The Department of Justice (DOJ) welcomed 114 Prosecution Attorneys (PAs) from the 121 signed appointments to advance the country’s prosecution landscape.
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon administered the mass oath-taking of the new prosecutors.
Fadullon showcased before the attendees the recent historical accomplishments attained by the DOJ National Prosecution Service (NPS), including the 80-90 percent increased conviction rating achieved through key DOJ issuances by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Among the said issuances are Department Circular (DC) 20 or the proactive involvement of prosecutors in case build-up, DC 15 or the 2024 Rules on Preliminary Investigations and Inquest Proceedings, and DC 28 or the Rules on Summary Investigation and Expedited Preliminary Investigation.
Eight out of the 121 new prosecutors were former support staff members of the DOJ-NPS before becoming lawyers, and bonafide prosecutors of the justice department.
The youngest among the prosecutors is 26 years-old while the oldest is 52 years-old, reflecting the agency’s equal opportunity in employment without biases or discrimination.
The prosecutors shall be assigned to different prosecution offices nationwide to help maintain its efficiency in handling cases and attain its ultimate goal of having zero case backlogs as well as ease workload and expedited resolution of cases.
“Your primordial duty is to render justice to the deserving, by prosecuting the guilty and protecting the innocent. Let us offer no excuse in the pursuit thereof. Together, let us discharge our functions with the highest degree of excellence and utmost fidelity,” said Remulla in his message delivered by Assistant Secretary Randolph Pascasio.