A Justice System that Listens

The Department of Justice (DoJ) is rewriting the story of justice — not as a distant institution but as a system that listens and acts.

Led by Undersecretary Raul V. Vasquez, and through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) Convergence Program, the DoJ recently held a three-day Justice Summit designed to bring together government, civil society, and the people they serve.

It wasn’t just another gathering — it was a call to rethink justice from the ground up.

Held before an audience of nearly 300 participants daily, the summit drew together lawyers, community organizers, advocates, and reformers — proving that when voices unite, change follows.

Day 1 opened with a message from DoJ Officer-in-Charge Secretary Fredderick Vida: justice cannot exist in isolation. His words set the tone for a day that tackled the heart of equity — the rights of children.

Participants went beyond legal theory and confronted the hard realities faced by the most vulnerable. The DoJ showcased programs empowering marginalized communities — those who often lack both the means and the courage to seek help.

Justice, Secretary Vida underscored, is not just about punishment — it’s about protection, healing, and inclusion.

Day 2 spotlighted the country’s elders, with National Commission on Senior Citizens Chairperson Ma. Merceditas Navarro Gutierrez reminding everyone that invisibility is a form of injustice too.

She spoke about the barriers faced by senior citizens, from accessibility to affordability, and urged stronger mechanisms to uphold their dignity.

The day’s sessions also focused on Persons with Disability (PWDs) and Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) — groups often left behind in reform conversations. Their inclusion signaled that the DoJ’s vision of justice leaves no one unseen.

By Day 3, the conversation deepened as Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe highlighted the transformative power of women’s dreams. Each woman, she said, has the strength to manifest her aspirations and overcome societal barriers. She encouraged women to soar and embrace their potential.

In the afternoon, a panel of women leaders who live the fight for equality every day — LenLen Mesina (UN Women), Signe Poulsen (UNOHCHR), Atty. Katrina Legarda, DSWD Assistant Secretary Ada Colico, Prosecutor Irene R. Medrano, IACAT Executive Director Hannah Manalili, and retired Judge Marivic A. Trabajo-Daray — met in a dialogue moderated by DoJ Assistant Chief Prosecutor Joan Carla Guevarra.

Their conversation was raw and real — about the courage it takes for women to stand up, speak, and survive in a system still learning to listen.

The Justice Summit was not just an event. It was a mirror reflecting the gaps and the growing will to close the distance between law and the actual realities of life.

It aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which seeks to advance the goal of universal access to responsive legal services. But more than that, it reminded everyone that justice begins with awareness and thrives through partnership.

As the summit closed, one truth stood out: real justice isn’t built in courtrooms alone. It’s built every day, by those who dare to demand fairness, and those in government humble enough to listen.

The DoJ’s three-day summit was more than a dialogue — it was a promise. A promise to keep opening doors, keep bridging gaps, and keep fighting for a justice system that truly serves the people it was made to protect.