Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., the principals of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together as they led the fourth leg of the Justice Zone Dialogue Series on January 11, 2023 at the Baguio Country Club Convention Center in Baguio City.
The JSCC comprises the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the DOJ, and the DILG.
It was the first time that three JSCC principals were present in the Justice Zone Dialogue Series since its launch last year. The first three dialogues were held in Cebu City, Davao City, and Naga City.
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.
Chief Justice Gesmundo shared with the Dialogue participants that he could already see the progress in the Baguio City Justice Zone, the latest of the Justice Zones which was launched in June 2022.
“From that time, you have immersed yourselves in actual coordination, communication, and partnership with one another despite being pressed for time in terms of preparation and adequate planning, as compared with the other justice zones…The Baguio Justice Zone, together with the other eight justice zones, has gone through rounds of capacity-building interventions to improve the planning and development of justice zone-specific projects and initiatives,” Chief Justice said.
The Chief Justice said that the Dialogue provides a unique opportunity for the Judiciary to meet with justice sector workers and discuss concerns and challenges which should be addressed.
Following the technology-driven thrust of the Supreme Court as mapped out in its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, the Chief Justice likewise 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 non-issue.”
For his part, 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, adding 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,” said Secretary Remulla.
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.
Agreeing with the Chief Justice on the use of technological advancements in the projects of the justice sector, Interior Secretary Abalos said that the DILG uses technology in crime detection and policing.
Highlighting the conduct of virtual court hearings, Secretary Abalos said that these have enabled policemen assigned to far-flung areas to continue providing testimony crucial in the prosecution of cases.
Chief Justice Gesmundo was joined by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, Justice Mario V. Lopez, Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Justice Midas P. Marquez, Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh.
Also joining the delegation from the Judiciary were Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Sandiganbayan Justice Maria Theresa V. Mendoza Arcega, Sandiganbayan Justice Michael Frederick L. Musngi, Sandiganbayan Justice Karl B. Miranda, Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Ronaldo Roberto B. Martin, CA Justice Jennifer Joy C. Ong, CA Justice Michael P. Ong, CA Justice Eduardo S. Ramos, Jr., CA Justice Jaime Fortunato A. Caringal, CA Justice Rex Bernardo L. Pascual, CA Justice Jose Lorenzo R. Dela Rosa, CA Justice 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.
Also present were trial court judges, led by Judge Mia Joy C. Oallares-Cawed of the Baguio RTC, Branch 4 and lead convenor of the Baguio City Justice Zone.
Secretary Remulla was joined by Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez and DoJ Assistant Secretary Randolf A. Pascasio, while Secretary Abalos was joined by Undersecretary Oscar F. Valenzuela and Undersecretary Lord A. Villanueva.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong also participated in the dialogue.
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.
The Justice Zone project adheres to its objective of a swift and fair administration of the criminal justice system. It is established to strengthen the coordination and communication among the principal agencies of the JSCC by serving as a venue and a mechanism for communication, principled cooperation, and studied coordination with great deference to institutional independence. (Courtesy of the SC Public Information Office)