Leila memo: No to political endorsements

Aside from allowances, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima wants to keep politicians and local officials out of the appointment and promotion process for prosecutors to the service.

She said she issued a memorandum “not to consider” endorsement from politicians in considering applicants for appointments and promotions for the National Prosecution Service.

“Let us begin to build a reputation of integrity, probity and independence. The rule of law could not be dependent on personalities, connections, wealth, or influence,” de Lima said.

To discourage prosecutors and other employees from engaging in illegal activities, she said the DOJ will implement disciplinary sanctions against its erring members.

“There are still those who selfishly tarnish the institution in favor of their own interests. Some of them learned the hard way even though I know it would expose the department’s dirty laundry to the public,” she said.

“I have no qualms ordering entrapment operations against a few of our own. If I need to do entrapments every week, I will do so,” she added. De Lima admitted that the DOJ is understaffed.

She said there are presently 662 vacancies for the position of prosecutors nationwide.

“Much as we want these positions filled as soon as possible, we do not wish to forsake quality for the sake of haste,” she said.

De Lima said they are reevaluating their selection and promotion process to bring the best lawyers to the prosecution service.

Evidentiary gaps

She said the DOJ will soon establish a training center for prosecutors known as the National Prosecution Service Academy” for continuing program of prosecutorial education.

De Lima said the low conviction rate of cases filed by prosecutors in the trial courts was due in part to some prosecutors failing to fill the evidentiary gaps between “probable cause” of prosecutors and “proof beyond reasonable doubt” in court.

“There are even cases which don’t reach the trial stage. Even if they do, they do not result in convictions. It either means that the victims never had their day in court or they lose in court even as we waste taxpayers money in unsuccessful attempts,” she said.

De Lima encouraged prosecutors to assist her in regaining the people’s trust in the country’s justice system by revisiting their practices and changing what needs to be changed.