00:00 The Supreme Court will confirm whether the DOJ and DILG will be able to easily use the justice system by establishing a justice zone.
00:11 Luisa Erispe is live in the center of the news.
00:14 Now, the Department of Justice is continuing to help the Supreme Court and the DILG to ensure that justice is given to the public.
00:26 In fact, another justice zone has been established here in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.
00:32 The justice zone in Dagupan City is the first justice zone in the Ilocos region and the first justice zone established this year.
00:41 According to the Supreme Court, the justice zone in Dagupan is dedicated to cases related to the environment, criminal cases, and rehabilitation of illegal drug offenders.
00:53 It will also help to quickly solve cases related to protection of women and children.
01:01 Dagupan City presents as an ideal site for our first justice zone in Region 1,
01:08 considering its justice sector's reform programs on environmental protection, crime prevention, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of drug offenders, among others.
01:19 I have to confess that the programs that have made the most impact on me are the ones that have to do with the women and children.
01:27 According to Chief Justice Alexander Guismundo,
01:31 the justice zone will not only quickly solve cases related to the people of Pangasinan,
01:37 but it will also teach the local and regional courts how to provide the right service to the public.
01:46 Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of our local communities,
01:51 harnessing the testimony of the people, enabling them to work together in providing the systems and resources that they need.
02:00 This is the kind of justice our people deserve.
02:04 The Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Interior and Local Governments are working together to launch the justice zone.
02:13 According to the DILG, the crime rate in Ilocos Region has dropped significantly due to increased police visibility.
02:21 And now, the police will also help the barangay in the justice zone
02:26 so that the people can feel that the local officers are quick to approach the justice system.
02:33 The DILG will continue to help with our attached agencies,
02:39 particularly the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Jail Management and Penalty,
02:44 the initiatives of the GSTC.
02:46 We will continue to remind and guide the local governments,
02:53 like the city of Taguban, to make our region look better,
02:57 to bring justice to the people in a proper, quick, and fair manner.
03:04 The Department of Justice will continue to speed up the process of hearing the complaints
03:10 so that it can be brought to the court.
03:12 In fact, starting in April, the Rule 112 in the Rules of Court may be removed
03:18 or the preliminary investigation will be removed from the court.
03:21 The DOJ will now hold the PI for all cases.
03:26 It will start to enforce in respect to all cases after the criminal information is filed.
03:35 After the preliminary investigation, it will be a trial.
03:40 You cannot return it to determine if there is evidence that the case was filed.
03:48 Because filing a case is a duty, exclusive, and it is only in the hands of the Department of Justice.
