President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called on the country’s prosecutors to become shepherds of “highest integrity, ethics, and impartiality” in the administration of justice.
The President made the call in Malacañang during the signing ceremony for the Department of Justice – National Prosecution Service (DOJ-NPS) Rules on Criminal Investigation.
“To our prosecutors, you have your work now cut out for you. You are not just gatekeepers but also the shepherds of the highest integrity, ethics, and impartiality in the administration of justice,” President Marcos said.
“We are all stepping into a new era of law enforcement and prosecution, and knowing that—from here onwards—every case we handle, every decision we make, [and] every reform we champion will impact the lives of every single Filipino and it will shape the future of our country,” he added.
The President asked the prosecutors to strive to bring a better and a just future for Filipinos and the nation through the principles of justice and unwavering belief in the rule of law.
With the signing of the 2024 DOJ-NPS Rules on Preliminary Investigations and Inquest Proceedings, President Marcos said the country is moving towards the shared goal of a more robust and responsive legal system.
The President noted that the 2024 DOJ-NPS Rules are transformative as they institutionalize the executive and inquisitorial nature of preliminary investigations, bringing them in line with historical and legal precedents that reinforce the authority of the DOJ.
Through this, the President emphasized that all prosecutors are now empowered to take the lead in criminal investigations, ensuring that there is proper and sufficient case build-up before filing the case in court.
“These new rules and procedures ensure fairness and due process as we protect all of our citizens, including the accused, and hold the guilty accountable,” he pointed out.
Rule 112 of the 2000 Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure mandates the conduct of a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is probable cause that a crime has been committed and that the respondent had committed the same.
In May 30 this year, the Supreme Court (SC) en banc recognized DOJ’s authority to promulgate its own rules on preliminary investigation.
To facilitate the implementation of the 2024 DOJ-NPS Rules, the Court ruled that a repeal of inconsistent provisions in Rule 112 is warranted. PND
