The Department of Justice welcomes the appointment of the following heads of offices by His Excellency, Benigno S. Aquino III:
1) Atty. Peter L. Medalle - Regional Prosecutor of Region IX;
2) Atty. Michael D. Villaret - Provincial Prosecutor of Antique;
3) Atty. Golda B. Bagawi - Provincial Prosecutor of Mountain Province;
4) Atty. Mari Elvira B. Herrera - City Prosecutor of Aritipolo City;
5) Atty. Johnny N. Umpong - City Prosecutor of Bacoor City, Cavite;
6) Atty. Alfonso M. Cinco IV - City Prosecutor of Catbalogan City;
The appointment papers of the above-mentioned heads of offices were received by the Department of Justice on 02 March 2015. Notably, the President's appointment of the said heads of offices came immediately after the appointment of one hundred eighty one (181) prosecutors a few days ago.
Undoubtedly, the President's appointment of the foregoing heads of offices improves the administration of the criminal justice system in the said areas of jurisdiction. The DOJ offices mentioned above have been vacated by the former occupants for some time now, and President's appointment of such prosecutors fills the void created by the absence of heads of offices in Region IX, Mountain Province, Antique, Bacoor City, Catbalogan City and Antipolo City.
Apart from the appointment of the said heads of offices, the Department of Justice also received the promotional and original appointment often ten (10) other prosecutors, to wit:
1) Atty. Rogelio A. Velasco - Deputy City Prosecutor of Quezon City;
2) Atty. Vesta Victoria G. Villamor - Deputy City Prosecutor of Quezon City;
3) Atty. Alfredo P. Agcaoili - Deputy City Prosecutor of Quezon City;
4) Atty. Maria Lelibet S. Sampaga - Deputy City Prosecutor of Quezon City;
5) Atty. Rico O. Verde - Associate Provincial Prosecutor of Northern Samar;
6) Atty. Fidelito L. Marmol - Associate Provincial Prosecutor of Northern Samar;
7) Atty. Wilma Donna A. Garcia - Associate Provincial Prosecutor of Northern Samar;
8) Atty. Rico Leo R. Sacaben - Associate Provincial Prosecutor of Northern Samar;
9) Atty. Jinky U. Ramos - Associate Provincial Prosecutor of Northern Samar;
10) Atty. Luz D. Trinidad - Associate Provincial Prosecutor of Northern Samar.
The promotional and/or original appointment of the prosecutors in Quezon City and Northern Samar would likewise assist in eliminating the backlog in the said offices. Needless to state, more prosecutors are needed in order to achieve the zero backlog policy that the Department of Justice dreams to accomplish in all the offices of the National Prosecution Service.