The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) aims to establish 14 justice zones by the end of 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday (Dec. 9).
During the ongoing Philippine Human Rights Summit, DOJ Planning Division Chief Wilson Suba explained that justice zones are “areas where local justice sector agencies such as the police, the prosecutors, judges, public attorneys and managers of detention facilities identify problems and arrive at common solutions to address them.”
He said the justice zones are initiatives of the JSCC which is composed of the DOJ, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Supreme Court (SC).
“Right now we have at least six justice zones in strategic parts of the country,” said Suba.
Suba said the first justice zone was established in 2014 in Quezon City which, he said, “continues to be an effective mechanism of justice sector agencies in the area.”
“It is right the 14 justice zones will not be enough to advance the mandate of the justice sector to ensure the rule of law,” the DOJ official admitted.
“But maybe the additional justice zones will be considered in the next development plan of the Philippines for the justice sector,” he expressed hope.