2025 Criminal Law, Q20

The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) was created on April 30, 2010 and serves as a joint forum for dialogue on issues of common interest and a mechanism for effective coordination and information-sharing among justice sector institutions such as the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The flagship project of the JSCC was the creation of Justice Zones across the country, two of which were the Anti-Human Trafficking Justice Zone in Zamboanga and the Tri-City Justice Zone dedicated to combatting Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). What Guiding Principle(s) and expected Outcome(s) of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI) propelled this innovation? Briefly explain your answer.

Quick check

Which guiding principles under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 propelled the creation of specialized Justice Zones?

Which expected outcomes under the SPJI 2022-2027 are directly advanced through the inter-agency JSCC Justice Zones?

Which three government institutions compose the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC)?

What is the primary objective of establishing specialized Justice Zones such as those dedicated to Anti-Human Trafficking and OSAEC?

Choices available with full access.

How does the JSCC Justice Zone framework operationalize Outcome Three (Access) of the SPJI 2022-2027?

Choices available with full access.

Unlock the full Criminal Law answers

Learn more about these topics

1. SPJI Guiding Principles
The Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 incorporates four core guiding principles: Timely and Fair Justice, Equal and Inclusive Justice, Transparent and Accountable Justice, and Responsive and Efficient Justice. Inclusivity mandates protecting vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalized sectors of society, including victims of human trafficking and online sexual abuse. Meanwhile, timely justice requires removing procedural bottlenecks and fostering inter-agency cooperation among justice sector institutions. These guiding principles serve as the foundational bedrock for structural innovations across the Philippine judicial system.

2. Expected SPJI Outcomes
The Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 establishes four target outcomes: Efficiency, Innovation, Access, and Information. Outcome One focuses on streamlining court operations, reducing case backlog, and expediting adjudication processes. Outcome Three emphasizes expanding access to justice through inclusive court systems, legal assistance, and specialized protective mechanisms for vulnerable groups. The flagship Justice Zones established by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council operationalize these outcomes by facilitating seamless inter-agency collaboration between the Judiciary, the Department of Justice, and law enforcement entities.

3. JSCC Justice Zones
The Justice Sector Coordinating Council, comprising the Supreme Court, Department of Justice, and Department of the Interior and Local Government, serves as a joint platform for institutional convergence. Through its flagship Justice Zones project, local justice institutions collaborate to address specific legal challenges in designated localities. Specialized Justice Zones, such as those dedicated to combatting human trafficking and child exploitation, deliver targeted interventions. By consolidating resources and communication, Justice Zones enhance operational efficiency, accelerate case resolution, and improve public access to justice.

About these questions and answers
The questions reproduced here are the official texts of the Philippine Bar Examinations, published by the Supreme Court. They are reproduced for study purposes.The suggested answers are the author’s own.

They are not official answers, have no connection with the Supreme Court, the Office of the Bar Confidant, or any bar review institution, and are not endorsed by any of them. Official answer keys, where released, should be preferred over anything here.Nothing on this page is legal advice, and reading it creates no lawyer-client relationship. Do not rely on any suggested answer in an actual legal matter. Consult counsel on your own facts.Suggested answers reflect the law and jurisprudence the author considers applicable as of the date shown.

Where a question comes from an earlier examination, the suggested answer applies the law as it now stands, which may differ from the law in force when the question was given, and may therefore differ from what would have been the correct answer at that time. Where the difference is material, the answer notes it.The practice scoring feature measures wording overlap with the suggested answer. It is not a grade, carries no official weight, and says nothing about whether your reasoning is sound.Errors are possible. If you find one, please tell me and I will correct it.Last reviewed: October 2026