Legislators from the Akbayan Partylist filed a bill proposing the establishment of a Joint Congressional Commission on Justice System Reform to examine the nation’s legal system’s deeply-rooted problems and propose legislative solutions.
The proposed House Bill 7305 seeks to establish a commission composed of lawmakers from both chambers of Congress. The body is proposed to have a three-year mandate with the goal of reviewing the systemic issues that affect law enforcement, prosecution, courts, corrections, and community-based justice mechanisms.
Rep. Chel Diokno noted that the judiciary suffers from persistent delays, restrictions in access to legal aid for the underprivileged, and inadequate accountability that undermines public trust. He said that the initiative seeks to address persistent problems present within the system.
“We need to make our justice system work. Without the necessary reforms, it will continue to remain slow and unequal and the poor will continue to suffer the most,” Diokno said.
The commission is mandated to conduct nationwide consultations, gather precedence on case backlogs, detention conditions, and access to legal services, and assess lapses in existing laws and institutions. Findings from said consultations are expected to act as the basis for further legislative reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and fairness within the justice system.
Under the bill, the body is set to submit annual reports to the Congress detailing its findings and proposed solutions. A final report is to be submitted with a draft omnibus justice reform measure within 90 days after the end of its term.
The proposed commission is intended to provide a comprehensive and evidence-based review of the justice system, serving as a platform for long-term, coordinated reforms rather than isolated legislative fixes.
