It was very welcome news – that the European Union and the Spanish government were supporting with P1 billion a Governance in Justice program of the Philippines launched last Thursday at the Manila Hotel.
Supreme Court Chief Justice led Philippine officials at the launching of the program which hopes to strengthen the rule of law and help achieve speedy and efficient delivery of criminal justice in the country. With her were Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno.
“The European Union is very happy to support the Philippine justice sector reform agenda,” European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen said. The EU is providing P850 million, while Spain, represented the launching by Ambassador Luis Antonio Calvo, is giving P150 million.
The support from the European Union was especially significant in the face of recent reports on world reactions to Philippine events. “The Philippines is in the European headlines almost on a weekly basis,” said European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Director Florian Gottein. Ongoing political controversies in the new administration are causing uncertainties, he said.
Earlier in the week, British Ambassador Asif Ahmad said British firms were concerned about a pending Philippine move that would mean the Philippines is turning its back on a treaty calling on all ratifying nations to adopt a moratorium on executions. He explained that British firms fear they may encounter here an equal readiness to walk away from a commercial treaty.
Then there was Amnesty International’s annual report on human rights abuses around the world, in which it paid special attention to United States President Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
But the tremendous support given by the European Union and Spain to the Philippines’ Governance in Justice program should help counter all these unfavorable reports. Here is a concrete program of action which we are launching to boost the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the Philippine justice system.
There is indeed much that needs to be done – in decongesting our clogged court dockets, for example, in strengthening the capacities of our judges and other sectors in the justice system – but we are going to do it and we will do so with the help of the European Union, particularly Spain, whose continued confidence in and support for us is truly highly appreciated.