Chief Justice Gesmundo Celebrates Court of Appeals’ 89th Anniversary

February 03, 2025 

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo delivers his speech during the celebration of the Court of Appeals’s (CA) 89th Anniversary at the CA Auditorium on February 3, 2025. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Office of the Spokesperson)

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo joined the 89th-anniversary celebration of the Court of Appeals (CA) on February 3, 2025, during their flag-raising ceremony at the CA courtyard.

Chief Justice Gesmundo paid tribute to the CA’s transformation and how it has adapted to social changes since its creation 89 years ago. “Indeed, a robust and efficient appeals process is the bedrock of a well-functioning judiciary, and the work of the appellate courts is indispensable to the fair dispensation of justice in our country,” the Chief Justice emphasized.

Chief Justice Gesmundo also underscored the significant role technology plays in the administration of justice, citing as an example how embracing digital platforms for court hearings has resulted in more efficient case management. “These tools have not only allowed us to continue serving the public amidst unforeseen challenges but have also set the stage for a future where justice is delivered more swiftly, fairly, and transparently,” he said.

Chief Justice Gesmundo stated that the Supreme Court of the Philippines remains steadfast in its mission to improve the judicial and legal landscape through its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), now in its third year of implementation. The SPJI aims to shape a judiciary that is efficient, innovative, and accessible—one that is empowered by technology to better serve the public.

Chief Justice Gesmundo with (on his right) Court of Appeals (CA) Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta, other CA Associate Justices, and CA employees. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Office of the Spokesperson)

CA Presiding Justice (PJ) Fernanda Lampas-Peralta highlighted the accomplishments of the CA in 2024, reporting an impressive achievement rate of 108 percent. The CA disposed of 15,752 cases, surpassing its target of 14,520 cases. Additionally, PJ Lampas-Peralta announced that the CA Accounting Office received the Outstanding Accounting Office Award from the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines. Furthermore, the CA earned a grade of 90 percent on the energy audit conducted by the Department of Energy.

Present at the ceremony were CA Anniversary Executive Committee Chairperson, CA Associate Justice Maria Elisa Sempio Diy, Co-Chairpersons CA Associate Justices Marietta S. Brawner-Cawaling and Raymond Joseph G. Javier, along with other CA Associate Justices. (Press release courtesy of the Supreme Court Office of the Spokesperson)