Azcuna elected to int’l jurist body

MANILA, Philippines - Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna has been elected one of five new commissioners of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Malacañang announced yesterday.

Azcuna, current chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), will be the first Filipino to join the ICJ in Geneva, Switzerland and will serve as commissioner for five years beginning August 12.

“While the ICJ’s headquarters are in Geneva, he will continue to work from Manila. We offer our warmest congratulations to Justice Azcuna, who is a shining example of Filipino excellence in the field of law,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

The ICJ is composed of 60 eminent jurists and lawyers from all regions of the world.

The ICJ “promotes and protects human rights through the Rule of Law, by using its unique legal expertise to develop and strengthen national and international justice systems.”

Prior to his election to the ICJ, Azcuna served as chancellor of PHILJA since 2009. From 2002 to 2009, Azcuna was an associate justice of the Supreme Court.

“He (Azcuna) brings his wealth of experience and wisdom to the ICJ. We are confident that ICJ will benefit from his long years as a jurist and as a trainor of judges,” Lacierda said.