PRESIDENT Marcos has underscored the urgency of resolving vacancies in the judiciary to accelerate court proceedings and deliver timely justice for the Filipino public.
Speaking after a Malacañang gathering with 160 newly appointed judges and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos on Monday, the Chief Executive highlighted the direct human impact of judicial delays.
‘Behind every case is a Filipino seeking justice, a family waiting for answers, and a life waiting to move forward,’ Marcos said on social media. ‘This is why we continue to fill vacancies in our courts, so that justice can be delivered more efficiently and made accessible to every Filipino.’
Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto, who attended the event, called on the new magistrate appointees to exercise empathy, particularly when presiding over cases involving impoverished and marginalized individuals.
Recto emphasized that judges should aim for true equity rather than becoming bogged down by technicalities, reminding them in Filipino: ‘The law may be strict, but its enforcers need not be cruel. You can be impartial without being indifferent-especially to those for whom justice is often the hardest to reach.’
The push for appointments comes as the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) reported 170 tentative vacancies across first- and second-level courts nationwide as of October 12. Metro Manila accounts for the highest concentration of unfilled seats with 49 vacancies, followed by Southern Luzon with 32. The final vacancy list is scheduled for release next week.