A bill is filed at the House of Representatives establishing a Joint Congressional Commission on Justice System Reform (JUSTCOM) to conduct a sweeping review of the country’s justice system to address chronic issues 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,” said the bill’s author, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno.
Diokno filed House Bill (HBN) 7305 together with fellow Akbayan lawmakers Reps. Perci Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula, as well as Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.
HBN 7305 aims to address various issues such as case backlogs, prolonged pre-trial detention, jail overcrowding, limited access to legal assistance, weak accountability, and declining 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 said.
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, scoring poorest in civil and criminal justice administration.
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.
It 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.
It 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, academe, NGOs, and people’s organizations.
It will conduct nationwide consultations, engage stakeholders, and access relevant public data to identify structural, procedural, and policy bottlenecks that delay case resolution, contribute to detention overcrowding, and hinder access to justice for marginalized sectors
Based on its findings, the JUSTCOM will propose concrete, evidence-based policy and legislative reforms to improve accountability, transparency, efficiency, and human rights protections. It will submit annual reports and, within 90 days after its three-year mandate, a final report including a National Justice Development Plan and the 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.
