After e-subpoena, SC eyes e-warrants

MANILA, Philippines - How about arresting criminals via e-mail?

The Supreme Court (SC) is considering this proposal by law enforcers as part of its reform program to speed up court processes through electronic systems.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno bared this during her press conference last Thursday to mark her second of 18 years in the top judicial post.

“Law enforcement agencies have asked SC to consider issuance of e-warrants (or by electronic mail); this is being considered,” Sereno said.

The plan is an offshoot of the e-subpoena system launched by the high court last April.

Sereno said that after just about four months, the Philippine National Police has been cooperative and 95 percent compliant on the implementation in pilot-testing courts.

The Chief Justice said two Quezon City trial courts are now also using automated hearings system where orders and resolutions are issued real time and same day.

This system “cuts down litigation time” because there is no need to wait for orders to be mailed as they are issued in open court, she noted.

The SC is also set to launch this month the continuous trial system in 24 pilot courts.

Sereno said that should the pilot testing succeed, the project might expand to nationwide implementation and “will fundamentally change the legal landscape and be a stabilizing force.”

“The use of an electronic system is to remove human intermediation, increase transparency and minimize and reduce corruption,” she added.

From a total of 61 last year, the SC is targeting 273 e-courts implementing electronic processes by next year, equivalent to 25 percent of total caseload nationwide.

Under this system, the resolution of a simple commercial case that normally takes five to seven years could be cut to just two to three years.

Sereno also said that the SC, in cooperation with other justice system stakeholders like the Department of Justice, would launch the Justice Zones Project by the end of this year. The project aims to reduce inefficiency of the justice system by coordinating processes in geographical areas.

Moreover, Sereno said the high court would address the threat of climate change to court processes, citing the experience in Tacloban City and other areas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda last year where courts records were literally wiped out. She said there is a need for court records preservation system and better infrastructure projects for the courts.

The Chief Justice also hinted at further reforms in the implementation of the already successful small claims courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution systems.

“We are deploying a menu of solutions, not a single track. We are looking at automation, case decongestion, use of technology and others,” she said.

Upon assuming office in 2012, Sereno initiated reforms to address perennial complaints on the snail-paced court processes. But she admitted that the SC reform agenda would need support from the other branches, especially since the judiciary has no power of the purse.

“GAA (General Appropriations Act) money has not been given for reform projects,” she lamented.

The SC asked for P32.6 billion in budget for 2015. But the executive branch only recommended P20.28 billion or 30 percent less than the SC’s request.

Based on the proposed budget submitted by the Palace to Congress, the SC’s budget next year represents 0.65 percent of the total proposed national budget of P2.606 trillion – the lowest percentage in many years.

The judiciary has P18.560 billion to spend this year, which represents about 0.8 percent of the national budget.

Last Saturday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte claimed that the SC did not make any request to fund its e-court in the budget next year.

But SC spokesman Theodore Te belied Valte’s claim.

“The budget proposal of the SC clearly reflects the following items for the e-courts: P350 million for trial courts IT infra, P250 million for Network Security and Connectivity and P175 million for EISP (Enterprise Information Systems Plan),” Te pointed out.