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Friday, March 29, 2024

Task force to tackle poll cases

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The Department of Justice has formed a special task force of prosecutors that will handle election-related cases from the May 9 general elections. 

In a Department Order No. 328-B, Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas  assigned 10 prosecutors led by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Pedrito Rances to  tackle  cases with the Comelec. 

The panel has been tasked to conduct inquest proceedings or preliminary investigation of election offenses filed with the Comelec or DoJ. 

Also designated as members of the task force were Prosecutors Rosemarie Gonzales, Robert Ong, Michael John Humarang, Alejandro Daguiso, Florencio de la Cruz, Rodan Parrocha, Jeannette Dacpano and Charlie Guhit, and Assistant Prosecution Attorney Agnes Bagaforo-Arellano. 

Caparas  ordered all regional and city prosecutors to assign two prosecutors in each city or province to assist local legal teams of Comelec. 

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“All the election charges referred by the Comelec to DoJ main office shall be subject to the approval of the prosecutor general. On the other hand, charges to be filed against persons in the city/provincial prosecution offices shall be subject to the approval of the provincial/city prosecutors concerned,” the DoJ order stated. 

The Supreme Court earlier directed trial courts to open on Monday to accommodate possible filing of poll-related cases or address matters requiring immediate judicial action. 

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez directed executive judges to report for duty and resolve cases with “utmost caution and dispatch.”

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