DOJ Celebrates 110th Anniversary with Revitalized Services to the People
Press Release
Dept. of Justice
September 25, 2007
The Department of Justice marks its 110th Founding Anniversary on 26 September 2007 with revitalized and renewed services to the people.
With the theme Hustisya at Serbisyo Para sa Inyo, the week-long celebration will see the Department bring its services to barangays in Metro Manila. A team represented by all agencies of the Department, namely the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Land Registration Authority, Board of Pardons & Parole, Parole & Probation Administration, Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Public Attorney's Office, Presidential Commission on Good Government and Commission on the Settlement of Land Problems, will set up booths in designated areas to answer queries and render assistance. Available assistance will be in the areas of land titling, free legal assistance, requests for assistance in investigations, issuance of NBI clearance in designated locations, executive clemency or parole, adjudication of land problems or matters of remedies such as change of name, and other legal issues.
The outreach program has been set to take place today in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Delpan Sports Complex in Manila and Barangay Hall Kalookan North in Kalookan City where the NBI Clearance on Wheels has been stationed. On 27 September 2007, the team will proceed to Pasay City where the NBI clearance on wheels will be stationed, Pasig City and Muntinlupa City.
Let us reach out to the people by bringing government and justice close to them, Justice Acting Secretary Agnes VST Devanadera exhorted Department employees and officials.Let us make the people feel that government is doing its best to fulfill its functions, particularly make them aware that government service is always available at all times, she added.
Also highlighted during the anniversary is the launching of the Prosecutors' Manual on Handling Child-Related Cases. This is part of a project entered into by the Department, the Special Committee for the Protection of Children, Child Protection Unit Network with support from The Asia Foundation and the US Agency for International Development. The project is on Enhancing Capacities of Prosecutors in Handling Child-Related Cases.
The Acting Justice Secretary also revealed her plans for renewed vigor for the National Prosecution (NPS), the heart and soul of the Department.
In issuing Department Circular No. 48, she directed the strict observance of the 60-day period in the conduct and resolution of cases under preliminary investigation. Priority shall be given to cases involving Task Forces on the Protection of Media, Extra-Judicial/Unexplained Killings, Business Scams, tax evasion and anti-smuggling.
Devanadera also emphasized the need to link all prosecution offices by adopting new technology that will enable the monitoring of criminal cases being handled by the NPS. This will enable her Office to effectively monitor the aging of cases for speedy disposition. She also stressed the need for case management and standardized operations in the NPS.
The Acting Secretary also announced the upcoming updating of the Prosecutors' Manual and a the production of a Manual of Operations that will standardize procedures and operations in all field prosecution offices of the Department.
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