For decades, the Philippine justice system has moved at a snail’s pace, with the shuffle of paperwork, lengthy queues, and delayed cases becoming almost synonymous with the pursuit of justice. Today, the Supreme Court (SC) is now embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation to reimagine its processes. But as with any sweeping reform, the integration of AI into the justice system brings both promise and peril, raising urgent questions about access, equity, and the very nature of due process.
Reaching remote residences
The digital divide remains a formidable barrier in the Philippines, where 36 percent of Filipinos lack reliable internet access, particularly in remote areas. SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae Ting emphasized that “one of the goals of the Supreme Court is to make justice more accessible…even in the remote areas.”
This objective catalyzed the inception of the Justice on Wheels program in 2004, introducing mobile courtrooms through retrofitted buses. This enables judges and court personnel to reach far-flung communities that would otherwise struggle to access judicial services.
Over time, the program evolved into the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program, incorporating litigation and legal aid clinics where Integrated Bar of the Philippines personnel would visit prisoners to provide complimentary legal counsel. In the Northern Cotabato District Jail, more than 300 cases were resolved during this program in 2018.
Technological advancements further transformed the initiative into the Remote Hearing and Equal Access to Law Justice program in 2024. This version integrates technology into court proceedings through video conferencing capabilities. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the system underwent pilot testing in Davao. However, the outbreak prompted the high court to provide internet upgrades and invest in satellite dishes. In Tawi-Tawi, for instance, satellite connectivity eliminated the need for arduous commutes to attend hearings.
Paperless proceedings
Beyond accessibility concerns, expediting judicial processes has long been a persistent challenge within the Philippine justice system. The overwhelming volume of paperwork flooding court halls has created bottlenecks that strain the system’s capacity to deliver timely judicial resolutions.
To address these inefficiencies, the SC has implemented comprehensive digital solutions, including eWarrants, eSubpoenas, and eFiling systems. The eWarrant and eSubpoena systems allow judges to issue warrants following hearings and upload them directly to the Philippine National Police (PNP) eWarrant system, creating a centralized database accessible to all PNP officials nationwide for immediate warrant service.
The eFiling system, launched in 2024, represents a paradigm shift from traditional paper-based processes. Previously, serving and filing pleadings required registered mail or courier services, causing significant delays. The new digital system enables instantaneous transmission via email, expediting pleading submissions.
These digitized documents require authentication before transmission. To further accelerate processes, court-issued documents now feature digital signatures. However, this raises legitimate concerns about security and the protection of sensitive legal documents from tampering or misuse.
To ensure robust security, the SC has developed a comprehensive Security Framework employing zero-trust principles, requiring multi-factor authentication and implementing different access levels for each user per document. This framework is also being considered for eNotarization implementation, currently in pilot testing, following the Supreme Court’s 2022 to 2027 Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI).
Another significant challenge facing the judiciary is the shortage of stenographers, compounded by the time-intensive nature of transcription processes that hinder document validation and processing. Ting cited that an AI-enabled voice-to-text transcription software is undergoing pilot testing through a private provider, with preliminary results showing 90 percent accuracy rates. Notably, the program has been specifically trained to comprehend various Filipino accents and dialects. However, accuracy depends on microphone quality, background noise levels, among others.
Banging the gavel on AI use
While AI holds potential, the SC has drawn clear boundaries for its use. Ting clarified that the high court “doesn’t see AI as drafting the decisions because under the Constitution, as the chief (SC chief justice) would always say, ‘it is the courts and the judges who are mandated to render the decision and not ChatGPT.’”
Instead, the SC plans to restrict AI usage to low-risk applications, such as voice-to-text transcription and legal research support. “AI is not there to replace the judges because decision-making is very complex,” Ting declared.
Ting also revealed that the court is establishing a second version of the automated case management system, featuring a web application for case filing, pleading uploads, and case progress tracking. Since the system remains in implementation phases, specific application features are still being determined.
To guide these reforms, the SC developed a comprehensive AI governance framework incorporating ethical principles, reliability standards, and accountability measures. This is also part of SPJI’s target outcomes: efficiency, innovation, and access.
Through the strategic integration of technology across these various domains, the SC demonstrates its commitment to delivering justice in a manner that is timely, efficient, and equitable while striving to make judicial services more accessible to all citizens. As Ting posited, “justice shouldn’t only be seen, it should also be felt.”
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s Vanguard Special 2025. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSVanguardSpecial2025.
