A reminder to all prosecutors: “Resolve your assigned cases accordingly!

Acting Secretary Agnes VST Devanadera emphasized this after she admonished Quezon City Asst. City Pros. Bienvenido Tomboc for failure to resolve a case after the lapse of two (2) years and four (4) months since the case was assigned to him.

It was after the filing of an administrative complaint against him by the complainant when he immediately came up with a resolution recommending dismissal of the said case. Tomboc put up a reason that the delay was caused by the volume of his work, aggravated by the failure of his secretary to update the cases for him to resolve. Looking for scapegoat, he stressed that his oversight to keep track on the pending cases assigned to him was due to the erratic attendance of his secretary who was later dismissed from the service. He opted to admit his first infraction and asked for leniency. While noting his explanation, the Acting Secretary told Tomboc that “the quality of zealous regard for the just administration of law is the more important factor to consider than one who races to end the preliminary investigation of a case by hastily resolving it as speed is not the chief objective.” Devanadera added “this should not be a justification to be unmindful of the requirement that cases be resolved within the mandated period.”

Meanwhile, the Secretary has issued a memorandum to all prosecutors to submit, not later than July 24, a list of the cases assigned to them.

The memo dated July 20, 2009 made no distinction whether under preliminary investigation, review resolution or court cases.

Recently, in her desire to fast-track resolution of pending cases, Devanadera has been making rounds in prosecution offices in Metro Manila for inventory of unresolved cases and those due for decision before the courts. After a surprised visit of two prosecution offices in Cebu and Zamboanga in the south, other regional prosecution offices are set for on-the-spot assessment and “no offices will be spared from the quick visit,” she hinted. “This is part of a housekeeping intended for every prosecution office, and this is really good for the service,” said the 50th Secretary since the Department was established in 1897.