BACOLOD City – Supreme Court Chief Justice (SCCJ) Lucas Bersamin and the Justice Sector Coordinating Council will lead the launching of the “Justice Zone” project here today.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Bacolod is the country’s fifth Justice Zone – a key program supported by the European Union (EU) to speed up the resolution of cases in courts.
The first four zones were launched in Quezon City in 2014, in Cebu City last year, in Angeles City last April, and Davao City just last month.
According to Bacolod City Police Office spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, over 60 policemen will be deployed to bulk up security forces for today’s launching around 10 a.m. at the New Government Center.
“It is a standard operating procedure for them to secure the area because several of the country’s top officials will be here,” said Pico.
He added that aside from SCCJ Bersamin, Interior secretary Eduardo Año and Justice secretary Menardo Guevarra will also attend the event.
The Justice Zone is a permanent meeting, advisory and decision-making structure that involves the most senior justice officials in a local area.
It is composed of the trial courts, the prosecution service of the Department of Justice, Public Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, provincial jails, barangay justice system, and the Parole and Probation Administration.
Backed by the Justice Sector Reform Program Governance in Justice under a financial grant by the EU, the program aims to enhance the full cooperation among workers in the criminal justice system for swift and fair administration of justice.
Besides expediting resolution of cases filed in courts, the project also hopes to decongest jails and implement other services like drug testing in coordination with concerned government agencies./PN
