The Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam and the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), representing the Supreme Court of the Philippines, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in judicial education and training.
The MoU was signed by Acting Chief Registrar Hajah Hazarena POKSJ DP Haji Hurairah, in her capacity as Chairperson of the Judicial Education and Training (JET) Unit, on behalf of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam, and Chancellor Edgardo L Delos Santos on behalf of PHILJA.
The signing was witnessed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong and Chief Justice Alexander G Gesmundo of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
Also present were Judicial Commissioner Dato Paduka Haji Abdullah Soefri POKSM DSP Haji Abidin, Judicial Commissioner Muhammed Faisal PDJLD Colonel (Rtd) DSP Haji Kefli, and Bernadette A Mendoza, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines.
The MoU provides a framework for cooperation in judicial education, training and capacity-building, including the exchange of expertise and good practices, development and sharing of educational resources, collaborative programmes, and professional exchanges.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Chong said the MoU provides the framework and that it was now for the respective institutions and their people to “give that framework life”.
He expressed hope that the agreement would facilitate participation by judges, judicial officers and court personnel from both countries in each other’s programmes, as well as the sharing of experiences and educational resources, joint initiatives and professional networking.
The signing marks another step in bilateral judicial cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines.
It is the sixth memorandum signed by the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam with a foreign jurisdiction, following agreements with China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Peru.