By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen judicial cooperation between the Philippines and Brunei, focusing on judicial education, professional exchanges and emerging cross-border legal challenges.
Gesmundo paid a courtesy call on Sultan Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman on August 31, 2026, a day after the Philippine Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen judicial education and institutional cooperation.
The MOU, signed through the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) and Brunei’s Judicial Education and Training Unit, provides a framework for professional exchange, knowledge-sharing, mutual understanding and friendship between the two institutions.
Sultan Bolkiah welcomed Gesmundo to Brunei and noted that it was the Chief Justice’s first visit to the sultanate since assuming office on April 5, 2021.
He expressed support for closer judicial cooperation and encouraged both judiciaries to continue sharing knowledge, expertise and best practices.
Gesmundo presented a working proposal developed after the MOU signing under the theme “Enhancing Judicial Capacity on Emerging, Cross-Border and Transnational Issues.”
The proposed cooperation covers Shari’ah and the administration of justice, trafficking in persons, cybercrime and electronic or digital evidence, climate justice and environmental adjudication, and artificial intelligence in the judiciary.
Gesmundo said the issues are increasingly relevant across ASEAN and provide opportunities for both judiciaries to strengthen their capacity through mutual learning and knowledge-sharing.
He also emphasized stronger partnerships among ASEAN judiciaries in promoting the rule of law, regional stability and access to justice.
“It is our sincere hope that the friendship between the judiciaries of Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines will continue to flourish in the years ahead,” Gesmundo said.
The Philippine delegation included PHILJA Chancellor and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Edgardo L. Delos Santos, Vice Chancellor Sedfrey M. Candelaria, Academic Affairs Office Chief Dean Emerito I. Enginco and other Supreme Court personnel.
Earlier, the delegation met with Brunei Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong at the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam.
The engagements followed the August 30 signing of the MOU, which formally established a framework for continued judicial education, professional exchanges and cooperation between the Philippine and Brunei judiciaries.
ia/xf
