Hon. Nesauro H. Firme, JBC Regular Member representing the Academe; Hon. Juliet Marie De Leon Ferrer, Congresswoman, JBC Ex Officio Member and Head of Delegation; Ms. Vanessa de Francquen, HCJ Co-President, President of the French Appointment, and Designation Committee and President of the United Appointment and Designation Committee; Ms. Hilde Melotte, current HCJ President, Chairman of the Advisory and Research Committee; Ms. Valerie Delfosse, HCJ Co-President, President of the Advisory and Investigation Committee, and President of the United Advisory and Investigation Committee; H.E. Jaime Victor B. Ledda, Philippine Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU; Retired Justice Erlinda P. Uy, JBC Regular Member representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and Hon. Jose V. Mejia, JBC Regular Member representing the Private Sector.

BRUSSELS, 18 October 2024 – In yet another milestone of Philippines-Belgium bilateral relations, a high-level delegation from the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) of the Philippines visited Brussels to conduct discussions and knowledge exchanges with Belgian judicial institutions from 16 to 18 October 2024.

The Philippine delegation was spearheaded by Representative Juliet Marie D. Ferrer, Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice and JBC ex-officio member, along with regular JBC Members Justice Erlinda P. Uy (Ret.) for the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Atty. Nesauro H. Firme for the academe, and Atty. Jose V. Mejia for the private sector. Joining them were administrative officials of the JBC and court attorneys representing other regular and ex-officio JBC members.

In welcoming the delegation, Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda underscored the importance of the JBC’s visit in sustaining the momentum of Philippines-Belgium bilateral relations, as it breaks new ground on matters of judicial cooperation. Justice, judicial matters, and the rule of law are integral elements of the Philippines-Belgium Joint Plan of Action signed last year by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo and Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib.

The JBC delegation had meaningful and productive interactions with Belgium’s High Council of Justice, its direct counterpart in the Belgian government which also handles nominations of candidates for appointment to the judiciary. The JBC delegation also held meetings with Belgium’s Judicial Training Institute, which handles the training and continuing education of Belgian magistrates and other court personnel, and the Federal Ombudsman, whose remit is the investigation of citizen complaints concerning federal public services.

Both the Philippine and Belgian sides acknowledged the benefit of enhancing mutual understanding of their respective judicial systems, as well as learning about each other’s best practices. Both sides also undertook to explore further opportunities for cooperation and collaboration.

The Judicial and Bar Council is a body created under the 1987 Philippine Constitution chaired ex-officio by the sitting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and composed of members from the executive and legislative branches, as well as the IBP, the academe, and the private sector. As an invaluable pillar of the administration of justice and rule of law in the Philippines, its primary mandate is to administer the screening and selection process for nominees to various posts in the Judiciary, from the Supreme Court, other lower courts, the Legal Education Board, and the Ombudsman.

JBC delegation with HCJ officials.

At the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), Director Raf Van Ransbeeck gives a brief historical background of the institution.

JBC with the Dutch-speaking federal Ombudsman, Mr. David Baele.