Sentale Office of the fortretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 NOV 20 P3:05 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. _ 1547 Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT CREATING THE JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The Philippines currently faces an unprecedented crisis of high-level corruption and corresponding loss of public trust in the rule of law, which was starkly highlighted by the Flood Control Corruption Scandal. Our justice system suffers from systemic weaknesses, including prolonged delays, significant backlogs, low conviction rates, and a perceived failure to consistently enforce accountability against public officials. This bill seeks to address this crisis by creating the Joint Congressional Commission on Justice System Reform (JCCJSR). This temporary, high-level Commission will conduct a comprehensive and data-driven review of all five pillars of the justice system (law enforcement, prosecution, the judiciary, the correctional system, and the community). The Commission is specifically mandated to diagnose systemic failures in public accountability mechanisms, particularly those that allow high-level corruption to persist. Its goal is to produce evidence-based recommendations for both legislative
• . and executive action, delivering a blueprint for a stronger, more equitable, and more accountable justice sector. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN Senator
Senate Difice of the Sraretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) NOV 20 P3:05 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY SENATE S. No. _ 154'7 Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT CREATING THE JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Joint Congressional
2 Commission on Justice System Reform Act of 2025."'
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
strengthen democracy by upholding the rule of law, ensuring transparent and strict public accountability in all branches of government, and guaranteeing timely and equal access to justice. The State recognizes that comprehensive, structural reform of the justice 7 sector is imperative to regain public trust and ensure the integrity and efficiency of its institutions.
Sec. 3. Creation of the Congressional Commission. - There is hereby created a body
10 to be known as the Joint Congressional Commission on Justice System Reform (JCCJSR), hereinafter referred to as the "Commission."
Sec. 4. Composition. - The Commission shall be composed of nine (9) members, with
13 three (3) members from the Senate, three (3) members from the House of 14 Representatives, and three (3) experts from the private sector and academe to be
1 appointed jointly by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of 2 Representatives. These experts shall possess proven competence in constitutional law, criminal justice, public administration, judicial reform, or human rights, and shall not be 4 currently employed in government service. They shall be entitled to receive appropriate 5 per diems and allowances. The Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights and the House Committee on Justice, shall serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Commission. The remaining two (2) members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives shall 9 be designated by the Senate President and Speaker of the House, respectively, with at 10 least one (1) member coming from the Minority. They shall not receive compensation except for travelling, communications, and other expenses as may be allowed by law.
Sec. 5. Mandate and Powers.— The Commission shall have the following specific
13 mandate and powers: a. Conduct a comprehensive and independent assessment of the entire justice system's current organizational structure, methodology, procedure, and technological infrastructure; b. Identify and evaluate systemic bottlenecks and weaknesses in the enforcement of laws, particularly concerning the expeditious investigation and resolution of cases involving public officials; C. Assess the effectiveness of current judicial and quasi-judicial rules of procedure in ensuring the prompt disposition of cases, fairness in legal processes, and preventing abuse of process and delay; d. Study the barriers preventing marginalized and vulnerable sectors from accessing effective legal redress and recommend mechanisms for equitable public legal assistance;
e. Conduct nationwide public consultations, expert panel discussions, and stakeholder dialogues with civil society organizations, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and academic institutions; f. Request the assistance of relevant officials from government agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of the Ombudsman, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Supreme Court and request said officials to grant the Commission full access to all necessary public documents, reports, and data, subject to existing laws on confidentiality; g. Recommend the appropriate and necessary legislative measures, executive action, and administrative reforms to improve the rules of procedure, expedite judicial processes, strengthen public accountability, and enhance the overall efficiency of the justice system; h. Report to Congress its accomplishments on a periodic basis, its findings and recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress and relevant government agencies, and provide a comprehensive final report at the end of its term to the President of the Philippines, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives containing the following: (i) A detailed analysis of the structural and systemic issues identified; i) Specific recommendations for legislative interventions, including the drafting of proposed bills and amendments to existing laws; and (ili) Actionable recommendations for executive action and administrative reforms necessary to strengthen accountability and efficiency.
Sec. 6. Standing Committees.- The members of the Commission shall establish
among themselves standing committees, to be chaired by such members or experts from multisectoral groups, and engage resource persons from the public and private sectors as may be needed.
Sec. 7. Staffing and Administration.- The Commission shall organize its staff and
administrative support. The Commission may appoint and hire an Executive Director and 7 other personnel as may be necessary to effectively carry out its functions.
Sec. 8.- Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).- The PIDS shall serve
9 as the research arm of the Commission. During the course of the Commission's existence, it shall produce data-based research and provide analysis to contribute to the formulation of recommendations on the necessary reforms to the justice sector.
Sec. 9. Term.— The Commission shall commence its work immediately upon the
effectivity of this Act and shall exist for a period of three (3) years, unless extended by a Joint Resolution of Congress.
Sec. 10. Appropriations.— The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
16 Act shall be charged against the available appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, subject to the approval of the respective heads of the two chambers. 18 Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous implementation shall be included in 19 the annual General Appropriations Act, subject to existing budgeting, accounting and 20 auditing rules and regulations.
Sec. 11. Separability Clause.— If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and 23 effective.
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause.- All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
25 administrative orders, rules, regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with or 26 contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Sec. 13. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
2 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,