MANILA, Nov. 29 (PNA) — The Palace said it welcomes any move that improves or reforms the country’s justice system for the benefit of the people.
Recently, a European Union representative said the Philippines must strengthen its justice system to sustain its economic growth.
At the same time, the Supreme Court, together with other stakeholders, launched a “Justice Zone” in Quezon City aimed at shortening by 50 percent the legal proceedings in that area.
“Magandang development ‘yan, and I understand may executive participation dito kasi ito ‘yung kasama ang DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), ang DOJ (Department of Justice) to support the Supreme Court on this particular matter,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview on Saturday.
“The President has always held out judicial reform as one of the pillars of his platform. And, of course, we welcome any development that would strengthen the justice system and, in fact, one of the major actions of the President has always been to support judicial reforms,” Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
There may be instances that the executive branch and the SC disagree on policies or issues but it doesn’t mean that the Palace no longer supports initiatives to strengthen the judicial system, Valte said.
With regards to the proposal of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas to deactivate cellphone signals or prohibit the use of cellphones in the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) to stop illegal activities, Valte said she sees the proposal of Interior Secretary Roxas as good.
But she said the final decision would be made by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who oversees the Bureau of Corrections.
It was reported that illegal activities are rampart inside the prison from drug trafficking to drug manufacturing, as well as prostitution.
Valte said the President was dismayed about the recent developments at the national penitentiary.
“Concerned tayo doon sa nangyayari sa loob, lalo doon sa report, at alam naman din ito ni Secretary Leila de Lima. At katulad nga ng sinabi niya, hindi niya ito-tolerate at talagang gusto niya ay drug-free at crime-free ang ating New Bilibid Prison,” Valte said. (PNA)