UP Institute of Government and Law Reform

𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐆𝐋𝐑, 𝐃𝐎𝐉, 𝐍𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐍𝐏 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐀-𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌

The UP Institute of Government and Law Reform (UP IGLR) met with leadership from the Department of Justice (DOJ), National Police Commission, and the Philippine National Police last 15 May 2026 at the NAPOLCOM Headquarters to discuss the expansion and mainstreaming of the Philippine Crime Index (PHILIC) and the Philippine Crime Index Research System (PCIRS) as aligned to international standards. The PHILIC aims to be a universal and accessible reference for the nomenclature, legal bases, elements, and imposable penalties of all Philippine crimes housed in the PCIRS.

This initiative marks a major step towards an interoperable system of collecting and sharing of crime data to ensure a modern and evidence-based criminal justice framework for the Philippines. The UP IGLR has been co-managing the PHILIC and PCIRS with the DOJ, ensuring that the database is current and up to date with recent legislation and jurisprudence.

𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐆𝐋𝐑 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

In recent months, the UP IGLR has taken part in the ongoing deliberations of the Subcommittee on Penal Laws at the House of Representatives regarding the proposed Criminal Code of the Philippines.

Representing the UP IGLR were criminal law experts Atty. Dan Calica, Atty. Linda Malenab-Hornilla, Atty. Jose Miguel Palarca, Atty. Niel Anthony Borja, Atty. Marwil Llasos, Judge Louie Sze, and Atty. Lhoverette Jeffrey Villordon, and IGLR Lawyers Atty. Marie Catherine S. Alcantara, Atty. Maria Yolanda Javellana, Atty. Marilyn L. Quizon-Mercado, and Atty. Kristine Sonon-Grospe, who shared their expertise on various criminal law issues and proposed several amendments aimed at ensuring that the provisions of the proposed Criminal Code are clear, coherent, and legally sound.

Most recently, Atty. Malenab-Hornilla, Atty. Borja, and Atty. Finessa Estigoy, attended the May 6, 2026 deliberations on the draft bill’s provisions on Rebellion, Coup d'état, Sedition, Disloyalty, and Illegal Assemblies.

During the discussion, Atty. Borja raised several points on the need for precision and clarity. He emphasized the difficulty of treating hacking as a means of committing rebellion, noting that it may be difficult to establish that such acts satisfy the requirement of “taking up arms.” Atty. Borja likewise questioned the removal of the term “naval forces” in favor of the broader phrase “armed forces,” and raised concerns regarding the inclusion of the phrase “unit of the armed forces,” noting that the term may be susceptible to varying interpretations absent a clear statutory definition.

Other amendments were proposed which were aimed at ensuring that the proposed Criminal Code strengthens the country’s criminal law framework. The participation of UP IGLR in these deliberations forms part of its continuing commitment to support law reform initiatives grounded in sound legal principles.

A recording of the subcommittee meeting may be found here: https://web.facebook.com/share/v/17XqPpknh6/ and https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CvWKfpfLD/

UP Law Supports CALSADA Project
Transforming Legal Education in the Philippines

The University of the Philippines College of Law supports the implementation of the CALSADA R.S.D. Project (Capacity Building for Legal, Social, and Digital Advancement), an EU-funded initiative advancing legal graduate education through research, digitalization, and sustainable connectivity. Bringing together leading Philippine and European universities and institutions, CALSADA promotes a more innovative, research-driven, and globally connected approach to addressing long-standing structural challenges in legal education.

To mark the formal launch of the project in the Philippines, UP Law will host the CALSADA Kick-Off Meeting from June 17 to 19, 2026 in UP Diliman. The meeting will convene partner institutions to align priorities, strengthen collaboration, and lay down key strategies for implementation. It will also provide a platform to exchange ideas on teaching methodologies, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building across the project.

In February 2027, UP Law will organize a flagship five-day hybrid seminar on “Quality, Digitalization, and Sustainable Connectivity.” The seminar will highlight best practices in legal education from Europe and the ASEAN in legal education. It will explore forward-looking themes such as aArtificial iIntelligence in legal education, digital transformation of law schools, and innovative approaches to curriculum development and quality assurance.

Through these initiatives, UP Law affirms its commitment to shaping the future of legal education in the Philippines that is dynamic, inclusive, and responsive to the demands of a rapidly evolving, digitally connected world.

For more information about the CALSADA Project, visit: https://calsadaproject.eu/about-calsada/

𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐆𝐋𝐑 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐔𝐌 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

The UP Law Center Institute of Government and Law Reform participated in the First International Land Subsidence Symposium (FILSSP) held at the National Engineering Center last 23 April 2026.

The symposium convened international and local scientists to address the issue of land subsidence in the Philippines and around the world. Leading experts underscored that land subsidence, driven by excessive groundwater extraction, is a global and irreversible phenomenon with serious implications for communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems.

During the Fireside Chat, Atty. Mary Kristerie Baleva, faculty from the UP College of Law, shared insights on the legal and policy dimensions of land subsidence, including its intersection with climate change, environmental governance, and ecosystem protection. Alongside her, IGLR representatives Atty. Finessa Estigoy and Atty. Kristine Sonon-Grospe contributed to the development of the Action Agenda for the Philippines, providing legal and policy inputs to help guide future policy, research, and institutional efforts to effectively address land subsidence.

UP IGLR remains committed to advancing evidence-based legal and policy reforms toward sustainable resource management and climate resilience.

𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐆𝐋𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝟏,𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐑.𝐀. 𝟏𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟎 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐂𝐂-𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐄𝐂-𝐂𝐒𝐀𝐄𝐌 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Last April 22, 2026, the University of the Philippines Institute of Government and Law Reform (UP IGLR) delivered 1,600 physical copies of the primer on Republic Act (R.A.) 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act to the National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM), the primary coordinating body of the Philippine Government in addressing online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

This primer was made in partnership with the International Justice Mission (IJM) Philippines and published last December 2024.

‼️The deadline for applications is at 5PM today‼️

[𝑽𝑨𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑪𝒀]

The UP Law Center Institute of Government and Law Reform is now accepting applications for the part-time position of 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 beginning Academic Year 2026-2027.

Please submit your letter of intent (addressed to OIC-Director Celeste Ruth Cembrano-Mallari), curriculum vitae, true copy of grades, and a copy of your Form 5 to [email protected].

The deadline for submitting applications is 27 April 2026, 5:00PM.

‼️ Only a week left to apply! ‼️

[𝑽𝑨𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑪𝒀]

The UP Law Center Institute of Government and Law Reform is now accepting applications for the part-time position of 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 beginning Academic Year 2026-2027.

Please submit your letter of intent (addressed to OIC-Director Celeste Ruth Cembrano-Mallari), curriculum vitae, true copy of grades, and a copy of your Form 5 to [email protected].

The deadline for submitting applications is 27 April 2026, 5:00PM.

[𝑽𝑨𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑪𝒀]

The UP Law Center Institute of Government and Law Reform is now accepting applications for the part-time position of 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 beginning Academic Year 2026-2027.

Please submit your letter of intent (addressed to OIC-Director Celeste Ruth Cembrano-Mallari), curriculum vitae, true copy of grades, and a copy of your Form 5 to [email protected].

The deadline for submitting applications is 27 April 2026, 5:00PM.

𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐆𝐋𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒, 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒

In recent weeks, lawyers from the UP IGLR participated in various meetings at the House of Representatives regarding proposed laws on Foreign Interference and the Right to Information.

The UP IGLR, through Atty. Celeste Ruth Cembrano-Mallari and Atty. Marilyn Quizon-Mercado, conveyed various insights that highlight accountability as vital to the proposed Right to Information Bills.

At the same time, representing the UP Law Center, Atty. Maria Yolanda Javellana and Atty. Neil Simon Silva provided comments and inputs to the development of legislation on Foreign Interference and Malign Influence, forwarding a balanced framework that safeguards national security while protecting fundamental freedoms.

Through expert legal analysis, they helped surface key implications for fundamental rights, continuing UP IGLR’s work of shaping law and policy through research and reform.