MANILA -- The United States Embassy on Monday turned over 2,000 copies of the 2017 edition of Manual for Prosecutors and Developed Projects Outputs to the Department of Justice (DOJ) which is expected to improve the services of the agency as well as speed-up its resolution of cases.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II accepted the manual of prosecutors from US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim, American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative country director Robert La Mont and International Development Law Organization field program director Atty. Cathleen Cagaanan during the turnover ceremony held at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.
The DOJ Secretary said the copies of the manual will be immediately distributed to the prosecutors.
Aguirre said the updating of the 2008 vintage Manual of Prosecutors is a welcome development, noting that the latest edition of the manual is not only a cherished improvement but it is also in line with the agency's efforts to improve its services to the people.
“From the time that I started my stewardship of your DOJ, one of our avowed purpose is to leave it better than when we found it. The nine years that stand between the former and the present edition of the manual has seen dynamic changes in the laws, the rules and in the court decisions that impact heavily on how our prosecutors discharge their duties. Undeniably, this facelift is a very timely and a most welcome infusion,” Aguirre said during his welcome remarks.
He noted the user-friendly three volume manual readily available for the use of our prosecutors in the field, it is most fervent hopes that the resolutions that will be produced by such usage will not only be viable instruments of justice, it should also stand up to scrutiny in the crucible of review.
“I think mapapabilis yung resolution. Unang una, nandun na yung gagawin nila, the procedures step by step during the preliminary investigation in different forms. Nandun na rin pati guide until the time file in court, hindi na magiisip especially the new prosecutors how to make pleading may mga sample nandun and templates. Napakalaking tulong nito,” he told reporters after the event.
(With this, the resolution of cases will be fast. First, it contains procedures on how to handle the proceedings during the preliminary investigation in different forms with guide. It will also be a big help to new prosecutors because there is a sample and templates. This is really a big help to us.)
Aguirre thanked valuable partners in this worthy undertaking -- the International Development Law Organization, and the American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative for helping the agency realize the prosecutors’ goal not only to update the manual but also to recharge and to reinvigorate it.
“I also wish to thank his Excellency, Mr. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim and the staff of the US Embassy for making this event a reality,” he said.
“Of course, approbation and profuse congratulations are also in order for all our prosecutors, particularly those under the DOJ Special Projects Division or SPD. They are the ones whose labors, valued inputs and incisive insights, spread over countless hours, have rightfully given them the right to call the 2017 edition of the manual, their baby,” he added.
Aguirre also bared the plan to build a DOJ Academy and Training Center, the in-depth study and discussion of the manual as one of the prescribed courses for the training and orientation of future prosecutors. (PNA)
