By
Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA,
July 3 -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has resolved more than 330,000
criminal complaints which surpassed the target of 85 percents disposition or
resolution rate during the first year of Vitaliano Aguirre II as the agency's
head.
As of
July 1, DOJ said that about 334,100 or 88.5 percent of 377,533 of filed
criminal complaints are resolved, and 283,831 of which have been filed in court
For
the same period, 23,184 convictions were secured which translates to a success
rate of 76.7 percent convictions out of total convictions and acquittals, and
30.05 percent convictions out of all criminal cases disposed by trial courts.
The
conviction rate is higher compared to 2015 rates, at 71.9 percent and 28.6
percent respectively.
According
to Aguirre his first 365 days is challenge and learning lessons but with the
employees support, the assistance and the cooperation extended by all involved
in the pursuit of President Duterte’s reform oriented mandates for the DOJ.
”The
past 365 days of my stewardship were indeed 365 days of constant challenges. It
was a year of learning new things, a year of learning lessons and a year of
learning more about ourselves. I must say, it was also a year of constant
changes, a year of reforms,” Aguirre told the employees during a thanksgiving
mass on Monday to commemorate his first year as DOJ Secretary.
”We
have made great strides in the direction we want to pursue for the DOJ. And for
this, please accept my sincere appreciation for all your help and support. We
have made inroads in the path we want to pursue but I know we can do more, we
can give more, we can be more,” he added.
The
Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 ranking in the 2017 United States
Trafficking in Persons report, he noted.
Aguirre,
who chairs the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) continues
intensify the campaign against the human trafficking in the country.
As of
July 1, the 231 trafficking victims rescued and the arrest of 40 suspected
traffickers during 43 operations of IACAT were 100 percent of victims are
provided legal/support services.
It
added that 44 convictions secured of 53 perpetrators while 2,052 law
enforcement and implementers are subjected to trainings.
”This
achievement is a proud moment for us because we are cognizant of how
challenging it is to maintain such a ranking. However, amidst the challenges,
our Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking or IACAT which I chair has persevered
and its perseverance has been rewarded,” he noted.
Since
Aguirre took over the DOJ, he ordered the deployment of contingents from the
elite Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to the
maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison as part of efforts to stamp
out the illegal drug trade in the facility.
As of
July 1, the anti-illegal drug operations and contrabands smuggling inside the
prison compounds of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has confiscated 11,462
contrabands through 26 Oplan Galugad operations.
It
added the transfer of inmates involved in illegal drug trade from ordinary cell
to disciplinary cell and housing units and also filing of charges against the
same.
”
When we changed the BuCor personnel by SAF personnel on July 20, days after we
assumed office, the SAF has destroyed or the syndicate there were responsible
for distributing illegal drugs, 70 to 75 percent of illegal drugs throughout
the Philippines. Of course, because of what we did in BuCor, then we’re able to
charge past officials of the BuCor and the Department of Justice, headed by
Secretary de Lima, and filed a case, a nonbailable case,” Aguirre said.
”As a
matter of fact, the first non-bailable cases filed under Branch 204 of the
Muntinlupa, I think will be decided in a short while, and the Branch 205 or
Branch 206 issued another warrant of arrest against Secretary de Lima and her
co-accused,” he added.
Under
the Duterte administration, the long queues and streamlined applications in
National Bureau of Investigation has been eliminated as it reduced from six to
three (3) step process and even 1 step process in some instances.
It
added the increased NBI Clearance venues from 87 in 2016 to 99 in 2017.
As of
February 2017, the number of clearances processed 4,645,02, where 97 percent
are processed within 10 minutes of receipt.
Meanwhile,
Aguirre announced the preparations for DOJ@120, the 120th Year Anniversary of
the DOJ.
”There
will be a series of activities that will culminate in our weeklong celebration
of this once in a lifetime event. The highlight of our celebration will be our
DOJ ball cum recognition night on Sept. 29, 2017 with no less than President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the Guest of Honor and Speaker,” he said.
Aguirre
urged everyone to continue working for a better DOJ, if there is any project or
collaboration which you feel can help us as a department, please know that my
office is open to you, we are all ears.
