CJ Peralta Examines PH Criminal Law as 16th Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chairholder

Written by Laarnie Luna on October 28, 2019. Posted in Grants, Media, News, Press Release

The Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) and Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJA) conferred this year’s Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair in Law to newly appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on October 2 at the Supreme Court En Banc Session Hall, City of Manila.

Before his appointment as chief magistrate, then Associate Justice Peralta delivered his paper “The Significance of Recent Development in Criminal Law, Procedure and Jurisprudence to the Philippine Judicial System” which covered the interchange of initiatives between branches of the government in the development of criminal law, with emphasis on judicial reforms.

The lecture cited recent laws and Supreme Court rules and decisions on the adjustment of penalties, probation, plea bargaining in drug cases, reduction of sentences of personas deprived of liberties based on good conduct time allowance, community service, continuous trial and the use of videoconferencing technology in conducting testimonies.

According to him, the inclusion of the mentioned legislative enactments and court rulings in his presentation were chosen not only based on the efforts of the Judiciary to decongest court dockets and address court delays, but because they “greatly affect the rights of the accused of life and liberty.”

“With the advent of modern age and liberalism, the idea of justice that is hinged on punishment and vengeance, known as retributive justice, is slowly being replaced by one that focuses on reparation and reconciliation—the concept of restorative justice,” wrote Chief Justice Peralta on his paper’s conclusion.

MBFI President Aniceto Sobrepeña remarked justice is delivered when one receives what he or she deserves. “The lecture at its heart is about the changes our judicial system has undergone to better serve people, wherein wrongdoers are held accountable, restored and sent back as contributing members of society,” he added.

Now on its 16th year, MBFI and PhilJA’s Professorial Chair Lectures seeks to promote excellence in the judiciary and legal education through the delivery of timely and comprehensive discourses by seasoned legal practitioners not just for legal practitioners but for the general public as well.

Chief Justice Peralta joins notable professorial chairholders which include Court of Appeals Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao (2018), Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Romeo Callejo (2017), Retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Magdangal de Leon (2016), Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Vitug (2014), Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen (2009) and Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna (2007).