Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo together with Mayor John Dalipe led the principals of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) in launching “the first ever trafficking-free Justice Zone” at the Marcian Garden Hotel, Friday, February 24, 2023.
The Justice Zone project adheres to its objective of a swift and fair administration of the criminal justice system. It is established to strengthen the coordination and communication among the principal agencies of the JSCC by serving as a venue and a mechanism for communication, principled cooperation, and studied coordination with great deference to institutional independence.
In his keynote message, Chief Justice Gesmundo shared that in launching the Zamboanga City Justice Zone, “the Judicial and the Executive Branches of government are standing together and taking a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of human trafficking in our country.
“Here in the Zamboanga City Justice Zone we will not only tighten all loopholes in the investigation-arrest-prosecution-trial and judgment phases of anti-trafficking cases, but we will also pilot breakthrough initiatives towards a more victim-centered approach that will hopefully pave the way for a more effective counter-trafficking program,” the Chief Justice emphasized.
Mayor John Dalipe thanked the JSCC for the initiative as he assured his administration’s full support to to support the Zamboanga City Justice Zone and all its endeavors for a responsive, accessible, and accountable justice system.
He took pride in sharing that Zamboanga City holds the distinction of being the first city in the Philippines to have a conviction on human traffickers. This historic first, and the other convictions that followed, was made possible due to the steadfast commitment of Zamboanga City to safeguard its people and its borders versus such crimes and exploitation
Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Chairperson of the JSCC Technical Working Group on Processes and Capacity Building, disclosed that Zamboanga City was chosen as the JSCC’s first Specialty Justice Zone “because the fight against human trafficking began here.”
Tracing the history of the Zamboanga City Justice Zone to the 2011 case of People v. Lalli, Justice Singh shared that as a result of the investigations by the Zamboanga City police in 2005, “a criminal charge for cross-border trafficking in persons was filed in the Regional Trial Court of Zamboanga City prosecuted by Prosecutor Ricardo Cabaron and then Prosecutor Darlene Pajarito, involving a promise of work abroad as a waitress which led to the victims being brought to Sabah and enslaved in sex trafficking. In a record 5 months, trial was completed and a decision was promulgated convicting the traffickers and sentencing them to life imprisonment.”
She thanked the Zamboanga City local government officials adding that with the Justice Zone comes a comprehensive package of activities that will not only address the scourge of trafficking through judicial means, but from all fronts of the five pillars of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, prosecution, courts, corrections, and the community.
With Chief Justice Gesmundo were the representatives of the other JSCC principals: Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Operations Lord A. Villanueva. The Supreme Court of the Philippines, the DOJ, and the DILG comprise the JSCC.
Also present to give a message on behalf of their respective agencies were Mr. Thanh Le PSM, Counsellor of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines, His Excellency Luc Veron, Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines.
Highlight of the launching ceremony was the signing in the “Wall of Commitment” as an expression of commitment to support the ZC Justice Zone by the JSCC principals and representatives, Ambassador Veron, Mr. Thanh Le, Mayor Dalipe, and Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Peter V. Eisma.
Supported by the JSCC in partnership with European Union Governance in Justice Programme (GOJUST Programme) and the ASEAN- Australia Counter Trafficking, the Zamboanga City Justice Zone is the tenth to be unveiled in the country, after those in Quezon City, Cebu City, Davao City, Angeles City, Bacolod City, Naga City, Calamba City, Balanga City, and Baguio City. It is also the third Justice Zone launched during the term of Chief Justice Gesmundo.
JSCC principals Chief Justice Gesmundo, Usec. Vasquez, and Usec. Villanueva were joined by Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Justice Antonio T Kho, Jr., and Justice Singh of the Supreme Court; Justice Michael Frederick L. Musngi of the Sandiganbayan; Justice Jennifer Joy Chua Ong of the Court of Appeals; Deputy Court Administrator Leo T. Madrazo; Assistant Court Administrator and Public Information Office Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka; Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Laura C.H. Del Rosario; and Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Jed Sherwin G. Uy, representing the Judiciary; Usec. Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV of the DOJ; and Usec. Oscar Valenzuela of the DILG.
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook page, photo courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)