the political branches of government; namely, the Presidency and Congress.
     Forum delegates, Justice Puno said, will also discuss recent global events that would affect Liberty and Prosperity such as “the influence of terrorism activities that are happening all over the world,” as well as “the effects of globalization and the acceptance of the philosophy of neo-liberalism,” among other timely issues. He added that they will also discuss “whether the role [of the judiciary] has been strengthened or whether it has been diminished – considering the different power shifts happening in the legal landscape.”
     Among those who have already confirmed their attendance to the groundbreaking forum are French Supreme Court Chief Justice Guy Canivet, Russian Federation Supreme Court Chief Justice Vyacheslav M. Lebedev, and Canadian Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. The three chief magistrates will be receiving honorary degrees from different Philippine law schools during their visit, and will speak at the Forum. Other speakers include the Hon. Adel Omar Sheriff from the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Justice Choo Han Teck from the Supreme Court of Singapore, Supreme Administrative Court President Virgilijus Valancius from Lithuania, and International Bar Association President-elect Fernando Pombo from Spain.
     Forum Co-Chairperson Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, who also chairs the Committee on Knowledge-Sharing, says that the holding of the Forum goes hand in hand with the Court’s judicial reform activities, and is part of its mandate “to be more active” and to fulfill its duties, which go beyond deciding cases before it.
     Preparations for the Forum are currently in full swing. Funding will be provided by international development partners like the World Bank. The amount will cover the food and accommodations of delegates from their arrival on October 17, to their departure on October 21. Delegates are expected to shoulder their own transportation expenses, and any costs incurred outside of the Forum.
     As part of preparations for the Forum, several SC personel involved in the event – ushers and members of the Protocol and Knowledge Sharing Committees – are currently taking French, Spanish, and Russian language classes.
     The Global Forum comes at the heels of the Court’s National Forum on Liberty and Prosperity held last month at the Manila Hotel. Last year, the Court received plaudits for hosting the International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reform, which, like this year’s Global Forum, was staged using funds from international aid agencies.