The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently turned over to the Department of Justice legal references for prosecutors in simple ceremonies held at the Office of the Secretary.

The legal materials consisted of 500 compact discs (CDs) entitled Laws & Jurisprudence for Philippine Prosecutors (LJPP) which the ADB contracted with CD Asia.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, in accepting the donation thanked the ADB for supporting DOJ projects that could truly help improve the efficiency of prosecutors.

The supply of LJPP to prosecutors is part of the Technical Assistance Project of the ADB to the Philippine government under the Improved Administration of Justice and Long Term Justice Sector Development Strategy Project ( Component B ) where strategies to improve prosecutor capacity is a component.

The turnover ceremony was attended by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and Mr. Jaseem Ahmed, Director, Governance, Finance and Trade Division, Southeast Asia Department, ADB. Witnessing the ceremony were Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno and Assistant Chief State Prosecutors Miguel Gudio, Jr., Pedrito Rances and Severino Gana.

The LJPP is a mini library contained in a CD consisting of the Revised Penal Code and its amendments, special laws, Revised Rules of Court, the latest jurisprudence and other reference materials for prosecutors. These will greatly aid prosecutors in research, investigation and prosecution. A users� training shall be conducted by the CD Asia nationwide.

Other strategies to improve prosecutor capacity was the ADB-funded Basic Orientation for New Prosecutors which was co-funded by The Asia Foundation held in January and March of this year.