MLQU has conferred the Doctor of Laws degree, Honoris Causa, on Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo in recognition of his outstanding judicial career and service to the public as nation builder.
MLQU Board of Trustees Chairperson Jose L. Acuzar and university President Atty. Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. led the conferment rites, which coincided with the commencement exercise of students of the MLQU School of Law.
“It is with great pride and humility that I accept this degree of Doctor of Law Honoris Causa from the Manuel L. Quezon University. There is no other way to express my deep appreciation but to say the words thank you. I am truly honored,” Chief Justice Gesmundo said.
In his speech, Gesmundo acknowledged that the challenges brought by the quarantine restriction during the public health crisis has led the court to turn to technology to keep the wheels of justice from grinding to a halt, allowing courts to receive pleadings by electronic mails and conduct hearings through remote videoconferencing.
Many more reforms are underway with the aid of technology, he said, to ensure that justice is served with speed and without any disruption—with or without pandemic.
Gesmundo said the court was in the process of developing and establishing an information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure for the Philippine judiciary, an E-court system for enhanced workflow processes and increased visual access to the courts were being rolled out, use of artificial intelligence (AI) for court operations to promote efficiency, and E-payment solutions for court fees, among others.
“Indeed, we have geared ourselves not only for this pandemic, but also for the future. We are making use of technological advancement to make sure that regardless of the situation, the court can continue with its duty of dispensing justice to all safely and efficiently,” Gesmundo told the graduates.#
