Justice Marquez Leads ASEAN Judicial Workshop on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence
September 30, 2025
Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez speaks before delegates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the Regional Workshop in Preparation for the Handbook on Judicial Training Strategies on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for ASEAN Countries, held on September 18, 2025, at The Judicial Academy Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Chairperson of the SC Special Committee on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence and National Coordinator of the Global Action on Cybercrime Project (GLACY Project) for the Philippines, led the Regional Workshop in Preparation for the Handbook on Judicial Training Strategies on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for ASEAN Countries (Workshop) held on September 17 to 19, 2025, at The Judicial Academy Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite.
The three-day workshop aimed to help judges, prosecutors, and law enforcers improve how they handle cybercrime cases. It focused on strengthening investigation, prosecution, adjudication, and court procedures, while promoting cross-border cooperation among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.
Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez (center) at the Regional Workshop in Preparation for the Handbook on Judicial Training Strategies on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for ASEAN Countries, on September 18, 2025, at The Judicial Academy Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite. He is joined by Philippine judges, SC and Philippine Judicial Academy officials, Department of Justice – Office of Cybercrime lawyers, Council of Europe representatives, and delegates from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Participants came from the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LAO PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. They shared experiences, reviewed current training programs, and worked on strategies tailored to their respective jurisdictions.
Justice Marquez stressed the importance of regional collaboration and expressed hope that the workshop would lead to the creation of judicial training handbooks for each country. He also highlighted the need for continued cooperation across Asia to fight cybercrime effectively.
On the first day, Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) Chancellor and retired SC Associate Justice Rosmari D. Carandang welcomed the delegates. She emphasized the value of working together to improve judicial responses to cybercrime. She also reaffirmed PHILJA’s support for capacity-building efforts across ASEAN.
Representatives from the Council of Europe (COE), Anastasia Gadja of the GLACY-e Project, and Hortensia Pasalau of the Octopus Project, recognized the Philippines as a key regional hub in Southeast Asia for anti-cybercrime efforts. They underscored the need for training programs that respond to regional challenges and global trends.
Judge Rainelda H. Estacio-Montesa of Branch 46, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Manila, gave an overview of the Philippine cybercrime situation. She discussed relevant laws, procedural challenges, and the role of designated cybercrime courts. She called for better coordination and consistent legal interpretations to address evolving cybercrime threats.
Branko Stamenković, Special Prosecutor for High-Tech Crime and Head of the Mutual Legal Assistance and Cybercrime Department of the Supreme Public Prosecution Office of Serbia, urged the delegates to modernize their judicial training to keep up with digital threats, emphasizing the importance of understanding new technologies, including electronic evidence. He added that although international partners can offer valuable support, each country must take full ownership of its cybercrime response and work toward building self-sustaining strategies.
The delegates also discussed their countries’ experiences, training programs, and how digital evidence is evolving in criminal cases.
Branko Stamenković (behind the podium), Special Prosecutor for High-Tech Crime and Head of Mutual Legal Assistance and Cybercrime Department of the Supreme Public Prosecution Office of Serbia, shares his expertise with delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the Regional Workshop in Preparation for the Handbook on Judicial Training Strategies on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for ASEAN Countries, held on September 18, 2025, at The Judicial Academy Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite. With him are (seated from left): Judge Elisa R. Sarmiento-Flores of Branch 71, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Pasig City; Judge Rainelda H. Estacio-Montesa of Branch 46, RTC, Manila City; and Court of Appeals Associate Justice Wilhelmina B. Jorge-Wagan. (Photo courtesy of the Supreme Court Communications Office)
On the second day, COE representatives introduced CyBox, an online training platform for judges and law enforcers. Delegates explored its multilingual resources and were encouraged to adapt them for local use. They also discussed the importance of including cybercrime training in national programs and building local pools of trainers.
Breakout sessions allowed delegates from different countries to share best practices. Later, they regrouped by country to refine strategies tailored to their national contexts.
On the final day, delegates presented draft strategies for judicial training in their countries. These included plans for curriculum design, engaging stakeholders, and implementing programs. Common challenges raised were low digital literacy, lack of standardized training, and weak coordination with law enforcement.
The workshop was organized by the Office of Justice Marquez, in partnership with the COE, PHILJA, and SC Management Information Systems Office.
Among the attendees were Court of Appeals Justices Jose Lorenzo R. Dela Rosa and Wilhelmina B. Jorge-Wagan; PHILJA Vice Chancellor and retired SC Justice Edgardo L. Delos Santos; Judge Elisa R. Sarmiento-Flores of Branch 71, RTC, Pasig City; and representatives from the Office of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.
The other delegates from the Philippines were Presiding Judges Cherry Chiara L. Hernando of Branch 93, RTC, Quezon City; Rocil S. Aquino-Tambasacan of Branch 21, RTC, Imus City, Cavite; Allan Francisco S. Garciano of Branch 83, RTC, Mandaue City, Cebu; Anna Maria C. Mendoza of Branch 99, RTC, Olongapo City, Zambales; former Presiding Judge Elma M. Rafallo-Lingan of Branch 159, RTC, Pasig City; and Department of Justice – Office of Cybercrime lawyers, Atty. Khersien Y. Bautista and Atty. Inna Marie Feliz P. Ladislao.
From Cambodia, the participants included Mr. John Sopheak, Judge of Kandal Provincial Court of First Instance; Mr. NOY Sam Ol, Division’s First Training Chief of the Royal School of Judges and Prosecutors of the Royal Academy of Justice Cambodia (RAJC); and Mr. SUM Nara, Division’s Continuing Training Chief of the Royal School of Notaries of the RAJC.
Delegates from LAO PDR were Mr. Khampay Sayasouk and Mr. Phongphana Luang Amath.
From Malaysia, Chief Justice Dato’ Quay Chew Soon, High Court Judge of Shah Alam; Justice Dato’ Indera Mohd Arief Emran bin Arifin, High Court Judge of Kuala Lumpur; and Madam Norma binti Ismail, Sessions Court Judge of Kuala Lumpur attended.
Joining from Myanmar were Mr. Win Min Htun, Deputy Director, Training Department, Office of the Union SC; and Additional Township Judges Mr. Lung Kying Htang, Bago Township Court, and Mr. Ne Myo Aung, Thingangyun Township Court.
From Thailand, the delegates were Mr. Atiruj Tunbooncharoen, Judge in the Research Division of the Court of Appeals acting as Chief Judge of the Office of the President of the SC, Judicial Training Institute; Mr. Kamonsak Chaichanavitchakit, Judge of the Pathumthani Juvenile and Family Court acting as Judge of the Office of the President of the SC, Judicial Training Institute; Mr. Worrawong Atcharawongchai, Presiding Judge of the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court; and Mr. Sansern Tejsihadhanananda, Judge of the Office of the President of the SC, acting as Presiding Judge of the Min Buri Civil Court.
Viet Nam was represented by lecturers of The Court Academy of Viet Nam, Mr. NGUYEN Huu Hoang and Mr. NGUYEN Van Nghia. (Press release courtesy of the SC Office of the Spokesperson)
Delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participate in a breakout session during the Regional Workshop in Preparation for the Handbook on Judicial Training Strategies on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for ASEAN Countries, held on September 18, 2025, at The Judicial Academy Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite. (Photo courtesy of the Supreme Court Communications Office)
Delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) engage in a breakout session during the Regional Workshop in Preparation for the Handbook on Judicial Training Strategies on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for ASEAN Countries, held on September 18, 2025, at The Judicial Academy Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite. (Photo courtesy of the Supreme Court Communications Office)
Delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participate in a breakout session during the Regional Workshop in Preparation for the Handbook on Judicial Training Strategies on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for ASEAN Countries, held on September 18, 2025, at The Judicial Academy Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite. (Photo courtesy of the Supreme Court Communications Office)
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) exchange insights during a breakout session at the Regional Workshop in Preparation for the Handbook on Judicial Training Strategies on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence for ASEAN Countries, held on September 18, 2025, at The Judicial Academy Philippines, Tagaytay City, Cavite. (Photo courtesy of the Supreme Court Communications Office)