Akbayan lawmakers seek creation of justice reform commission

A measure has been filed by Akbayan Party-list lawmakers, led by Rep. Chel Diokno, seeking to establish a Joint Congressional Commission on Justice System Reform (JUSTCOM) to conduct a sweeping review of the country’s justice system and address chronic problems hounding the judiciary.

“We need to make our justice system work. Without the necessary reforms, it will continue to remain slow and unequal — and the poor will continue to suffer the most. Cases must move faster than they do now,” Diokno said.

Diokno filed House Bill No. 7305 together with fellow Akbayan Party-list Representatives Perci Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula, as well as Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.

The proposed measure seeks to address long-standing issues such as case backlogs, prolonged pretrial detention, jail overcrowding, limited access to legal assistance, weak accountability, and declining public trust in the justice system — laying the groundwork for long-term structural and legislative reforms.

“The government has long neglected the justice system, giving it far less attention than it deserves. This bill is a step toward meaningful reform, ensuring that cases move faster, accountability is strengthened, and access to justice is no longer a privilege of the few,” Diokno stressed.

According to the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, the Philippines ranked 97th out of 143 countries in 2025 — its lowest placement to date — and 13th out of 15 in the region, performing poorest in civil and criminal justice administration.

Under the bill, the commission will be composed of nine members: three senators, three House members, and three independent experts from civil society with proven competence in law, criminal justice, public administration, judicial reform, or human rights. JUSTCOM will have a three-year mandate to conduct an independent, system-wide assessment covering four pillars: law enforcement, prosecution, corrections, and community-based justice.

“This enables policymakers to be at the forefront of identifying and addressing solutions to these deep-seated problems. JUSTCOM’s technical output will directly facilitate the crafting of legislation or congressional inquiries that can address these concerns,” the bill’s explanatory note said.

The commission will also collaborate with government agencies, including the Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Corrections, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, alongside civil society groups, the academe, non-government organizations, and people’s organizations.

A nationwide consultation will be conducted to engage stakeholders and access relevant public data to identify structural, procedural, and policy bottlenecks that delay case resolution, contribute to jail overcrowding, and hinder access to justice for marginalized sectors.

Based on its findings, JUSTCOM will propose concrete, evidence-based policy and legislative reforms aimed at improving accountability, transparency, efficiency, and human rights protections. The commission will submit annual reports and, within 90 days after the end of its three-year mandate, a final report that includes a National Justice Development Plan and a draft Omnibus Justice Reform Act for immediate congressional consideration.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. With the creation of the JUSTCOM, we have the opportunity to finally build a system that works for all Filipinos — not just for the powerful,” Diokno said.