MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday welcomed over 20 new prosecutors amid plans to set the pace for higher standards for accountability and performance in 2025.
“Being a prosecutor is a high calling, and it demands our best efforts every single day,” Prosecutor General (PG) Richard Anthony Fadullon said as he convened the first general assembly for the Office of the Secretary of Justice Prosecution Staff (OSJPS).
“We are in the midst of a transition. The old practice of prosecutors not fully performing their core functions must come to an end. Each of us must embrace our responsibilities with diligence, integrity and a commitment to deliver justice promptly,” he added.
Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres enjoined prosecutors to ensure that compassionate justice is practiced and to actively partner with law enforcement in case buildup and prosecution of cases.
The general assembly highlighted the achievements of the OSJPS, the most notable of which is the 98 percent conviction rate of its prosecutors, and the 100 percent disposition rate of inquest cases and 78.62 percent for preliminary investigation.
It also noted the continued efforts to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list” and the successful conviction of high-profile personalities, among them members of New People’s Army, Maute Group, Abu Sayyaf and drug syndicates.
Grey-listed countries have anti-money laundering/countering terrorist financing and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction regimes in place, but with deficiencies and shortcomings that must be worked on.
“All of you play a vital role in our unwavering commitment to pursuing real justice in real time,” Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told the prosecutors. “With all your efforts and zeal on the line, our quest for justice is just within the horizon.”
Strategic plans for 2025 were also discussed during the assembly, including the reorganization of divisions, onboarding training programs for immediate deployment of prosecutors, and standardization of laws and circulars relevant to prosecution. (PNA)