THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have agreed to further strengthen their collaboration to help improve the government’s crime conviction rate especially when it comes to drug trafficking and other heinous crimes.

The partnership was reached during a high-level symposium held at the Manila Diamond Hotel which was attended by PNP The Chief Directorial Staff, Major General Emmanuel B. Peralta and erstwhile National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo.

Also present during the meeting were the five NCRPO district directors, station commanders, police-community precinct chiefs, their investigation unit chiefs and officials of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the Anti-Cybercrime Group and the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management which is the focal unit for the program.

The event marked the beginning of the first phase of the implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement between the DOJ and the PNP signed last April 13.

The significant milestone paves the way for the implementation of comprehensive training and education activities for PNP law enforcement officers throughout 2023 and 2024, in accordance with Republic Act No. 11936 also known as the Fiscal Year 2023 General Appropriations Act.

During the symposium, PNP chief, General Benjamin C Acorda Jr’s vision and message to the participants was delivered by Peralta.

The top cop emphasized the importance of collaboration, intelligence sharing, and synergy between the DOJ and PNP in addressing the evolving challenges faced by law enforcement agencies today.

He also acknowledged the significance of adapting to emerging technologies and the need to leverage them effectively to combat criminal activities while upholding the principles of justice and respect for human rights.

“The challenges we face in law enforcement are complex and constantly evolving. Criminals adapt, technology advances, and new threats emerge. Our training and education must keep pace with these changes, equipping our officers with the tools they need to effectively combat crime and serve justice,” Acorda said.

Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude to the DOJ for their unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice and for their continuous support in strengthening the PNP’s capabilities.

He likewise emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation urging all participants to forge stronger ties, streamline processes, and enhance the sharing of resources and expertise.

“Let us take full advantage of this opportunity to forge stronger partnerships, break down barriers, and lay the foundation for a more efficient and effective law enforcement system,” Acorda explained.

The symposium concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, a shared commitment to excellence, and a clear roadmap for future collaboration between the DOJ and PNP. The insights gained from the event will serve as a catalyst for positive change and advancement the country’s justice system and law enforcement practices, said Peralta.

Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento earlier met with top NCRPO officials to help the Metro Manila police force further increase its conviction rate with the help of government prosecutors while seeing to it that the rights of all concerned will be fully observed.

It was a rare occasion in which the two pillars of the criminal justice system convened to fully comply with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Circular 20 which is specifically aimed at addressing government woes when it comes to convicting lawbreakers in the country including those jailed for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Malcontento described their meeting as a ‘grand conspiracy for good’ as he explained that if criminals connive with each other to perpetrate their illegal activities, there is further more reason for the police and government prosecutors to partner with each other in convicting felons.

Acorda has ordered all Metro Manila district directors and chiefs of police and station commanders to ensure that their men fully support the DOJ Circular No. 20 which was released by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ C. Remulla Jr. to ensure the proactive involvement of DOJ prosecutors in case build-up.

In his directive, the DOJ chief directed all prosecutors of the National Prosecution Service to strictly observe and implement a number of policies and guidelines relative to their proactive involvement in the investigation of crimes.

The official said the conduct of preliminary investigation is an executive function wherein the prosecutor exercises investigative or inquisitorial powers, the sole purpose of which is to determine whether a crime has been committed and whether there is a prima facie case against respondent and a reasonable certainty of conviction based on the available documents, witness/es, real evidence and the like.

It includes the powers to administer oaths, summon witnesses, require the production of documents by a subpoena ducu tecum1 , to inspect records and premises, investigate the activities of persons or entities coming under the prosecutor’s jurisdiction, to secure or require the disclosure of information by means of accounts, records, reports, statements, the testimony of witnesses, and production of documents, take oral evidence of witnesses, subpoena witnesses to appear and testify under oath before them.

DOJ prosecutors were asked to ensure the existence of a prima facie case and a reasonable certainty of conviction based on available documents, witness/es, real evidence and the like.

The DOJ guidelines apply to heinous crimes such as not limited to violations of RA 9165, RA 9610 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, all violations of RA 11479 otherwise known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and all violations of RA 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

Also included are capital offenses that are punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.

As ordered by the DOJ, all heads of government prosecution offices shall ensure that all prosecutors within their respective offices shall, as far as practicable, be available to assist, coordinate and cooperate with, and provide sufficient legal guidance to, law enforcement agencies (LEA) in all planned operations such as but not limited to buy bust, controlled delivery operation, entrapment, application for search warrant, and the like, starting from their inception until successful termination of the case.

Prosecutors shall also be available at any hour of the day or night, even remotely via available telecommunications technology to help file criminals cases for piracy, qualified piracy, qualified bribery, infanticide, parricide, murder, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, robbery with violence against and intimidation of persons, destructive arson, plunder under RA 7080 and carnapping under RA 6539.

As ordered by Remulla, government prosecutors shall render immediate assistance and evaluate the required documents in the filing of a criminal case. The prosecutors also have to extend sufficient legal guidance with the relevant LEA to build-up the case and ensure the successful prosecution of the same.

The head of office shall closely monitor all inquest proceedings to ensure the lawful arrest of the suspect/s and the proper collection and preservation of all evidence to prove the commission of the crime and ensure a reasonable certainty of conviction, the DOJ chief likewise ordered.

In all inquest proceedings covered by the DOJ circular, prosecution offices must ensure that all important pieces of evidence are submitted by the LEA to make sure that no suspect who is lawfully arrested without warrant shall be released for further investigation .