House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez (left) is assisted by Cagayan Rep. Joseph Lara (2nd left) and Pangasinan Rep. Tyrone Agabas (seated partly covered) during a short meeting with Labor Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello (right) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero” Popoy” De Vera lll (2nd right) at the Majority office. Bello and Devera presented to the Committee on Appropriations their proposed 2022 budget at the plenary of the House of Representatives. Photo by VER NOVENO
Romualdez commends DOJ, OMB
For continued justice system amid COVID-19 pandemic
HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday commended the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman for ensuring the dispensation of justice amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Our justice system has been working despite the health risks posed by the COVID-19. The operationalization of the courts continued even during times of emergency,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, said after Justice Sec. Menardo “Boy” Ilasco Guevarra and Ombudsman Finance Director Atty. Weomark Ryan Layson paid him a courtesy call at the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP) and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said he expects the DoJ and Ombudsman to continue their mandate of providing speedy answers to people’s clamor for justice by ensuring fair and impartial trial and providing just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior.
“I am pleased with the great efforts and dedication of our judges and prosecutors in ensuring that the adequacy of the judicial system is felt by the people during the pandemic when limited physical interaction is strictly observed. Thank you for the higher sense of justice in enforcing the law and defending the interests of the nation,” said Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD).
The DoJ serves as the government’s prosecution arm and administers the government’s criminal justice system by investigating crimes, prosecuting offenders and overseeing the correctional system.
As people’s protectors, the Ombudsman is mandated to act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against officers or employees of the government.
Guevarra and Layson attended the House committee on appropriations briefing on the proposed budget of the DoJ and Ombudsman, respectively under the 2022 P5.024-trillion national budget.
