THE next chief justice must be able to work beyond the Supreme Court and coordinate with other branches of government to speed up the delivery of justice, retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno said in endorsing Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez for the top post in the judiciary.
In a letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dated Oct. 14, Puno said Marquez’s extensive administrative background, familiarity with the Supreme Court’s internal operations and experience coordinating with other branches of government make him a strong candidate to lead the judiciary.
Puno stressed that the country’s mounting challenges require a coordinated, whole-of-government approach, including in the delivery of justice.”
Our problems today need the whole nation approach, and we need officials like Justice Marquez who can work out the speedy delivery of justice to our people in seamless coordination with the Executive and Legislative branches of our government,” Puno said. Puno, who served as chief justice from December 2006 to 2010, said he had personally witnessed Marquez’s work ethic and professional competence during his 17 years at the Supreme Court.
When Puno assumed the chief justice post in December 2006, Marquez served as his chief of staff while concurrently holding key positions as assistant court administrator, head of the Public Information Office and Supreme Court spokesman.
Puno said Marquez performed these responsibilities with consistent excellence. Marquez has served the Supreme Court for 30 years, including about 12 years as court administrator before becoming an associate justice five years ago.
His extensive administrative experience has given him an intimate understanding of the Judiciary’s operations, particularly the internal processes and management demands involved in running the country’s highest court, Puno said.”
More than any aspirant, Justice Marquez is most familiar with how the Supreme Court works, especially its internal processes,” he added.
Beyond his experience within the Judiciary, Puno highlighted Marquez’s exposure to inter-branch relations through assignments that required him to coordinate with officials of the Executive and Legislative departments.
He described Marquez as possessing “cerebral competence, compassionate heart and unquestionable dedication to public service.” Puno also expressed confidence that Marquez enjoys the trust and respect of the Judiciary’s various components, including Supreme Court justices, judges and court personnel.”
Given all his qualifications vis-à-vis the other aspirants, I am certain that Justice Marquez can lead the Judiciary to higher heights of achievements, for he is beloved by all its components, the Justices, the Judges and the Court Personnel,” Puno said.
He told Marcos that endorsing Marquez was not simply a privilege but a responsibility in the interest of the Filipino people.”
Mr. President, I do not only consider it a privilege but a duty to endorse Justice Midas P. Marquez as the next Chief Justice, as it is the demand of the greatest interest of our people,” he said.
Marquez is among the possible successors to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, whose retirement will pave the way for the selection of the Supreme Court’s next leader through the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) nomination process.
