Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen on Wednesday called for sweeping reforms in the Philippine justice system, urging a move away from punishment-driven approaches and toward restorative justice models that promote healing and reintegration.

In his keynote address at the Restorative Justice Training and Conference, Leonen criticized the country's reliance on the Revised Penal Code, describing it as an outdated framework rooted in colonial and classical theories of crime and punishment.

“Our justice system has had a long history of punitive justice. It is time to consider other perspectives,” he said.

Leonen explained that the classical theory assumes criminals are fully rational actors who make deliberate decisions to offend, a notion he said overlooks deeper economic and social factors that often shape criminal behavior. He said this outdated mindset perpetuates incarceration while neglecting the rehabilitation of offenders and the reintegration of communities into the justice process.

He further lamented that the community — which he considers the fifth pillar of justice — is often excluded from the broader goals of accountability and healing.

Citing philosopher David Boonin’s The Problem of Punishment, Leonen questioned the morality of state-imposed penalties, noting that legal punishments would often be deemed unacceptable in other societal contexts.

He emphasized that restorative justice offers a more ethical and effective alternative. “This conference is part of a broader dialogue on meaningful judicial reforms,” he said. “We must move toward a system that reflects not just the letter of the law, but the spirit of justice.”

The senior magistrate also urged lawmakers and key judicial stakeholders to revisit the Revised Penal Code, which was enacted in 1930 and has largely remained unchanged. He stressed the importance of a modern legal framework that balances accountability with reform and compassion.

Legal experts, law enforcement officers, and social workers joined the conference to examine alternative justice models that aim to create a more humane, inclusive, and effective legal system in the Philippines.