On 01 January 2020, Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, in his New Year’s Message, stated that he is hopeful that the reforms for the judiciary will be felt this year.
“These reforms are geared towards providing swift, efficient, fair and responsive justice for all Filipinos regardless of stature”, he said.
He also sought the support of everyone in the judiciary and of all Filipinos for these initiatives to succeed. He also added that he is one with the people in praying for a “brighter and better Philippines” “governed peacefully under the rule of law”.
CJ Peralta became the 26th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court when President Rodrigo R. Duterte appointed him last October 2019. He is the Chairperson of the Special Committee on Speedy Trial which drafted the 2017 Revised Guidelines for Continuous Trial of Criminal Cases. He drafted the revision of the Rules of Procedure on Small Claims Cases in 2015. The implementation of these rules of procedure resulted in drastic reduction of case dockets in courts and speedy disposition of cases. (RGAJ)