President Benigno Aquino III and Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno are calling on members of the Philippine Judges Association from around the country gathered in Bacolod City today, to continue to ensure an independent and accountable judiciary.

Sereno, who arrived in Bacolod yesterday, will be the keynote speaker at the plenary session of the PJA midterm convention and seminar at the L’Fisher Hotel this morning.

In her message sent to the PJA ahead of the convention, Sereno stressed the need for “a judiciary that transcends the whims of politics and finds its moorings solely on the Constitution that the people have ordained.”

“Let us try to be responsive to the needs of each citizen, to fulfill our responsibilities in dispensing justice swiftly and impartially to every Filipino, and to hold ourselves to the highest standards of transparency and accountability with each act we perform in service to the Filipino people,” Sereno said.

The president, in his message, said “True justice is embodied by morality, trust and the desire to serve the needs of our citizens above self-interest.”

May the gathering of judges in Bacolod inspire them to become “embodiments of equity and fairness in the legal profession”, the president said.

Invited to the plenary session today aside from Sereno, are Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Bacolod. Rep. Anthony Golez and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

To be discussed at the PJA convention this afternoon are “Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth: Legal Aspects, Issues and Concerns”, Stress Management, Document and Communication Security in Courts, and latest SC circulars.

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez will also hold a dialog with the judges starting 4:15 p.m. today.

The judges’ convention, on the theme, “PJA: Upholding and Strengthening Judicial Independence”, began yesterday with a golf tournament at the Binitin Golf Course in Murcia, and a MassKara Ball and cultural show at the Bacolod Pavillon Resort Hotel.

Tomorrow, convention participants will join an eco tour at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia.

The PJA national president is Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 44 Judge Franklin Demonteverde.*CPG

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