President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday inaugurated the Sulu Hall of Justice, a new facility aimed at improving access to judicial services in the province, where limited court facilities have long posed challenges to case resolution.
In his speech during the inauguration and turnover ceremony at the Sulu Provincial Capitol, Marcos said inadequate facilities had affected court operations, delayed the resolution of cases, and placed an added burden on residents whose livelihoods and families depended on timely judicial proceedings.
“The establishment of the Sulu Hall of Justice is a concrete step towards making that principle a reality,” Marcos said, stressing the need to make justice accessible to every Filipino.
He said the facility would provide a dedicated space for court operations, allowing residents to have their rights upheld, grievances heard, and disputes resolved under the rule of law.
“After all, peace means resolving conflicts through justice, treating every person with fairness, and respecting the rule of law,” he said.
The President added that the facility would support the Judiciary’s continuing efforts to improve efficiency and modernize its services.
He also cited other government initiatives intended to expand access to justice, including the Department of Justice’s Katarungan Office in Zamboanga City, launched in July.
He also noted the establishment of the first trafficking-free Justice Zone in Zamboanga City in 2023, which sought to address case backlogs, jail congestion, and delays in justice-related services.
On digitalization, Marcos pointed to the rollout of e-Court 2.0 and the Unified Case Management System, which support the digitization of court filings, document service, appeals, and judicial proceedings.
He also cited the Supreme Court’s adoption of a governance framework for human-centered augmented intelligence and the implementation of digital notarization, which began Monday.
Marcos said his government will continue working to bring judicial services closer to communities and help residents pursue their rights through the courts. (PNA)
