Establishing the Technical Working Group on Judicial Integrity under the Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Bar Matters

September 29, 2016

SUPREME COURT MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 38-A-2016

ESTABLISHING THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON JUDICIAL INTEGRITY UNDER THE COMMITTEE ON CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION AND BAR MATTERS

In view of the need to further thresh out issues related on strengthening judicial integrity falling under the mandate of the Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Bar Matters, a Technical Working Group on Judicial Integrity is hereby established, as follows:

Chairperson	Hon. ROMEO J. CALLEJO, Sr. (Ret.)
	Vice Chancellor, Philippine Judicial Academy
Vice Chairperson	Hon. AMPARO CABOTAJE-TANG
	Presiding Justice, Sandiganbayan
Members	Hon. ROMAN G. DEL ROSARIO
	Presiding Justice, Court of Tax Appeals
	Hon. MAGDANGAL M. DE LEON
	Associate Justice, Court of Appeals
	Hon. ALEXANDER G. GESMUNDO
	Associate Justice, Sandiganbayan
	Hon. HILARION L. AQUINO (Ret.)
	Chairman, Department of Ethics
	Philippine Judicial Academy-Academic Council
	Hon. HECTOR HOFILEÑA (Ret.)
	Vice Chairman, Department of Ethics
	Philippine Judicial Academy-Academic Council
	Dean SEDFREY M. CANDELARIA
	Head, Research, Publications and Linkages Office
	Philippine Judicial Academy
	Hon. GEORGINA D. HIDALGO
	Presiding Judge
	Regional Trial Court, Branch 122, Caloocan City
	Dean MA. SOLEDAD DERIQUITO-MAWIS
	President
	Philippine Association of Law Schools
	Atty. ROSARIO T. SETIAS-REYES
	National President
	Integrated Bar of the Philippines
	Atty. ARNO V. SANIDAD
	Law Professor
	University of the Philippines
	Atty. JILLIANE JOYCE R. DE DUMO
	Assistant Chief Staff Head
	Office of the Chief Justice
Secretariat	Atty. RONALDO M. GARCIA
	PHILJA Attorney IV
	Philippine Judicial Academy
	Ms. JOAN MARIE C. TEJADA
	Supervising Judicial Staff Officer
	Philippine Judicial Academy

The Technical Working Group shall have the following functions and duties:

1. Conduct review, research and other relevant study on the following matters:

a. appropriate measures to strengthen integrity and prevent opportunism or corruption in the Judiciary; CAIHTE

b. independent mechanism to be instituted in the Supreme Court to receive, inquire into, resolve and deliver disciplinary actions against members of the Judiciary, including the creation and implementation of appropriate detection, investigation, prevention and punishment mechanisms to deter, discourage and prevent graft and corruption in the Judiciary;

c. relevant performance and integrity measures that could minimize, if not totally eliminate corruption risks; and

d. adequacy and effectiveness of existing Rules of Disciplinary Actions against Justices, Judges and employees of the Judiciary;

2. Recommend, as it may deem necessary, the creation of offices in and by the Supreme Court to preserve and enhance judicial integrity, and to ensure the efficient, fast and just resolution of disciplinary actions against members of the Judiciary and the employees thereof;

3. Propose and submit to the Supreme Court any amendment of Rule 140 of the Rules of Court and other relevant circulars and issuances of the Supreme Court on matters above listed;

4. Draft a multi-year work plan that shall incorporate the functions and duties herein listed and such other relevant programs, projects and activities (PPA), to be submitted to the Committee on Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Bar Matters within one (1) month from the creation of the Technical Working Group. The work plan shall include the following details:

a. Identified PPAs and their respective timelines;

b. Brief description of each PPA and its expected outcome or output;

c. Budget requirements of each PPA; and

d Responsible persons;

5. Submit periodic progress reports to the Committee on Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Bar Matters; and

6. Perform such functions as may be directed by the Chief Justice, Committee or by the Court and those that are inherent, incidental or essential to the accomplishment of its above duties and objectives.

To enable it to perform its functions and duties, the Technical Working Group shall be authorized to:

1. Invite resource persons and observers who may provide input in the Technical Working Group discussions;

2. Collaborate with the Philippine Judicial Academy in cases where skills development and other capacity building measures are necessary; and

3. Do such other acts as may be necessary in the performance of its mandate.

The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Members and Members of the Secretariat of the Technical Working Group shall receive the usual expense allowances.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect upon its issuance this 29th day of September 2016.

(SGD.) MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENOChief Justice

(SGD.) PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.Associate Justice

(SGD.) TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTROAssociate Justice