Last April 27, 2004, the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Judicial and Bar Council promulgated the New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary (A.M. No.03-05-01-SC), in solidarity of the Philippines with the universal clamor for a universal code of judicial ethic. It took effect last June 1, 2004 following its publication in two national newspapers of large circulation to ensure its widest publicity. This Code supersedes the Canons of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Judicial Conduct.

The New Code on Judicial Conduct was premised on a cognizance of the following:
1. That a competent, independent and impartial judiciary is essential if the courts are to fulfill their role in upholding constitutionalism and the rule of law;

2. That public confidence in the judicial system and in the moral authority and integrity of the judiciary is of utmost importance in a modern democratic society;

3. That it is essential that judges, individually and collectively, respect and honor judicial office as a public trust and strive to enhance and maintain confidence in the judicial system.

CANON 1 - INDEPENDENCE
Judicial independence is a pre-requisite to the rule of law and a fundamental guarantee of a fair trial. A judge shall therefore uphold and exemplify judicial independence to both its individual and institutional aspects. Judges shall exercise the judicial function independently on the basis of their assessment of the facts and in accordance with a conscientious understanding of the law, free of any extraneous influence, inducement, pressure, threat or interference, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason.

Similarly, judges shall not allow family, social, or other relationships to influence judicial conduct or judgment. The prestige of judicial office shall not be used to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge.

CANON 2 - INTEGRITY
Integrity is essential not only to the proper discharge of the judicial office but also to the personal demeanor of judges. Judges shall ensure that not only is their conduct above reproach, but that it is perceived to be so in the view of a reasonable observer. The behavior and conduct of judges must reaffirm the people’s faith in the integrity of the judiciary. Justice must not merely be done but must also be seen to be done.

CANON 3 - IMPARTIALITY
Impartiality is essential to the proper discharge of the judicial office. It applies not only to the decision itself but also to the process by which the decision is made. Judges shall perform their judicial duties without favor, bias, or prejudice.

Judges shall disqualify themselves from participating in any proceedings in which they are unable to decide the matter impartially or in which it may appear to a reasonable observer that they are unable to decide the matter impartially.

CANON 3 - PROPRIETY
Judges shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all their activities. As a subject of constant public scrutiny, judges must accept personal restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly. In particular, judges shall conduct themselves in a way that is consistent with the dignity of the judicial office.

Furthermore, judges shall not knowingly permit court staff or others subject to their influence, direction or authority, to ask for, or accept, any gift, bequest, loan or favor in relation to anything done or to be done or omitted to be done in connection with their duties or functions.

CANON 5 - EQUALITY
Ensuring equality of treatment to all before the courts is essential to the due performance of the judicial office. That is why judges shall be aware of, and understand, diversity in society and differences arising from various sources, including but not limited to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, caste, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, social and economic status and other like causes.

CANON 6 - COMPETENCE & DILIGENCE
Judges shall perform all judicial duties, including the delivery or reserved decisions, efficiently, fairly and with reasonable promptness. Judges shall maintain order and decorum in all proceedings before the court and must be patient, dignified, and courteous in relation to litigants, witnesses, lawyers, and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity. Judges shall not engage in conduct incompatible with the diligent discharge of judicial duties.

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TRAFFIC IN THE CITY. This Column is saddened by the worsening traffic condition in downtown Naga. This could be attributed to the narrow roads in the commercial district which were aggravated by the undisciplined stallholders and ambulant vendors occupying parts of the streets.

Equally troublesome for the motorists is the lack of parking spaces in downtown area in general. There is a need for the City Hall to come up with innovative and effective ways to immediately resolve this problem.

JOKE TIME
A 15/30 media consultant at the Governor’s office found an old brass lamp one afternoon in a closet. A genie appeared when he dusted it off, and granted him three wishes.

“I would love to have some ice-cold beer and plenty of pulotan.” he told the genie.
POOF! Appears a cooler full of San Mig Lite besides a table full of crispy pata, sugpo, sisig, lechon de leche, alimango, kalderetang kambing, etc.
Next, the man said, “I wish I am a king in a beautiful island.”
POOF! The man found himself king in a beautiful island in Pacific living in luxury with a gorgeous queen, a billion dollars in bank deposit, a fleet of cars, and a dozen of private planes!
“Oh man, this is life!” the guy whispered to himself. “I wish I never had to work again.”
POOF! Suddenly, he found himself back to his old desk at the Provincial Capitol.

QUOTES:
“A people not prepared to face its own history, cannot manage its own future.” - Karl Heinz Hansen
“A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.” - Doug Larson