MANILA, Nov. 23 (PNA) — The Supreme Court (SC) has acted on the request of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Office of the Middle East and African Affairs for feedback on the possibility of establishing a cooperation agreement with Qatar’s Supreme Judiciary Council.
In an en banc resolution promulgated by Clerk of Court Atty. Felipa B. Anama, the SC informed the DFA that “the executive agencies are in the best position to address the welfare of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who either have pending cases in Qatari courts or are imprisoned in Qatar[.]”
The resolution ordered Anama to request the DFA “to inform Chief Justice Al-Ameri of [Qatar’s High Court] of the interest of the [Philippines’ SC] to explore the possibility of executing the proposed Memorandum of Undertaking [MOU.]”
The SC said that the same is beneficial “to the court, the judges and the court personnel, and assist the court in arranging a meeting with the Supreme Judicial Council of Qatar or any of its duly authorized representative to discuss certain provisions on the proposed [MOU] to conform to the limits of each party’s respective powers and functions[.]”
It ordered Anama to create the court’s delegation in connection with the drafting of the proposed agreement.
The SC said that the delegation “shall be composed of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno or her representative, members of the court, Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) Chancellor or his representative, Court Administrator or his representative, judges, and or officials of the court, as the court may determine, that shall study the proposed MOU, in preparation for the anticipated meeting with the Supreme Judicial Council of Qatar.” (PNA)