MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called on the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) to pursue streamlining and digitalization of their frontline and back-end services as part of the government’s jail decongestion efforts.
In his message delivered by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during the National Jail Decongestion Summit in Manila on Wednesday, Marcos reiterated his administration’s priority to decongest the country’s jail and prison facilities and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system.
“I urge the JSCC to pursue the streamlining and digitalization of your frontline and back-end services. By embracing technology and innovative practices, we can enhance our efficiency, reduce delays, and ensure swift and fair legal proceedings,” said Marcos, who remains in isolation due to Covid-19.
“Let us learn from the successes and best practices of other countries, where innovative solutions have been implemented to address challenges in the justice system,” he added.
In his administration’s pursuit of a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines), Marcos said it is vital that “we work together to come up with measures to decongest our jails and improve the condition of persons deprived of liberty.”
“Rest assured, this administration remains steadfast in its commitment to support collaborative efforts between the Executive and the Judiciary,” Marcos said.
The country’s first National Decongestion Summit, “Decongest and Reintegrate: A Conference to Unlock Solutions to Jail and Prison Overcrowding,” focuses its plenary sessions and workshops on jail decongestion efforts and best practices of other countries.
Among efforts to decongest jail facilities nationwide is the annual recommendation of Executive Clemency to qualified inmates or Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).
Based on a recent report by the Board of Pardons and Parole, there are 856 PDLs recommended for executive clemency from July 2022 to October 2023.
The list included 794 PDLs who qualified for commutation of sentence, one for absolute pardon, and 61 for conditional pardon without parole conditions.
The summit will run until Thursday, December 7.
