Print logo
  1. Southeast Asia
  2. News
  3. Region 10 Prosecution and Law Enforcement Hold Dialogue and Launch Handbook of Crimes

Dialogue and Handbook Launch
Region 10 Prosecution and Law Enforcement Hold Dialogue and Launch Handbook of Crimes

Northern Mindanao prosecution and law enforcement office chiefs assess the achievements of activities held in the region since 2017 in a dialogue activity rounding up the series for 2022. They shared recommendations and agreed on proposed 2023 activities and topics. The activity featured a publication launch and concluded with a Police-Regional-Office 10-hosted fellowship night.

HSF

After six years, thirty dialogue activities, and one delegation visit to Germany, chiefs of the Regional Prosecution Office X and the Police Regional Office 10 and their respective provincial and city police offices evaluate achievements and discuss future actions.  The representatives of two of the country’s justice system pillars seek to sustain the gains in reciprocal communication and exchange.  They also aim at building on the deepened understanding of roles and of relevant legislation for corresponding implementation thereof towards enhancing investigation and increasing conviction rate.  The activity drew attention to the launching of a publication for use in the investigation and filing of cases and was topped off with a dinner get-together honouring the spirit of goodwill and teamwork amongst the participants and their offices.

From the period 2017-2022, a total of twenty-eight dialogue activities have been held in the Northern Mindanao Region, plus two top-level policy dialogues held in Manila in 2018 and in 2019.  Areas of concern covered included: cybercrime, drug cases, use of body-worn cameras, crimes against women and children, land conflict and land disputes, criminal procedures, judicial affidavits, children in conflict with the law, crimes against women and children, environmental crimes, and witness protection program.

HSF

Accomplishments presented included increases in disposition rating, prosecution success rates, conviction rate (primarily due to plea bargaining in drug cases), Philippine National Police (PNP) crime clearance rate and prosecution success rate in the region.  Meanwhile, the number of dismissed drug cases at the National Prosecution Service (NPS) level and of dismissed court cases decreased.  The availability of NPS representatives as witnesses during inventory in buy-bust cases due to the issuance of a regional order designating NPS representatives was cited as another step forward. 

A highlight in the list of achievements is the launching and distribution of the publication “Handbook of Crimes with Bail Bond Guide (2022 Edition),” which is intended to serve as a common reference material for prosecutors, prosecution attorneys and police investigators in the investigation and filing of cases.  It is said to be the first of its kind in the country.  Recipients were provincial and city prosecutors; provincial, city and municipal police offices/stations; office of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and Regional Anti-Cybercrime unit (RACU).

The “Handbook of Crimes with Bail Bond Guide (2022 Edition)” came about as a result of the continuing dialogue activities in the region since 2017 and responds to the dialogues’ participants and the repeated demonstrated need for prosecution and law enforcement to have a common material for use as reference in their conduct of investigations and filing of cases.  The publication, of which 350 copies were printed, includes the list of crimes punishable by The Revised Penal Code of 1930 and special laws, recommended bail bond, elements of common crimes, and table of penalties. 

For the continued regular conduct of dialogue sessions, common areas of concern identified to be focused on included:  online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), dangerous drugs cases (certain areas in the region), and the preparation of judicial affidavits.  Capacity-building activities to train prosecutors and law enforcers on specific topics, new laws, and discuss the manner of cooperation in case build-up, as may be deemed necessary, were also recommended.

The fellowship night, which was initiated and hosted by PRO10, was another first in the history of this dialogue series.  It served as a clear testament to the strengthened communication channels and mutual exchange between prosecution and law enforcement in the region and as a strong foundation for the conduct of future project activities planned to be held as part of the program.

This dialogue activity is the fourth one held in 2022.  It was organised by the Department of Justice-National Prosecution Office (DOJ-NPS), Regional Prosecution Office X (RPOX) in partnership with the Philippine National Police, Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10) with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation as part of the program, “Dialogue between Prosecutors and Police Investigators from the Northern Mindanao Region,” which is planned to continue into 2023.  Activities will be, as before, closely coordinated with RPOX and PRO10, based on the needs and recommendations of the intended participants.

 

 

Back