Heads of the first three pillars of the country’s criminal justice system – law enforcement, prosecution, and judiciary – reassured their commitment to dispense criminal justice to all Filipinos swiftly and fairly.
Together in Baguio City last Jan. 11, Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. for the law enforcement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla for the prosecution, and Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo for the judiciary jointly met in a dialogue with justice stakeholders.
The are the principal movers of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) which had set up nine Justice Zones (JZs) nationwide as venue for airing of concerns and coordination in the dispensation of criminal justice.
The other JZs, aside from that in Baguio City, are in Quezon City, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Columba City, Balanga City, Cebu City, Davao City, and Naga City.
The first three dialogues held by JSCC were held last last year in Cebu City, Davao City and Naga City.
The SC’s public information office (PIO) said that in his message to participants, Chief Justice Gesmundo said the dialogue provides a unique opportunity for the Judiciary to meet with justice sector workers and discuss concerns and challenges which should be addressed.
Citing the technology-driven thrust of the SC as mapped out in its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, Gesmundo encouraged every interested stakeholder “to innovate and improve justice sector processes, especially those involving local justice sector coordination.”
He stressed that “the innovation that is the Justice Zone, is, by itself, a compelling example that innovation works for us in the justice sector and its importance is always a nonissue.”
Justice Secretary Remulla said that the DOJ has embarked on various training programs intended to capacitate and equip its prosecutors and other stakeholders with the skills needed to ensure the successful prosecution of criminal cases.
He said that “the DoJ is focused on pushing for an increase in the degree of proof necessary for the filing of criminal cases in court,” as he stressed that “in order to file high quality cases, prosecutors should not just pursue cases on the basis of a finding of probable cause, but also on the existence of a reasonable certainty of conviction.
“We all know that there is a need to narrow the great divide between the current degree of proof needed for the filing of a criminal information, probable cause, and that of conviction, which is proof beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.
“Such measure will benefit the courts as it will help decongest court dockets, and give judges more time to only hear cases where the evidence is complete. This will also help decongest the country’s jails, as only those against whom the evidence of guilt is strong would be charged and convicted,” he added.
Agreeing with the Chief Justice Gesmundo on the use of technological advancements in the projects of the justice sector, Secretary Abalos said that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) uses technology in crime detection and policing.
Abalos highlighted the conduct of virtual court hearings through video conferencing as he pointed out that the system enabled policemen assigned to far-flung areas to continue providing testimony crucial in the prosecution of cases.
The two other pillars of the criminal justice system are penology and community.
Chief Justice Gesmundo was joined by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, and Associate Justices Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Rodil V. Zalameda, Mario V. Lopez, Ricardo R. Rosario, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Japar B. Dimaampao, JoseMidas P. Marquez, Antonio T. Kho, Jr. and Maria Filomena D. Singh.
Also present during the dialogue were Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Maria Theresa V. Mendoza Arcega, Michael Frederick L. Musngi, and Karl B. Miranda; Court of Appeals Associate Justices Ronaldo Roberto B. Martin, Jennifer Joy C. Ong, Michael P. Ong, Eduardo S. Ramos, Jr., Jaime Fortunato A. Caringal, Rex Bernardo L. Pascual, Jose Lorenzo R. Dela Rosa, and Eleuterio L. Bathan; SC En Banc Clerk of Court Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas, Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Atty. Laura C.H. Del Rosario, and Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Atty. Jed Sherwin G. Uy.
Trial court judges were led by Judge Mia Joy C. Oallares-Cawed of the Baguio RTC, Branch 4. She is the lead convenor of the Baguio City Justize Zone.
Secretary Remulla was joined by Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez and DOJ Assistant Secretary Randolf A. Pascasio, while Secretary Abalos was joined by Undersecretaries Oscar F. Valenzuela and Lord A. Villanueva.
The PIO said that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong also participated in the dialogue.
It said that European Union Governance in Justice Programme (GOJUST Programme) Team Leader Mr. Christian Eldon led the delegation from the EU GOJUST Programme, the development partner of JSCC in the Justice Zone Dialogue Series.
TAGS: #SC #CJ Gesmundo #Sec. Remulla #Sec. Abalos #Justice Zones