Midas Marquez eyes to tap PDLs for SC's digitalization efforts

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Midas Marquez is eyeing to tap persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the court's efforts to digitalize its non-sensitive records as part of their reformation and reintegration program.

This is one of the priorities laid down by Marquez during his interview with the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the position of chief justice.

"I intend to continuously support, empower, and involve PDLs, more than just conducting the usual PDL Arts and Crafts Exhibition and Sale," he said.

"For their reformation and eventual reintegration, perhaps they can initially assist in realizing the Court's digitization transformation where they will be tasked with digitizing non-sensitive Judiciary-wide court records, and they will be provided with a corresponding stipend therefor," he added.

Marquez said that if appointed chief justice, he will build on the foundations established by the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) 2022-2027.

He also seeks to reinforce the court as both a place and a service, among other initiatives.

The justice said there should no longer be overburdened courts by 2032.

"While a courtroom or a courthouse is a physical representation of justice, the true measure of a court is not its buildings or facilities, but the quality of justice it provides," Marquez said.

"Citizens do not come to court because of the structure that houses it; they come because they seek protection of their rights, resolution of disputes, and assurance that the rule of law will prevail," he added.

The vacancy is due to the compulsorily retirement of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on November 6 at the age of 70. — VDV, GMA News