Bersamin appeals to court officials to help reform judiciary

December 3, 2018

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin on Monday appealed to his colleagues and court officials to help him in putting reforms in place in the judiciary.

In a flag-raising ceremony Monday as top magistrate, Bersamin said: ''“I have no promise to you except that I will continue to serve with all sincerity in my heart. I intend also to address our persistent problems in the lower courts.".

"I ask you to welcome me, to love me, to support me, to help me in my 11 months. It's just a short period so just bear with me)," Bersamin added.

A big banner and colorful balloons were displayed in Bersamin's first flag-raising ceremony as chief justice.

Bersamin called himself as an "accidental chief justice."

''I know that you have expected maybe another individual to be appointed to this office. I am not apologizing for myself, I am not apologizing for the President. I am here because I was appointed, so that should stop all speculations from within and without regarding whether Justice Bersamin deserved to be chief justice or not," he said.

“There may be someone more senior than me now sitting in the Court, but at age 69, I can look back and tell you that I have 32 years behind me in this business," Bersamin stressed.

Bersamin vowed to strictly implement banning mobile phone use among court personnel during office hours.

“Let us avoid using cellphones while on duty. It's shameful, cellphones cannot sustain our living. I was to bring back use of telephone and confiscate cellphones. This may be petty, but it's a good start," he pleaded. DMS