BACOLOD CITY, Sept. 11 (PIA6) -- The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) composed of the Department of Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, launched in Bacolod City its 5th Justice Zone (JZ) in the country.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia welcomed to the Bacolod City Government Center during the launch, Justice Sector principals namely the Honorables Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, Head of Cooperation of the European Union to the Philippines Enrico Strampelli and guests.

According to Leonardia, he is flattered that Bacolod is one of the few cities chosen for the Justice Zone Launch including the cities of Quezon, Cebu, Davao, and Angeles.

Ano said he is optimistic that with five already established, the 14 Justice Zone targets will be reached by 2020.

The Justice Zone as one of the projects of the JSCC was supported by the Justice Sector Reform Programme: Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme under financial grant by the European Union (EU), which adheres to its objective of a swift and fair administration of the criminal justice system.

Strampelli in his message said EU is in full support of the JSCC to strengthen the Philippine formal justice system to increase its efficiency and effectiveness.

Meanwhile, Guevarra sought the collective efforts of the council members.

"The delivery of justice is a complex and difficult challenge beyond the power of a single person or institution to address," Guevarra said.

Bersamin who led the principals during the launch said it is imperative that justice be served swiftly, citing the sad reality that sometimes families of victims die in pursuit of justice and even suspects die inside jail facilities without having to hear the decisions on their cases. *(LTP/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)