On 28 February, Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Antonio Lagdameo hosted a Kapihan sa Pasuguan (speakers forum) with Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as guest speaker.

From left to right: Justice Pamela Ann Abella Maxino, Justice Marvic Leonen, Justice Mariano Del Castillo, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, Dr. Antonio La Viña, Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, and Justice Marilyn Lagura-Yap

Chief Justice Sereno discussed important developments in the Philippine juridical system. She presented the Supreme Court’s current programs and priorities, and the progress made on ongoing judicial reforms in the Philippines.

The chief justice and a number of associate justices from the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals were in London to attend a series of high-level meetings with UK agencies at the invitation of the British Embassy in Manila.They were also in attendance at the Philippine Embassy forum.

Apart from the guest speaker, the Philippine delegation also included Supreme Court Justices Mariano Del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, and Marvic Leonen; Court of Appeals Justices Pamela Ann Abella-Maxino and Marilyn Lagura-Yap; Dr. Antonio Laviña of the Ateneo de Manila University, and Atty. Maria Lourdes Oliveros of the Office of the Chief Justice.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo underlined the importance of the Philippine judiciary and the indispensable role of the Supreme Court in upholding the rule of law in a democratic society.

The Kapihan sa Pasuguan serves as the Philippine Embassy’s speakers forum where visiting Philippine government officials are invited to discuss topical issues and important developments in the Philippines. The audience is composed mainly of representatives from Filipino and British communities, academia, media organizations and the Philippine Embassy. END