ILOILO City — Mounting case backlogs, unsafe working conditions, and overstretched prosecutors are prompting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to fast-track plans for a centralized prosecution hub in this city.
According to Justice Secretary Frederick “Eric” A. Vida during his April 8 visit, the proposed facility, which will consolidate the regional, city, and provincial prosecution offices under one roof, is being positioned not just as an infrastructure upgrade but as a critical intervention to prevent further delays in the delivery of justice.
“Isa sa pinag-uusapan namin is how we can provide offices for the regional prosecution office, the city prosecution office, and also the provincial prosecution office,” Vida said.
The urgency stems from operational pressures: prosecutors in Iloilo are grappling with heavy caseloads, cramped office spaces, and limited resources — conditions that have slowed case resolution and heightened risks for justice personnel.
The situation has been further aggravated by safety concerns raised in late 2025, when prosecutors and judges flagged earthquake vulnerabilities at the Iloilo Hall of Justice, underscoring the dangers faced by those tasked with upholding the law.
Vida stressed that improving facilities is no longer optional but essential.
“At the end of the day, the city LGU (local government unit) and the DOJ iisa rin ang constituencies… who deserve to get efficient and effective public service,” he added.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Iloilo City government will provide the land, while the DOJ will source funding for construction — highlighting the need for strong national-local coordination to resolve systemic bottlenecks in the justice system.
The plan forms part of a broader nationwide push by the DOJ to decongest case dockets and reinforce prosecution capacity, particularly in high-volume jurisdictions like Iloilo.
Earlier this year, the department reclassified and upgraded 32 positions in the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor to boost manpower, while programs such as GOJUST were rolled out to address congestion and support its “zero-backlog” policy.
But officials acknowledge that without proper facilities, gains in manpower and policy reforms risk being undermined.
Vida was in Iloilo to attend the 35th National Convention of the Prosecutor’s League of the Philippines, which drew around 1,300 prosecutors — the largest gathering in its history.
“This is the biggest in the 35 years history ng aming national convention… and I would like to conclude na hindi lang probably, it’s because it’s Iloilo,” he said.
Beyond numbers, the convention highlighted the growing strain on prosecution offices nationwide — and the urgent need to modernize both systems and infrastructure.
In his message to Ilonggos, Vida emphasized that justice must remain fair and accessible despite these challenges.
“Yung batas ang pinaka-pagkabalanse sa lahat… dapat walang mahirap, walang mayaman. Kung ano lang yung katarungan, ‘yun ang makamit natin lahat,” he said.
He also thanked local officials and residents for their support.
“Maraming salamat sa pagyakap ninyo sa DOJ,” Vida added.
With the proposed prosecution hub, the DOJ is hoping to ease the burden on prosecutors, improve workplace safety, and accelerate the resolution of cases — before systemic strain further erodes public trust in the justice system./PN
