CJG, REMULLA, ABALOS TACKLE WAYS TO BETTER PHL JUSTICE SYSTEM

CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Wednesday met with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. in Baguio City to discuss various programs that can be implemented to improve the country’s justice system.

During their meeting, the three affirmed their commitment as the principals of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), to work together as they lead the fourth leg of the Justice Zone Dialogue Series held last January 11, 2023 at the Baguio Country Club Convention Center.

Both Gesmundo and Abalos agreed on the use of technological advancements for a more efficient and speedy investigation, prosecution and resolution of criminal cases.

On the other hand, Remulla is pushing for a higher threshold for filing cases or the reasonable certainty of conviction, and not just because of probable cause.

“We all know that there is a need to narrow the greater 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,” Remulla said.

The Justice Secretary stressed that 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. He added that 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.

Remulla said the DOJ has also 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 earlier promised to release more than 5, 000 inmates by June this year.

Abalos noted that just like the judiciary, the DILG is now using technology in crime detection and policing.

The first three Justice Zone Dialogue Series were held in Cebu City, Davao City and Naga City, but it was the Baguio City leg that the three JSCC principals were present. There are a total of nine Justice Zones nationwide: Quezon City, Cebu City, Davao City, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Naga City, Calamba City, Balanga City, and Baguio City.

The Justice Zone was launched in Quezon City, with the High Court saying then it was chosen as the pilot area because it has the biggest residential population in the country at 2.9 million, and it makes up more than 5 percent of the total caseloads handled by courts.

The program involves coordinative reforms in a given area such as the Katarungang Pambarangay, Alternative Dispute Resolution, the Mediation and Conciliation Office with the Public Attorney’s Office, DOJ, police, paralegals, and inmate monitoring system, among others.

It also features a system where case records are preserved and stored digitally for easy monitoring and retrieval.