THE Supreme Court (SC) is eyeing a tie-up with the Sweden-based World Maritime University to raise judicial expertise in maritime law and upgrade the country’s admiralty court system.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo announced this after he and Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez paid a recent visit to the WMU in Malmö, Sweden.
Gesmundo and Marquez were welcomed by WMU President Professor Maximo Mejia Jr., the first Filipino to lead the university.
The visit is part of the SC’s ongoing efforts to improve the Philippines’ maritime justice system.
The SC in 2019 issued the Rules of Procedures for Admiralty Cases to provide parties in cases of maritime disputes with fast, reliable, and efficient access to Philippine courts.
The Rules also aim to build judicial expertise in handling admiralty and maritime cases.
The SC has already designated several Regional Trial Courts as special admiralty courts to handle such cases.
Gesmundo said the Judiciary’s commitment to aligning Philippine maritime procedures with international standards is part of the overall reform program under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, which includes improving access to maritime justice.
Gesmundo said during the visit, they discussed potential partnerships on specialized training for Philippine judges, participation in WMU’s postgraduate programs, and technical support to modernize admiralty court systems.
WMU Professors Dr. Aref Fakhry, Dr. George Theocharidis, and Dr. María Carolina Romero Lares shared insights on emerging trends such as the use of digital evidence and virtual hybrid hearings to improve efficiency.
The discussion, according to the SC, also highlighted the growing use of alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation and arbitration in maritime disputes.
The visit also addressed reforms to the Philippine ship registry and ways to prevent fraudulent entries.
WMU is a global academic institution founded by the International Maritime Organization. It offers advanced and short-term programs in maritime law, governance, and policy, and promotes sustainable maritime development worldwide.
