Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (front row, fifth from left) and Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster (front row, fourth from left) pose for posterity during the courtesy visit by the latter on the Members of the Supreme Court of the Philippines on April 28, 2023 at the Supreme Court En Banc Session Hall in Manila. In photo are (front row, from left) Philippine Judicial Academy Chancellor Rosmari D. Carandang; Royal Norwegian Embassy Manila Political Advisor Nikki Delfin; Deputy Head of Mission Geir Michalsen; Ambassador Lyster; Chief Justice Gesmundo; Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Rodil V. Zalameda, Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Antonio T. Kho, Jr. (Back row, from left) Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Atty. Laura C.H. del Rosario; Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva; Assistant Court Administrator and Chief of Public Information Office Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka; and Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Atty. Jed Sherwin G. Uy (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Coinciding with the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Norway, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines discussed areas of cooperation with His Excellency Christian Halaas Lyster, Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines, during a courtesy visit on Friday, April 28, 2023 at the Supreme Court En Banc Session Hall in Ermita, Manila.
Recognizing the signifance of the maritime sector in the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Norway, Chief Justice Gesmundo underscored the Supreme Court’s initiatives in resolving maritime disputes, specifically the Rules on Admiralty Cases which took effect in January 2020 and the designation of Admiralty Courts to hear, try, and decide admiralty cases in February 2020. He also shared that the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJA), the Court’s judicial education arm, has a department on International and Maritime Law in order to make sure that the judges are knowledgeable in maritime cases.
Chief Justice Gesmundo and Ambassador Lyster also discussed human rights and anti-terrorism law, with the Chief Justice highlighting the importance of finding the balance between protecting the state and respecting human rights. He then mentioned the scheduled Dialogue on the Proposed Rules on Anti-Terrorism Cases on May 5, 2023 in Cebu City.
Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez gave a brief overview of the Court’s blueprint for reform, the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), highlighting the recently launched Code for Professional Responsibility and Accountability for all Philippine lawyers and the tripartite First National Shari’ah Summit, among others.
In response, Ambassador Lyster, who is a former police prosecutor and deputy judge, expressed support for the goals of the SPJI and stated that he is impressed with all the reforms and initiatives being undertaken by the Court in areas involving maritime issues and utilizing technology in improving the administration of justice.
Other topics discussed were efforts to combat cybercime particularly cases of online sexual abuse of children, the creation of the Judiciary Marshals Office, and the imminent revision of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Joining Chief Justice Gesmundo were Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Rodil V. Zalameda, Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Antonio T. Kho, Jr.
Also present were PhilJA Chancellor Rosmari D. Carandang, Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Assistant Court Administrator and Chief of Public Information Office Atty. Brian Keith F. Hosaka, Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Atty. Laura C.H. Del Rosario, and Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Atty. Jed Sherwin G. Uy.
Ambassador Lyster was joined by Norwegian Embassy Manila Deputy Head of Mission Geir Michalsen and Political Advisor Nikki Delfin. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)