A Cebu City Regional Trial Court judge has expressed strong support for a proposed ordinance that would institutionalize the Cebu City Justice Zone (CCJZ), highlighting its potential to strengthen coordination among justice sector agencies and tackle persistent issues such as jail overcrowding, delayed case processing, and the shortage of rehabilitation facilities.
Judge Backs Institutionalization
In an interview on May 19, 2026, RTC Branch 17 Judge Anacleto Debalucos told SunStar Cebu that the ordinance, endorsed by Councilor Paul Labra II, would formalize local government support for the Justice Zone. This includes funding and establishing essential facilities needed by the justice sector.
Debalucos explained that the CCJZ serves as a forum for all agencies involved in the justice system—from arrest and case filing to trial, conviction, and correction. He clarified that the proposed measure does not create the Justice Zone, as the CCJZ was already established on October 4, 2018, by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC). However, institutionalizing it through a city ordinance would enhance coordination among agencies, including courts, police, prosecutors, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Parole and Probation Administration, the Public Attorney's Office, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, law schools, social welfare offices, and local government units.
The JSCC is a body formed through a tripartite agreement among the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The proposed "Cebu City Justice Zone Institutionalization Ordinance" promotes rehabilitation-based interventions for minor and first-time offenders, shifting the focus from incarceration to community-based programs.
Rehabilitation Over Incarceration
If approved, the measure is expected to influence how Cebu City handles low-level offenses by prioritizing rehabilitation, reintegration, and community-based justice programs over punitive detention. Debalucos noted that the ordinance would support the establishment of rehabilitation facilities currently lacking in Cebu City, including a center for minors and a larger drug rehabilitation facility for individuals recovering from substance abuse.
He pointed out that the existing Operation Second Chance facility does not yet fully meet the standards of an ideal rehabilitation center under Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. Mayor Nestor Archival has plans to establish a bigger "Bahay Silangan" drug rehabilitation facility in Barangay Guba, along with a "Bahay Pag-asa" rehabilitation center for minors.
Addressing Jail Congestion
One of the key issues the Justice Zone aims to address is jail congestion. Debalucos reported that the Cebu City Jail Male Dorm previously reached over 1,000 percent congestion before coordinated efforts reduced it to over 600 percent. The Cebu City Jail Annex remains at around 300 percent congestion, while the Female Dorm is estimated at 200 to 300 percent.
"So it is severely congested. That is why there is a need for coordinated efforts on how to decongest it," he said. Among the measures being monitored by the Justice Zone is the implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance law, which grants sentence deductions for good behavior. "For every month of good behavior, they are entitled to 20 days of time allowance," Debalucos explained.
Monthly meetings among member agencies help immediately address delays involving release orders, case filings, commitment orders, and transfers of detainees from police stations to jails. These meetings also expedite the processing of drug dependency examinations required for plea bargaining and rehabilitation programs.
Broader Impact
Beyond jail decongestion, the Justice Zone supports programs related to women's rights, children's rights, barangay justice mechanisms, probation, and plea bargaining reforms aimed at reducing court congestion. Debalucos emphasized that the zone also promotes crime prevention and reintegration by ensuring former detainees and probationers undergo rehabilitation, skills training, counseling, and community-based monitoring to prevent repeat offenses.
