The House of Representatives has called for the prompt delivery of justice in cases of gender-based violence, asserting that the sluggish pace of legal proceedings has emboldened perpetrators and prolonged the suffering of victims.
In a motion spearheaded by Awajiinombek Abiante alongside three other lawmakers, the House emphasized that the alarming persistence of such crimes is linked to systemic delays in prosecuting offenders.
Lawmakers pointed to a distressing list of women who have lost their lives to heinous acts of violence, yet whose cases remain unresolved due to bureaucratic bottlenecks in the judicial system.
To accelerate justice and restore public confidence in the legal framework, the House proposed the establishment of specialized court divisions with exclusive jurisdiction over homicide and femicide cases. Such a move, they argued, would expedite trials, reduce case backlogs, and ensure that justice is neither delayed nor denied.
Additionally, the House urged the National Judicial Council to facilitate the creation of these specialized judicial divisions across all court levels, ensuring swift adjudication of gender-based violence cases.
Lawmakers further called on relevant law enforcement agencies to prioritize homicide investigations, strengthen prosecutorial diligence, and ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law without unnecessary delays.
