By AC Putong
Protection of students’ rights and better response to complaints are some of the goals of this school year’s Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) Judiciary, according to Prime Justice Hon. Francis Lianro Bulado.
The branch is responsible for exercising judicial powers in all cases related to the conduct of students in the university, and hears and decides cases on student misconduct.
On acting upon complaints filed by students, Bulado said they aim to complete and adopt the SUSG Rules of Court (RoC) which started last year.
The RoC is a set of procedural regulations that govern pleading, practice, and procedure in courts and the admission to the practice of law.
According to Bulado, they will align the student manual with the SUSG constitution, particularly on provisions relating to the Judiciary’s jurisdiction.
The current members drafted the RoC and definition of jurisdiction in line with the student manual during their first meeting last Sept. 15.
Bulado also shared that they will implement new initiatives given that “there is no prohibition against proactive initiatives.”
Included in their plans are the allocation of the Judiciary’s discretionary fund to collaborate with the executive branch in organizing educational discussions on relevant laws.
This includes the use of social media to inform students on relevant Supreme Court rulings that protect students’ rights.
Following this, the Judiciary further aims to establish a centralized databank of its previous rulings on student-related cases to “serve as a valuable source of legal reference for the student body.”
“This will formalize our procedures, minimize confusion, and provide both students and the Judiciary with a clear and reliable framework for resolving cases,” Bulado said.
Meanwhile, Hon. Princess Obeso said they will also release a guide on filing complaints as an accessible resource for students.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about our jurisdiction in handling cases and issues, but this can be remedied by strategic information dispersal,” she said.
New Judiciary lineup
The new set of appointees, composed of one prime justice and six justices, was announced last Sept. 10.
Led by Hon. Bulado, the Justices are Hon. Obeso, Hon. Ivan B. Elum, Hon. Roselyn Jane P. Bolingot, Hon. Julius Joe T. Umbina, Hon. Art Shane G. Dacua, and Hon. Alessandra Isabelle A. Donesa.
The said appointees were recommended by the newly-established Judiciary Advisory Council (JAC) to the SUSG.
“The JAC called for applications, reviewed and shortlisted applicants, interviewed the applicants, deliberated on the individuals, and forwarded the final list of nominees,” SUSG President Grylle Adrian Malala explained.
Last year’s SUSG Judiciary was headed by Prime Justice Hon. Christian Brodeth.
ERRATUM: The list of justices under the new Judiciary lineup includes Hon. Bulado, Hon. Princess Noriedelle B. Obeso, Hon. Ivan B. Elum, Hon. Roselyn Jane P. Bolingot, Hon. Julius Joe T. Umbina, Hon. Art Shane G. Dacua, and Hon. Alessandra Isabelle A. Donesa.
