September 28, 2009

 

Remarks by Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney at 3rd National Convention of Public Attorneys
(As prepared for delivery)
Manila Hotel

Good afternoon everyone. As the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines I have had the privilege to address many groups and organizations, but I feel especially honored to be with all of you today.

My grandfather was a proud member of the legal profession. I remember, growing up, how he stood particularly straight and tall when he spoke of justice, the rights of people, the sanctity of the law. His voice had that ring of truth that comes when people talk about what really matters to them. So since childhood I have always had a special appreciation for the law, and those who defend it.

Which is why I am so honored to be here today. Many are called to the vocation of law, but I think those who carry the passion for justice are special -- like all of you. You had the intelligence and discipline to win entry to one of the Philippines’ great law schools, whether it was the University of the Philippines, San Beda, Santo Tomas, Ateneo, or one of many others. We can argue about their basketball teams, but we know they are all great centers of learning. This month hundreds of law school graduates sit the bar exam across four long Sundays, sneaking meals out in the rain between sessions. You surmounted that challenge too, in your time. You took the lawyers’ oath before the Supreme Court, stood at a crossroads and made a choice. And your choice was justice for all.

That’s a second childhood memory of mine. Standing at attention, saying the pledge of allegiance. The last three words, “and justice for all,” rung out at the very end. As a child I never thought about what those three words really meant. But today looking out at all of you I understand. “Justice for all” means courage, dedication, and sacrifice by every public attorney in this room. You are the ones who make sure there is justice for all. You are the ones who stand up for the poor, the uneducated, the indigent or infirm, citizens entitled to justice who would otherwise be mute in a court of law. You are the ones who help ensure that justice is indeed blind, that every accused person is represented fairly and competently before the courts. You are the everyday heroes whose commitment not just to law, but to justice for all, makes the judicial system strong and, more importantly, impartial.

Both the United States and the Philippines are nations founded on laws. Laws are only strong if they are enforced, tested, and defended. Law must evolve with the times, but stay true to the eternal values both our nations share. For all of us, law must retain its principal focus on people, and on the right of every person to be heard. You are the ones who every day make sure that the poorest of the poor are heard as equals before the courts. As President Obama recently said, “…justice isn’t about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book. It is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people’s lives, whether they can make a living, care for their families, whether they feel safe in their homes, and welcome in their own nation.”

The welfare of people requires that the five pillars of the justice system stand firm together to provide strong protections to all citizens. The first pillar is lawmakers, who must keep the common good in mind. Law enforcers, our second pillar, must be effective and honest. Prosecutors and defenders must respect the facts and the law. The judiciary, the fourth pillar, must be incorruptible and equitable. And citizens must respect and defend the institutions of justice.

These are goals easy to strive for but hard to attain. No one country has all the answers, and for that reason the United States and the Philippines exchange ideas, experts and experiences. We collaborate to improve legal education, compare ideas about mediation and arbitration. We work together to support victims, apprehend criminals, and share evidence and information. As partners we strive to improve our laws, our legal systems, our judiciaries, and our lawyers so that our citizens are justly served.

One of the programs I am most proud of here is our cooperation with the Philippine Supreme Court’s Action Program for Judicial Reform. Over nine years we’ve worked at the invitation of the Philippine judiciary to offer new programs to court personnel, expand mediation options that lessen court workloads, and introduce prototype small claims courts. It adds up to more efficient justice for victims as well as for the accused, and lets you all focus your efforts where they can make the most benefit. We have a saying in the US – “justice delayed is justice denied.” None of us want to see a victim suffer, or an accused linger in uncertainty, any longer than absolutely necessary.

We all know that justice requires more than good laws and efficient judicial systems. Law enforcers are a key part of the equation. They must be informed, reliable and fully credible to be effective. I recently reviewed our law enforcement cooperation programs with Philippine counterparts, and I am truly impressed by the partnership between our two nations. Across agencies and across areas of concern, we are working together, training together, learning together. For example, the Philippine Office of the Ombudsman works with our Department of Justice to obtain evidence located in the United States that might sustain prosecutions here for corruption or other crimes.

We have a robust working relationship with the Philippine Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, and other agencies. U.S. state and federal attorneys, criminal investigators, and analysts work with Philippine law enforcement to support prosecutions in the Philippines -- including the investigation of terrorist activities. We provide training and resources to improve evidence collection and analysis

The Philippines’ commitment to improving its judicial system is the hallmark of a mature democracy. Citizens who see that the judicial system is effective are less tempted to take the law into their own hands. There is no justice in a vigilante murder or an extra-judicial killing, only tragedy. The justice my grandfather so admired, the justice you all dedicate your lives to, is deliberate, considered, and impartial. It reflects the rights of citizens, the role of institutions, and the integrity of the law.

The justice my grandfather dedicated his life to is the justice you all defend every day. Success requires that all of you here, especially, commit to your role as every day heroes. You must remain incorruptible in your commitments, firm in your convictions, and uncompromising in your defense of human rights. You must partner with law enforcers, with judiciary colleagues, with non-governmental organizations, and with your fellow citizens to make sure respect for the law and its institutions is unassailable. We look to you to safeguard the balance of justice as well as her impartiality. Just as I was proud of my grandfather as a child, today I am proud to look out at all of you, knowing that justice is in your very capable hands. Many thanks.

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