Cebu City Justice Zone

Office of the Executive Judge - Regional Trial Court Cebu City

Happening Now: Enhancement Seminar
Lupon Cebu City initiated by League of Lupong Tagapamayapa Cebu City
Feb.25,2026

Morning Session :
Speaker: Executive Judge Anacleto G. Debalucos
Organization: Cebu City Justice Zone

177 Josenians law students took their oath before Executive Judge Anacleto G. Debalucos as part of the Continuing Legal Education Program (CLEP)

Convenor Judge Marlon Jay G. Moneva of Regional Trial Court Branch 74 Cebu City is attending and proudly representing Cebu City Justice Zone in the Esri FedGIS Convention held at Washington, D.C.

In addition, he will be presenting a GIS storymap featuring Cebu City Justice Zone and Humanity Behind Bars before the Humphrey Fellows.

Wishing you all the best Convenor Judge Moneva.

In the pursuit of justice, CCJZ's September monthly meeting convened by Co-Convenor Executive Judge Anacleto G Debalucos, RTC Cebu City

Cebu City Justice Zone stakeholders, through the Office of the Regional Court Manager and Executive Judge Nelson Leyco of RTC Lapu-Lapu City, warmly welcome the Federal Court of Australia delegation to the Philippines, and are pleased to impart the mission and work of the Cebu City Justice Zone (CCJZ).

HAPPENING AT THE MOMENT: Monthly meeting at the Cebu City MayorOffice.

Courtesy visit to Mayor Nestor Archival, Cebu City with the Cebu City Justice Zone Stakeholders, DOJ, PAO, PNP, Parole and Probation Administration, DILG and Judiciary.

Turn-over of Ambulance and CCJZ July monthly meeting

Office of the Executive Judge - Regional Trial Court Cebu City

Bridging the Gap: Clinical Education as a Pathway to Access to Justice
2nd CLEP SUMMIT and THE SEARCH FOR THE TEN OUTSTANDING LAW STUDENT PRACTITIONERS

By:
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo

Today, we not merely mark an event, we celebrate a movement—one that is quietly and powerfully reshaping legal education in the country, and with it, the very future of justice in our nation.

We have come a long way in how we approach the training of our lawyers. In the early days, law schools focused on structured instruction and doctrinal mastery. While this academic foundation was essential, over time we came to understand that the practice of law cannot thrive on theory alone. There is a world beyond the classroom—a world where justice is not an abstract ideal but a daily struggle, especially for the poor, the marginalized, and the vulnerable.

The simple truth is that justice must not only be served; it must also be accessible to all. Yet for far too many, justice remains elusive —constrained by procedural hurdles and financial barriers that prevent meaningful access to legal remedies. As members of the legal community, it is our responsibility to bridge the gap between the ideals of the law and its practical benefits for all. In this endeavor, clinical legal education plays a crucial and transformative role.

Legal clinics, established within our academic institutions, serve as vital platforms for both education and service. They function as bridges between theoretical instruction and real-world application, enabling students to engage meaningfully with communities that need legal assistance. From barangays and rural villages to urban poor settlements and courtrooms, these clinics immerse students in the everyday legal concerns of the underserved. Practical legal education in these clinics cover a wide range of issues—human rights, consumer complaints, contractual obligations including marriage, and social welfare benefits.

Indeed, through clinical legal education, our students come to understand the law as a living instrument. They assist single parents seeking child support, survivors of abuse in need of protection, elderly persons securing pensions, and indigenous communities asserting ancestral rights. In these moments, the law becomes personal—and justice, urgent.

It is in these encounters that students undergo a profound transformation. They learn that to practice law is not only to know the rules, but to uplift the human condition. They understand that to be a lawyer is not merely to litigate—but to listen, to advocate, to comfort, and to stand up for what is right.

This brings us to the equally important recognition we must make today: the Ten Outstanding Law Student Practitioners (TOLSP).

This search is more than an award. It is a recognition of a new kind of leadership grounded in compassion, competence, courage, and an unwavering commitment to service. This aims to honor students who have exceeded expectations, who have remained steadfast in their advocacy, and who have exemplified the spirit of justice even before formally entering the profession.

As Chief Justice, I reaffirm the Supreme Court’s steadfast commitment to the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP). We see in this endeavor not only the formation of skilled future lawyers, but the shaping of principled, conscience-driven legal professionals who will uphold the Constitution, give voice to the voiceless, and dedicate themselves to the cause of justice.

This is why we must continue to invest in and strengthen this program. We must ensure that legal clinics are adequately supported; that supervising lawyers are trained and protected; and that students are entrusted with meaningful responsibilities under proper ethical guidance.

We must also foster deeper partnerships between law schools and the justice sector, and our legal clinics must adapt and respond to emerging areas of concern— such as environmental justice, digital rights, and gender-based violence. Including digital rights in clinical legal education helps law students address legal issues in an increasingly technology-driven world. Equally important, technology must be harnessed to extend legal services to those who remain on the margins.

So, to our Law Student Practitioners: Thank you for choosing the path of service. With every pleading you file, every affidavit you prepare, and every question you answer for someone in need, you affirm that justice begins in everyday acts of compassion.

To our CLEP implementers, law deans, mentors, and partners—thank you for your enduring commitment. You are the quiet architects of a legal profession that aspires for not only excellence, but also integrity and inclusivity.

To our organizers—the Cebu City Justice Zone and GOJUST II—our sincere appreciation for providing a platform for dialogue, innovation, and reform.

Let me close with this: Access to justice is not a privilege—it is a right. It is a right that demands our collective effort and commitment. We may have not yet reached our destination, but we are steadily moving forward in our journey.

Thank you very much!