SUPREME Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen yesterday urged a shift to a healing and reintegrative-centered justice instead of a punitive system.
Leonen made the call in his speech before the Restorative Justice Training and Conference, where he said the Revised Penal Code (RPC) is rooted in an outdated theory and framework about crimes and the corresponding punishment.
The RPC contains the general penal laws of the country. It was enacted in 1930 and remains in effect today.
He said it has largely remained unchanged despite several amendments.
“Our justice system has had a long history of punitive justice. It is time to consider other perspectives,” Leonen told the gathering.
“Restorative justice offers a more ethical and effective alternative,” he added.
Leonen called on participants to the training to help craft judicial reforms that balanced restorative justice with just punishment for offenders.
“We must move toward a system that reflects not just the letter of the law, but the spirit of justice,” the senior magistrate said, adding there is also a need to balance accountability for crimes committed with compassion and reform.
He said there is also a need to address the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into society.
Likewise, he said there is also a need to “reintegrate” communities into the justice system.
Earlier, Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. underscored a critical shift in the Philippine correctional philosophy towards rehabilitation rather than mere punishment.
“By facilitating the reintegration of Persons Deprived of Liberty into society, the government not only helps these individuals reclaim their lives but also fosters safer communities. Proper reintegration programs can significantly reduce recidivism rates, allowing for better engagement with society and improved public safety,” Catapang said last month, where he announced that more than 23,000 PDLs have been able to regain their freedom since 2022 when the Marcos administration assumed power.
Catapang also called for greater collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders to prepare inmates for reintegration into society.
