Leila de Lima pushes joint congressional body vs. corruption

Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has filed a bill proposing the creation of a joint congressional body to fast-track the investigation and prosecution of cases, particularly those involving public officials and large-scale corruption.

Under De Lima's House Bill No. 7635, the proposed Joint Congressional Commission on Justice System Reform (JCCJSR) would serve as an independent body mandated to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the justice sector’s institutional capacity, procedural rules, and enforcement mechanisms.

“A justice system that is slow, inaccessible, and vulnerable to undue influence erodes the very foundations of democracy and the rule of law,” De Lima said in a statement.

“When truth-seeking and accountability are delayed or obstructed, especially in cases involving corruption by public officials, the social contract between the state and its citizens weakens, corroding public trust in government,” she added.

According to De Lima, institutionalizing a coordinated reform mechanism between the Senate and the House of Representatives—while leveraging the expertise of independent specialists—would help modernize justice institutions, strengthen anti-corruption frameworks, reduce case backlogs, and restore confidence in the rule of law.

The JCCJSR would be composed of nine members: three each from the Senate, the House of Representatives, and representatives from the private sector and academe. The non-legislative experts would be appointed jointly by the Senate President and the House Speaker.

Among the three appointed experts, at least one must be a retired justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals of the Philippines, or Court of Tax Appeals of the Philippines.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) would serve as the commission’s research arm, tasked with producing data-driven studies and analyses to guide recommendations on necessary reforms in the justice sector, according to the bill.

The proposed body would exist for three years, unless extended through a joint resolution of Congress.

“Without significant reforms, similar cycles of scandal and public outcry are likely to recur, undermining not only governance but also the economic climate and social stability,” De Lima said.—MCG, GMA Integrated News