Manila, Philippines – Secretary Leila M. De Lima issued Department Order No. 055 today, January 25, 2012, designating Regional Prosecutor Nonnatus Caesar R. Rojas as officer-in-charge of the National Bureau of Investigation, following President Aquino’s termination of the appointment of NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula. RP Rojas shall temporarily serve as the head of the agency until the President appoints anew an NBI Director to replace Gatdula.
Regional Prosecutor Rojas Designated as Officer-In-Charge of NBI
1st National Criminal Justice Summit Launched
From Left to Right: Presiding Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr., Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, President Benigno S. Aquino III, Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr., Secretary Leila M. De Lima, and Secretary Jesse M. Robredo
Manila Hotel, Philippines – On December 5 and 6, 2011, the first National Criminal Justice Summit was held, with the thrust of improving the Philippine Justice System. The event was attended by hundreds of delegates from the various agencies of the government. Other than the State of the Nation Address (SONA), this is one of the rarest events in Philippine political history where the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President of the House of Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Republic, simultaneously attended a public function. All this to show the government’s support to the Justice Reform Agenda. The event was also attended by members of the Diplomatic Corps, key officials of the Supreme Court, heads and representatives of the Constitutional Offices, the Director-General and staff of the Philippine National Police, and the heads and representatives of the attached agencies of the Department of Justice.
The event was co-sponsored by government agencies considered as the pillars of the Philippine Justice System, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Supreme Court, and the Department of Interior and Local Government, in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The first day of the summit set the tone of the event with messages from the Secretary Leila M. De Lima (DOJ), Secretary Jesse M. Robredo (DILG). The secretaries’ speeches were followed by discourses from Chief Justice Renato Corona, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr. The highlight of the summit was the message of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III who stressed the significant roles of the stakeholders in the Philippine Justice System in the delivery of justice to the Filipino people.
The second day of the summit was capped by a pledge of commitment to the Justice Reform Agenda of all participants, led by no less than the Vice President of the Philippines, Jejomar C. Binay.
Regional Prosecution Office I Holds Two-Day RSM at Batac City
BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte – The Office of the City Prosecutor of the ‘baby’ city of Batac, Ilocos Norte, headed by City Prosecutor Myra Nalupta-Barba, hosted this year’s second Regional Staff Meeting on October 26-27, 2011. The first day of the event featured a three-stage shooting competition among prosecutors of Region I, held at the Marcos Combat Shooters Range, in the Municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Around thirty prosecutors participated in the event with teams from Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte and La Union. The production division was topped by ACP Ferdinand D.V. Parayno, while ACP Roderick Atinaja ruled the standard division, single stack. Deputy Provincial Prosecutor Pablo Lachica earned first place in the standard division, hi-cap.
The shootfest was followed by an exhibition basketball game between the four-time national champion, Luzon team of prosecutors, and the champion basketball team of the IBP Ilocos Norte invitational. The basketball game was held at the Batac City Gym, which is at the heart of Batac City.
The second day of the event took place at the Kalipi Center, Batac City, where more than a hundred prosecutors and support staff of the Regional Prosecution Office I, convened. The delegates were awed by the intermission numbers of groups of high school students from Batac City, who showed off their talents and skills in the field of dance and gymnastics.
Aside from the usual presentation of Regional Prosecutor Nonnatus Caesar R. Rojas on the status of work performances of the city and provincial prosecution offices, the delegates were also encouraged to regularly visit the Regional Prosecution Office 1’s website, dojregionaloffice1.wordpress.com. The highlight of the RSM proper was the recognition of the region’s trial prosecutors, who gave exemplary performances, in their respective field offices.
November 7 is a Regular Non-Working Holiday
Malacanang, Manila – To commemorate Eidul Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, President Noynoy Aquino through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, issued Presidential Proclamation No. 276, declaring November 7, Monday, a regular non-working day, as recommended by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).
According to Proclamation No. 276, Eidul Adha is one of the two greatest feasts of Islam. And in accordance with Republic Act No. 9849, Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a regular holiday.
Secretary De Lima Names DOJ Region I, IAU Members
Manila, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima recently issued Memorandum Order No. 768, dated August 11, 2011 designating members of the Internal Affairs Unit, for the DOJ.
The Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of Region I will be chaired by Deputy Regional Prosecutor Zenaida Ferrer and the following prosecutors, as its members: Assistant Regional Prosecutor Glenda O. Soriano, Assistant Regional Prosecutor Christopher A. Soriano, Assistant Regional Prosecutor Maribelle C. Uminga and Associate Provincial Prosecutor Jorge S. Manaois Jr.
The IAU will be handling administrative cases filed against prosecutors and members of the support staff of region I.
October 31, 2011 is a Special Non-Working Holiday
Malacang Palace, Manila.
October 10, 2011.
President Benigno S. Aquino signed Presidential Proclamation No. 265, declaring October 31, 2011, as a special non-working day. This complements Presidential Proclamation No. 84, dated December 20, 2010 declaring November 1, a tuesday, as a special non-working day, creating a four-day long weekend for both the government and private sector.
Presidential Proclamation No. 265, s. of 2011
DOJ Memorandum Circular No. 050, series of 2011
MANILA, Philippines – Secretary Leila De Lima recently issued MC No. 050, s. 2011, encouraging all employees of the DOJ to join the Modified PAG-IBIG II (MP2) Membership Program.
For easy reference to employees who wish to participate in the said program, you can click the link below and download MC 050 together with the Guidelines of HDMF Circular No. 276, s. 2011 and the corresponding PAG-IBIG forms.
CSC Issues Memorandum on the Use of the Revised SALN Form for 2011 and Onwards
QUEZON CITY – Dr. Francisco T. Duque III, chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) recently issued Memorandum Circular No. 19, series of 2011, governing the use of a Revised SALN Form to be accomplished and submitted by all government employees before April 30, of 2012.
The new features of the Revised SALN form, include mandatory entries of personal and family expenses, and the amount of income taxes paid. For more information on CSC MC No. 19, s. 2011, please refer to the following link: http://excell.csc.gov.ph/MC2011/mc19s2011SALN.pdf.
Orientation-Workshop on the Code of Conduct for the National Prosecution Service Held
BAGUIO CITY – Provincial Prosecutors, City Prosecutors and their deputies from Regions 1, 2, and 3 attended an orientation-workshop on the code of conduct for prosecution service on July 26-27, 2011 at Baguio Country Club, Baguio City.
Plenary Discussion on the Code of Conduct for the Prosecution Service
One of the highlights of the two-day workshop was the use of the Audience Response Unit, to get feedback from the participants on the topics discussed under the program. The use of the ‘high-tech’ facility was demonstrated by the program manager of the American Bar Association, Atty. Kristina Manalang – De Guzman. The orientation became more interesting as City Prosecutor Lorna T. Lee, Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Kristhina P. Salumbides, Regional Prosecutor Nonnatus Caesar R. Rojas, and City Prosecutor Jacinto Ang, presented case studies drawn from the provisions of the code of conduct, and instantly obtained response from the participants, with just a click of a remote device. The following day of the training proved more productive as Regiona Prosecutor Rojas introduced the fundamental processes to be undertaken by the internal affairs units (IAU’s) as embodied in the code of conduct.
Participants Listen Intently to the Lecturers of the Orientation
Chief Prosecutors of Region I and Their Deputies Together with Regional Prosecutor Nonnie Rojas
DOJ Conducts Human-Rights Based Approach Orientation for New Prosecutors
Forty four (44) newly appointed prosecutors from Regions I, II, and III, participated in the basic orientation conducted by the Department of Justice at the City Garden Suites, Mabini, Manila, on May 9-12, 2011. Three (3) prosecutors from Region I, Assistant City Prosecutor Mitchel Go, Assistant Regional Prosecutor Glenda Soriano and Deputy Regional Prosecutor Zenaida Ferrer, were among the resource persons tapped by the DOJ speakers’ bureau to share knowledge and experiences to the participants.
The four-day orientation dealt with several topics, including the basic duties of a prosecutor, updates on preliminary investigation and inquest, the new code of conduct for prosecutors, trial techniques on successful prosecution, and the witness protection program. The orientation culminated with the simulation of a criminal indictment for extra-judicial killing, through a moot court presided over by Judge Philip Aguinaldo of the Regional Trial Court of Muntinlupa City.
The DOJ Secretariat together with Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon (center, sitting), Assistant Secretary Zabedin Azis (center, standing, behind SDSP Fadullon), Regional Prosecutor Nonnatus Rojas (second from right), and Regional Prosecutor Jesus Simbulan (first from left)
Newly appointed prosecutors from Region I, with the resource speakers, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon, Assistant Secretary Zabedin Azis, and Regional Prosecutor Nonnatus Rojas
The Resource Persons of the 2nd Basic Orientation for New Prosecutors
