Executive Secretary Ralph Recto administered the oath of office to 140 newly appointed Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors on Wednesday, February 11 at Malacañang, directing them to keep politics out of prosecution and uphold the rule of law.
“You are not here to bring politics into the charging decision. You are not here to serve personalities. You are not here to shield the powerful. You are here to be fair. To hold power—any power—accountable to the law,” Recto said.
“By doing so, you do not only become justice’s fiercest advocate, but democracy’s strongest guard rail,” he added in a statement issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally congratulated the new prosecutors, who will be deployed to offices nationwide to strengthen the DOJ’s prosecutorial capacity, reduce caseloads, and help eliminate case backlogs.
Also present at the ceremony were Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Anna Liza G. Logan, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Maria Luwalhati C. Dorotan Tiuseco, Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres, and DOJ Undersecretary Ian Norman E. Dato.
Recto said the appointees are entering public service at a time when institutions are allowed to function independently.
“I must say that you assume your new role during these auspicious times when our institutions are allowed to do their jobs, where truth is pursued, not staged; where justice is supported, not steered,” he said.
Citing recent government experience, Recto stressed that the rule of law is demonstrated when due process is observed regardless of rank.
“Even the highest offices have faced scrutiny. Even the Executive Secretary has faced complaints. These charges were met the only way a public servant with respect to the law should: with facts, with transparency, and with reverence to due process,” he said.
“For that is how the rule of law is proven: by letting due process run its course without spin, without shortcuts, without political seasoning,” he added.
Recto reminded the prosecutors that the President’s commitment to the rule of law carries both assurance and expectation—that they must follow evidence wherever it leads, dismiss cases that cannot be proven, and remain free from bias or manipulation.
“Justice that needs instructions is not justice—it is obedience. And you are not here to obey personalities. You are here to uphold principles,” he said.
He urged them to live out their oath daily and uphold the law with courage and integrity.
“When the noise gets loud, let your answers be loud and clear: Kampi ako ng katotohanan. Panig ako sa batas. Hindi puwede kung hindi tama,” Recto said.
“May you always have the strength to stand up to power, without ever becoming power’s instrument, but only that of the people,” he added.
