Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Inauguration and Turnover Ceremony of the Sulu Hall of Justice

Thank you to Secretary Antonio Lagdameo, the Special Assistant to the President for your kind introduction. [Please be seated]

Our Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court; Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida; Education Secretary Sonny; Sulu 1st District Representative Samier Tan; Kusug Tausug Partylist Representative Aiman Tan: Governor of Sulu Abdusakur “Toto” Tan II; Vice Governor of Sulu Abdusakur Tan of well-known fame – ang ating kaibigan na si Sakur; Patikul Municipal Mayor Kabir Hayudini and the other municipal mayors here present – I believe that all of the mayors of Sulu are in attendance today; mga kasamahan ko sa pamahalaan; aking mga kababayan.

Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

Assalamu alaikum!

As we come together here at the Sulu Hall of Justice, we reaffirm a fundamental principle: that justice must be accessible to every Filipino, that our institutions must uphold the rule of law, protect our people’s rights, and bring government closer to those that it serves.

This occasion is especially meaningful for Sulu. I know that limited facilities have long posed challenges to the delivery of judicial services in this province.

These difficulties affect court operations, delay the resolution of cases, and, ultimately, place an added burden upon our people.

At the heart of these challenges are Filipinos whose livelihoods and families may depend on the timely resolution of their cases.

After all, peace means resolving conflicts through justice, treating every person with fairness, and respecting the rule of law.

The establishment of the Sulu Hall of Justice is a concrete step towards making that principle a reality.

It makes the justice system more accessible to our people, providing a place where their rights can be upheld, their grievances heard, and their disputes resolved under the rule of law.

Beyond providing a dedicated space for court operations, the Sulu Hall of Justice supports the Judiciary’s continuing effort to improve efficiency and modernize its services.

Our commitment to the region extends beyond the courts. In July, the DOJ launched its Katarungan Office in Zamboanga City, delivering legal assistance and other justice-related services to our communities.

As of August 2026, the entire Katarungan Caravan had served over 8,200 individuals across the country.

Meanwhile, the establishment of the first trafficking-free Justice Zone in Zamboanga City in 2023 sought to address case backlogs, jail congestion, and delays in the delivery of justice-related services.

We have also implemented programs aimed at easing accessibility to justice nationwide.

From July 2022 to March 2026, the Public Attorney’s Office served over 52 million clients and handled over 1.8 million cases, extending legal assistance to those who need it most.

On digitalization, the adoption of electronic and regionalized bar examinations as the standard for admission to the legal profession is one step towards making the process more efficient.

The rollout of the e-Court 2.0 and Unified Case Management System is likewise helping digitize the filing and service of court documents, the processing of appeals, as well as the conduct of criminal and special proceedings.

The Judiciary also adopted the Governance Framework on the Use of Human-Centered Augmented Intelligence, establishing guidance for the responsible use of emerging technologies in judicial processes.

Just yesterday, the Supreme Court already began implementing digital notarization, enabling accredited notaries to serve the public regardless of their location.

Ultimately, these efforts ensure that justice is accessible, public resources are protected, and government is accountable to the Filipino people.

I recognize that justice is only one part of our broader responsibility to the people. We must also strengthen our health and education systems so that every Filipino can live healthy, secure, and dignified life.

Here in Sulu, this means bringing essential services closer to communities, particularly those who have long faced barriers to accessing them. We will continue working towards these goals for the remainder of 2026 and in the years ahead.

Nais ko pong ipahayag na tinutukan na ng pamahalaan sa maayos na paglipat ng Sulu mula sa BARMM patungo sa Region IX. [applause]

Tinitiyak natin na ang ating mga guro ay patuloy na makakapaglingkod at maa-absorb sa bagong administrative na setup. [applause]

Nakikipag-ugnayan din tayo sa DBM para sa paglikha ng karagdagang plantilla position upang matiyak na lahat ay makatawid at walang maiiwanan. [applause]

Sa sektor naman ng kalusugan, nakatutok din ang ating pamahalaan upang matiyak na tuluy-tuloy ang operasyon ng mga ospital at ang paghahatid ng serbisyong medikal sa lahat ng mamamayan ng Sulu.

Nais kong tiyakin sa ating mga kababayan sa Sulu na hindi kayo pababayaan ng administrasyong ito. Patuloy tayong magtutulungan upang maging maayos ang transisyon, mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga kawani, at higit sa lahat, masiguro na walang serbisyong mapuputol at walang mamamayang maiiwanan. [applause]

But lasting progress demands a shared commitment. Only through the united efforts of our agencies, sectors, partners, and communities can we truly improve the lives of our people.

Rest assured that the Executive remains steadfast in supporting the Judiciary across all pillars of justice in the service of all Filipinos.

At para naman sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Sulu: Hangad po namin na mapakinabangan ninyo ang mga serbisyo at oportunidad na handog ng pamahalaan.

Asahan ninyong bahagi lang ang Sulu Hall of Justice sa aming pagsisikap upang mas mabilis kayong makalapit sa korte, maipaglaban ang inyong karapatan, at makamit ang hustisyang inyong inaasam.

Gagawin po namin ang lahat upang mapanatili ang kapayapaan at seguridad ng inyong lalawigan. Patuloy din po naming bibigyang-prayoridad ang inyong kalusugan, kapakanan, at kinabukasan.

So, together, let us shape a Bagong Pilipinas where the Judiciary stands as a symbol of our shared commitment to peace, justice, and the rule of law.

Magsukul! [Thank you!]

Muli, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat! [applause]

—END—