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MOA Signed to Enhance Administration of Justice
July 31, 2003
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will address the recurring problems concerning the administration of justice, particularly by the five pillars of the criminal justice system, will be signed today at the Department of Justice in Padre Faura, Manila.
Signatories to the MOA are Justice Secretary Simeon A. Datumanong, Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina, Court Administrator Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. of the Supreme Court and Integrated Bar of the Philippines President Jose Anselmo I. Cadiz.
This initiative will revive the National Council on the Administration of Justice constituted in 1995 to serve as forum for its officials and members. The Council temporarily suspended its function when its former Chairman (Teofisto T. Guingona) run for the Senate.
Issues that will looked into by the Council are lack of judges, prosecutors, public attorneys for indigent litigants, lack of police credibility, overcrowded jails and prisons, clogged court and prosecution dockets, keeping track of accused who are out on bail and the arrest of accused who jumped bail, among others.
New strategies and measures will also be considered by the Council to speed up, improve and reform the quality of the administration of the criminal justice system such as in police criminal investigative work, securing and protecting witnesses and physical evidence, preliminary investigation, filing and prosecution of cases in court, and early resolution/decision of cases.
The Council, which shall hold monthly and special meetings at a designated place of the Secretariat, is composed of the Justice Secretary as Chairman with the Chief State Prosecutor, Chief of the Public Attorney, NBI Director, Bureau of Corrections Director, Parole and Probation Administrator, and the President of the National Prosecutors' League as members under his supervision.
The DILG Secretary acts as Co-Chairman with the Chief of the PNP, Director of the Bureau of the Jail and Management Penology, President of the League of Governors, and the President of the Liga ng mga Barangay as members under coordinative supervision.
The Court Administrator acts as Vice-Chairman with the President of the Philippine Judges Association, President of the Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines, President Trial Judges League Inc., and the President, Integrated Bar of the Philippines as members under his coordinative supervision.
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