Case Summary (A.M. No. 19-02-11-SC)
Official Travel Authorization and Expenses
The travel authorities for the mentioned judges were granted through a resolution dated February 19, 2019. While the judges were assured that their travel expenses would be covered by The Hague University, a subsequent billing of €37,651 was received, requesting payment for the expenses incurred during the training. This created a misunderstanding, as the PHILJA and the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) initially believed that the training would incur no costs.
Justifications for Payment of Expenses
In response to the unexpected billing, Chancellor Adolfo S. Azcuna of PHILJA and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez issued a memorandum justifying the expenses. They emphasized the significance of the judicial training as a pioneering collaboration between The Hague University and PHILJA, arguing for the need to nurture this partnership for future programs. They highlighted that the training had considerable value, indicating that the participants served as exemplary ambassadors of the Philippine Judiciary.
Financial Viability and Proposal for Payment
Chancellor Azcuna confirmed that PHILJA possessed sufficient funds to meet the €37,651 expense, translating to approximately ₱2,141,588.06 at an exchange rate of ₱56.88 per euro. The Board of Trustees of PHILJA subsequently resolved to authorize this payment. This resolution was formally submitted to the Court En Banc for approval.
Court's Directive and Breakdown of Costs
The Court, in its Agenda dated November 12, 2019, instructed PHILJA to coordinate with The Hague University to provide a detailed invoice breakdown for the incurred expenses. Upon compliance, PHILJA submitted a breakdown showing a total expense of €37,500, which included costs for airfare, accommodation, meals, transportation, and administration, confirmed by a detailed table of expenses.
Court's Approval of Payment
After reviewing the submitted breakdown and finding it satisfactory, the Court approved the resolution from the Board of Trustees of PHILJA regar
...continue readingCase Syllabus (A.M. No. 19-02-11-SC)
Case Overview
- This resolution pertains to the expenses incurred by ten participants from the Supreme Court of the Philippines regarding a judicial training on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- The training was held at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands from March 9 to 16, 2019.
- The Supreme Court, through its Resolution dated February 19, 2019, granted travel authorities for the following officials and judges:
- Deputy Court Administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva
- Judge Cecilyn B. Villavert
- Judge Mary Charlene V. Hernandez-Azura
- Judge Caesar C. Buenagua
- Judge Wilhelmina J. Wagan
- Judge Jonel S. Mercado
- Judge Macaundas M. Hadjirasul
- Judge Mercedita G. Dadole-Ygnacio
- Judge Wenida M. Papandayan
- Judge Peter V. Eisma
Training and Financial Arrangements
- The training was organized in cooperation with the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) and focused on the Rome Statute and the ICC.
- The Hague University initially covered travel expenses and accommodations for the participants.
- After the training, The Hague University billed the Philippine Judiciary for a share of the expenses amounting to €37,651.
Misunderstanding of Costs
- The PHILJA and the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) believed that the training was provided "for free" or "at no expense."
- However, they later realized that the expenses had only been advanced by The Hague Universi