NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
PBBM Advocates Digitalization Of Justice Services
Photo credit: PCO
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, has called upon member agencies of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) to accelerate the digitization and streamlining of both frontline and back-end services as part of a comprehensive effort to alleviate chronic jail congestion across the nation.
The call was made during the National Jail Decongestion Summit held in Manila on Wednesday, spearheaded by the JSCC. President Marcos, currently in COVID-19 isolation, commended the initiative and stressed the importance of embracing technology and innovative practices to enhance efficiency, reduce delays, and ensure swift and fair legal proceedings.
The summit gathered legal experts, government agencies, international organizations, and advocates to discuss and establish new policies and initiatives aimed at expediting the processing of criminal cases and addressing the persistent issue of jail congestion in the country.
President Marcos expressed confidence that the discussions at the summit would lead to the formulation of better policies and initiatives. He emphasized that the event aligns with the administration's priority to decongest Philippine jails and prison facilities while improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system.
In his address, President Marcos stated, “Indeed, it would require a whole-of-government approach to ensure the efficient, effective, and compassionate administration of justice in the country.”
The country's first National Decongestion Summit, themed 'Decongest and Reintegrate: A Conference to Unlock Solutions to Jail and Prison Overcrowding,' is focusing its plenary sessions and workshops on jail decongestion efforts and best practices from other nations.
Among the initiatives discussed was the annual recommendation of Executive Clemency to qualified inmates or Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). A recent report from the Board of Pardons and Parole revealed that 856 PDLs were recommended for executive clemency from July 2022 to October 2023. This includes 794 PDLs qualified for commutation of sentence, one for absolute pardon, and 61 for conditional pardon without parole condition.
Executive Secretary Bersamin urged unity among all participants to realize the goals of the summit and to collectively pursue the vision of "Bagong Pilipinas" (New Philippines) envisioned by the government. He stated, “I look forward to the positive changes that we will create together.”
The National Decongestion Summit is scheduled to run until December 7, providing a platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas to address the pressing issue of jail congestion in the Philippines.
The call was made during the National Jail Decongestion Summit held in Manila on Wednesday, spearheaded by the JSCC. President Marcos, currently in COVID-19 isolation, commended the initiative and stressed the importance of embracing technology and innovative practices to enhance efficiency, reduce delays, and ensure swift and fair legal proceedings.
The summit gathered legal experts, government agencies, international organizations, and advocates to discuss and establish new policies and initiatives aimed at expediting the processing of criminal cases and addressing the persistent issue of jail congestion in the country.
President Marcos expressed confidence that the discussions at the summit would lead to the formulation of better policies and initiatives. He emphasized that the event aligns with the administration's priority to decongest Philippine jails and prison facilities while improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system.
In his address, President Marcos stated, “Indeed, it would require a whole-of-government approach to ensure the efficient, effective, and compassionate administration of justice in the country.”
The country's first National Decongestion Summit, themed 'Decongest and Reintegrate: A Conference to Unlock Solutions to Jail and Prison Overcrowding,' is focusing its plenary sessions and workshops on jail decongestion efforts and best practices from other nations.
Among the initiatives discussed was the annual recommendation of Executive Clemency to qualified inmates or Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). A recent report from the Board of Pardons and Parole revealed that 856 PDLs were recommended for executive clemency from July 2022 to October 2023. This includes 794 PDLs qualified for commutation of sentence, one for absolute pardon, and 61 for conditional pardon without parole condition.
Executive Secretary Bersamin urged unity among all participants to realize the goals of the summit and to collectively pursue the vision of "Bagong Pilipinas" (New Philippines) envisioned by the government. He stated, “I look forward to the positive changes that we will create together.”
The National Decongestion Summit is scheduled to run until December 7, providing a platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas to address the pressing issue of jail congestion in the Philippines.
Dec 6, 2023
