• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod is eyeing the institutionalization of the Bacolod City Justice Zone (BCJZ) for effective inter-agency coordination in the criminal justice system.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, in his proposed ordinance approved on first reading by the SP, said the BCJZ shall formulate measures aimed at “improving the delivery of just, responsive, and accountable justice services” in Bacolod.
These measures, which shall constitute the BCJZ Plan, include addressing court and jail congestion; improving access to justice of the poor and marginalized, especially women, children, indigenous peoples, people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, among others; enabling the barangay justice system as well as customary and traditional justice systems to uphold rights-based approaches and build links with the formal justice mechanisms; and rehabilitating and reintegrating persons deprived of liberty into society, among others.
The proposed ordinance states that the executive judge of the Bacolod City Regional Trial Court shall serve as the BCHZ convenor, with the vice executive judges of the RTC, executive judge of the Municipal Trial Court, and representatives from concerned agencies, as members.
The Bacolod city government shall appropriate P5 million each year as BCJZ budget to fund its programs and activities, the proposal added.
In August 2019, the Supreme Court launched Bacolod as one of its justice zones across the country, with the aim of reducing court dockets, dispensing of judgment promptly, and efficiently resolving criminal complaints involving violations of penal laws.
Then SC Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, who led the launching at the Bacolod Government Center, had noted the need “to strengthen coordinative efforts for sustainable and long-term reforms for better serving justice sector agencies.” | CGC
