Delegation from the Philippines visits the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH

On 14 July 2023, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH had the honour of welcoming a delegation of representatives of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Philippine Judicial Academy, and the Embassy of the Philippines in The Netherlands, to its premises in The Hague.

The delegation was headed by the Hon. Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, Senior Associate Justice, acting on behalf of the Hon. Alexander G. Gesmundo, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Acting Chief Justice Leonen was accompanied by the Hon. Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, Associate Justice, the Hon. Rodil V. Zalameda, Associate Justice, the Hon. Jose Midas P. Marquez, Associate Justice, the Hon. Rosmari D. Carandang (Ret.), Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy, H.E. J. Eduardo Malaya, Ambassador of the Philippines to the Netherlands, and other representatives. The Permanent Bureau of the HCCH was represented by Dr Gérardine Goh Escolar, Deputy Secretary General. The visit provided the opportunity to discuss the operation and practical benefits of the 1970 Evidence Convention and the 2019 Judgments Convention, as well as the HCCH’s normative work relating to Central Bank Digital Currencies, Digital Assets and Tokens, and the Digital Economy.

The visit coincided with the 13th anniversary of the date on which the Philippines became a Member of the HCCH. The Philippines has been a Member of the HCCH since 2010 and is currently a Contracting Party to the 1961 Apostille Convention, the 1965 Service Convention, the 1980 Child Abduction Convention, the 1993 Adoption Convention, and the 2007 Child Support Convention.