By Farah G. Decano

 

THE LNU College of Law is set to host a pivotal event focused on empowering citizens to become guardians of the justice system. Former Supreme Court Justice and current Acting Chair of the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB), Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, has been invited to deliver a key lecture on the citizen’s role in promoting and protecting judicial integrity. Her participation promises to offer powerful, new insights from one of the judiciary’s most respected voices.

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Justice Sandoval-Gutierrez’s career is a testament to unwavering legal principle and a steady rise through the judicial ranks. She served as a judge in the Municipal Trial Court, the Regional Trial Court, and the Court of Appeals before her appointment as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Beyond her formal rulings, she is renowned for her fierce commitment to judicial standards. After retiring from the Supreme Court, she was appointed to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC). During her tenure there, she gained further prominence for her pointed, thorough questions during Supreme Court applicant interviews. A memorable instance involved a sharp line of questioning that exposed a lack of preparation by the very controversial Public Assistance Office (PAO) Chief, Persida Acosta.

Justice Sandoval-Gutierrez has always been one to speak her mind, especially when the integrity of the judiciary is at stake. I recall an event she was invited to speak at, organized by a Central Luzon chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). The emcee quipped a common lawyer’s joke: “If the facts are with you, hammer on the facts. If the law is with you, hammer on the law. If the law and facts are not with you, it is best to know the judge.”

Justice Gutierrez did not join in the laughter. When she took the podium, she gently but firmly referred back to the emcee’s joke, reminding him that what he said, even in jest, was a profound disrespect not just to her presence but to the entire judiciary and the legal profession. Her soft, yet piercingly clear voice surely resonated deeply with the lawyers in attendance, and the emcee later issued a public apology. This incident perfectly illustrates her lifelong dedication to upholding the dignity of the courts.

We are hopeful that the upcoming forum on October 9 will be a highly fruitful session that empowers the people of Pangasinan to become effective guardians of our judiciary.

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Like judicial integrity, government accessibility is also critical to public trust. Recently, Naga City has received praise for its digital system that allows citizens to easily submit reports and complaints. This successful use of technology highlights the immense potential for local governance to become more responsive.

This concept isn’t entirely new. About 12 years ago, when I served as City Administrator, a group of University of Pangasinan students proposed a strikingly similar innovation for Dagupan City—an app to streamline citizen reports. I found the idea ingenious, especially since our sister city, Milpitas, was already utilizing similar programs.

However, then-Mayor Belen Fernandez felt the idea was premature for Dagupeños, who were not yet immersed in digital applications. Instead, she established various dedicated cellular hotlines for specific needs: one for drug suspects, one for women’s rights abuses, and another for student bullying. She even made herself available on Facebook for infrastructure reports.

While I wonder about the current status of those hotlines, which provided crucial standby assistance at the time, the underlying principle remains paramount: local governments must always make themselves accessible to the people, no matter the medium.