By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Public trust in Philippine courts is shaped not only by verdicts but by how litigants are treated, informed and heard inside the justice system, according to a new study presented by the Kapunungan sa mga Pilipinong Hukom (HUKOM) to Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.
HUKOM presented the findings during a courtesy call at the Supreme Court on August 10, highlighting a study commissioned from the Ateneo de Naga University Social Science Research Center.
The research surveyed 200 court users in Naga City and nearby municipalities, most of them defendants or accused persons in dangerous-drug cases, to examine how perceptions of fairness, respect and clear communication affect confidence in the courts.
The study also found that frontline court personnel matter. Their professionalism, courtesy and efficiency can significantly shape how litigants experience the justice system.
HUKOM recommended continuous training for judges and court employees, faster case-flow management, digital docketing and scheduling, simpler court language, regular feedback mechanisms and improved information services.
It also called for safer and more accessible court facilities, clearer timelines for proceedings and periodic surveys measuring court users’ experiences.
Gesmundo welcomed the study, saying evidence-based research can strengthen the Judiciary’s reform efforts under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027.
He said the findings could also support the Supreme Court’s High-Performance Courts initiative, which evaluates court and personnel performance to identify areas needing improvement.
The study cautioned that its findings are indicative and not representative of all Philippine trial courts, given its limited geographic and respondent coverage.
Still, it delivers a pointed message to the Judiciary:
People may accept an unfavorable decision—but they are far more likely to trust the courts when they believe the process itself was fair.
For a justice system seeking greater public confidence, fairness cannot end with the judgment.
It must be felt from the moment a litigant walks through the courtroom door.
ia/xf
