Lawmakers seek reforms in criminal justice system

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

TO speed up administration of justice, the House of Representatives and the Senate are looking at several judicial reform bills to speed up the administration of justice.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez issued a statement over the weekend following the recent 19th National Convention of Lawyers and the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, of which he is a member.

Romualdez said lawmakers are looking at the country’s criminal justice system “as one key area for reform.”

He said one law the House intends to revisit is the 92-year-old Revised Penal Code (Republic Act 3815) passed on December 8, 1930, which “has served us well.”

“However, with globalization and the birth of the internet in 1983, many of the injustices that society endures at present, like cybercrime and transnational crime, are simply beyond the ambit of the Revised Penal Code to address,” he said.

He commended the inter-agency Code of Crimes Committee, headed by retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto G. Sandoval, for drafting the proposed Code of Crimes.

The Speaker said the draft code provides, among others, a new system of penalties that may be imposed for proven criminal activities, including community service and more realistic fines and other penalties.

It also proposes to modernize the penal terminology, incorporate the Dangerous Drugs Act, and define and include cybercrime.

He thanked the Sandoval committee for exercising prudence in “leaving certain matters to the discretion of Congress, such as the imposition of the death penalty and the like.”

Stiffer penalties

ROMUALDEZ said that in recognizing the “inherent risks in the practice of law,” the House is tackling a bill that seeks “to protect the practice through the imposition of stiffer penalties for the killing of members of the bench and bar.”

Another bill proposes to grant hazard pay to regional trial court judges and prosecutors, said the speaker.

There are also pending measures to create a Criminal Justice Reform

Commission to investigate and prevent wrongful convictions, prohibit and penalize the unauthorized practice of law, prescribe legal standards and procedures for product liability litigation, strengthen fraud detection, and establish an online legal knowledge and assistance system that is accessible nationwide, he said.

The Speaker said that legislation and the practice of law have similarities.

“Our experience at the House of Representatives has shown time and again that the road to meaningful change is fraught with formidable challenges. We nonetheless stay the course, without losing our focus on the end result that is worthy of all the sacrifices,” he said.

“The practice of law is much the same. Each day, we go out there and propound what we know to be true and just. Our crusade takes place usually in the courts, in government institutions and, some in public spaces where the people’s exercise of their rights and freedom are tested,” he added.

Seize opportunities

ROMUALDEZ, meanwhile, congratulated his fellow lawyers on their organization’s golden jubilee.

“ The IBP, indeed, has come a long way in the pursuit of its mission to elevate the standards of the legal profession, improve the administration of justice, and enable the bar to discharge its public responsibility more effectively,” he said. However, he said the IBP cannot rest on its laurels and should continue to move forward with the times. He urged his lawyer-colleagues “to seize every opportunity to be catalysts for change, leading the way to bring about a better, more efficient, timely and speedy dispensation of justice.” T he speaker also challenged the IBP to consider what it can achieve over the next 50 years. I dare say that the IBP shall remain an important member of Philippine society for as long as we continue to abide by the rule of law and justice,” he said.

He said lawyers should continue to “play important roles in the fair and speedy administration of justice and upholding the rule of law—as an integral part of Philippine society that actively make substantial and meaningful contributions in our nation’s sustained economic development and peace and security for the Filipino people,” he said.

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) has flagged alleged “illegal” activities of Chinese dredgers in Manila Bay and rivers in Zambales.

In a report submitted to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the NCWC said Chinese vessels allegedly conducted dredging of reclamation sand and transport it to the reclamation areas in Manila Bay. The report listed “suspicious activities of the Chinese dredgers that were found to be operating outside their approved areas of operation as against the issued Special Permit” from the Marina.

NCWC also noted that Chinese

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

FOR depicting a negative image of the Philippines, Senator Robinhood Ferdinand C. Padilla backed the ban being considered by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) disallowing the showing of the film “Plane.”

Padilla vowed to ensure the controversial movie will not be shown in Philippine cinemas; relying on the MTRCB to strictly enforce the ban.

The MTRCB, in turn, promised Padilla that the Board will not allow the showing in the Philippines of the film.

Padilla disclosed receiving over the weekend the commitment from MTRCB officials led by Chairman dredgers were allegedly “operating without a dredging clearance” from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), “had no Environmental Compliance Certificate” from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB), “had no memorandum of agreement” between the DENR and the dredging company, “had no accreditation” from the DENR-MGB, “had no ore transport permit” from the DENRMGB, and “had no” Notice To Proceed for their operations.

The NCWC also asserted that the Chinese dredgers allegedly failed to secure a “No Objection Clearance” from the Office of the National Security Adviser. It also flagged the said dredgers of “op -

Diorella Maria “Lala” Sotto-Antonio when they met at his Senate office la st Friday “Ang sabi nila sa akin, kinausap po nila ang distributor. At ngayon ang gusto natin masulatan natin ang mismong producer,” Padilla said in an interview over DWIZ. [They told me they have talked to the film’s Philippine distributor. And now we want to write the producers of the film.] erating with false Automatic Identification System (AIS),” which essentially allows the authorities to properly monitor and record their exact movements inside Philippine territorial waters.

At the same time, Padilla also thanked Sotto for her promise to call the attention of the film’s Philippine distributor.

In his manifestation last February 15 in the Senate, Padilla said the film showed Jolo being controlled by rebels and with government forces no longer there.

Allegedly, they turned off their AIS during operation and while berthed, according to the NCWC.

Following the report, Marina is now conducting an investigation and may revoke the special permits issued to the Chinese vessels and may also impose sanctions and penalties against them.

NCWC is an interagency maritime surveillance and coordinated unit led by the Philippine Coast Guard. It is attached under the Office of the President through the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Guidelines

THE lawmaker lamented that the film’s portrayal of the Philippines comes at a time the Philippines is trying to “revive its tourism after the pandemic.”

Voicing concerns over the film’s portrayal of Jolo residents as siding with the terrorists, the Senator observed that “if the producers of the film claim it is fiction, they should not have said the story happened in the Philippines).”

In a separate interview on SMNI last Friday, Padilla reiterated he cannot keep quiet on the matter because he chairs the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, chiding “critics” who questioned his protests against the film.

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

Cagayan, and his five companions in Nueva Vizcaya.

I nitial reports reaching Camp Crame identified the vice mayor as

Rommel G. Alameda, who was killed along with his five companions said to be his aides.

A lameda and his companions were onboard a Hyundai Starex van when they were ambushed at around 8:45 a.m. at Barangay Baretbet in Baggao.

T he suspects wore police uniforms and were reportedly riding a

Mitsubishi Adventure vehicle with red license plate number SFN 713, indicating it was a governmentissued vehicle.

P olice are still investigating the incident.

Lanao slay try MEANWHILE, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

TUTOK To Win Party-list Rep.

Samuel S. Verzosa Jr. will take inspiration to craft more bills tackling poverty from the humble stories of “poor but deserving” Filipinos to be featured in his new public affairs program titled “Dear SV,” which will premier this February

(ULAP), the umbrella organization of all leagues of local government, has condemned the assassination attempt on Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. last February 17.

Adiong and a member of his staff, Ali Macapado Tabao, were wounded during the incident, while his three security escorts, Juraij Adiong, Aga

18 at 7:30 p.m. on CNN Philippines.

Running for 13 weekly episodes, it will feature ordinary people from all walks of life, whose perseverance to face and survive poverty deserves support.

“’Dear SV’ is a public service show that aims to give hope and help to our fellows who undergo hardships yet persevere in life. They deserve to get any form of assistance with this very timely program, especially now that we are nearing post-pandemic. Many people are now recovering, wanting to get employment or livelihood to bounce back from this health crisis,” he said in mixed Filipino and English during the recent launch of his TV program.

The concept of his 30-minute show, Verzosa said, is to document the encouraging lives of their chosen beneficiaries, most especially their daily struggles and how they cope up with these.

“This show is for all: no matter what age or status in life, whether children or senior citizens, single parents, jobseekers, overseas Filipino workers, and persons with disability, among others, who work hard in order to survive,” Verzosa said.

“So we give not just a one-time support, but a sustainable assistance—be it financial aid, livelihood, scholarships, or employment—until they achieve their goals. It’s a good feeling to help those who help themselves to change their lives,” he added. Since the lawmaker gets to meet and interview their subjects, he said that this would make him more aware of the various challenges faced by the marginalized sector of society.

“So all of their problems will be of help for me, as a member of the 19th Philippine Congress, to formulate and legislate more laws that will benefit the impoverished,” he said.

Being the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation, he recently led the deliberations of the Technical Working Group on the “Expanded Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act,” a substitute bill that willcreateeducation,entrepreneurship, livelihood, and economic opportunities for adult beneficiaries of the conditional cash grant initiative of the government.

Sumandar and Jalil Cosain, and another individual identified as certain Kobi, were killed.

“It is deeply concerning and reprehensible that an individual or a group would attempt to harm an elected representative of the people who has a duty to serve and protect the community. Such an act goes against democracy, rule of law, and basic human decency. Violence and intimidation have no place in a civilized society and any attempt to use force to silence or harm public officials is a threat to the safety and security of all citizens,” ULAP said in a statement on Sunday. U LAP called on authorities to hunt down the suspects and bring them before the bar of justice.

Monday,

February 20, 2023 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug