MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Prosecutors will no longer pursue their plan to go on mass leave to protest the Malacañang order for justice officials implicated in the “Alabang Boys” bribery controversy to go on indefinite leave.

Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, one of the officials ordered to go on leave, said on Thursday that he managed to convince members of the National Prosecutors League of the Philippines, Chief Prosecutors Association (CPA)and State Prosecutors Association (SPA) not to pursue their planned protest.

"Prudence dictates that I should stop it," Zuno, who earlier warned that a mass leave would paralyze the criminal justice system.

"While recent events are disturbing and tarnish the good work of our dedicated public prosecutors and the National Prosecution Service, we must maintain the modicum of professionalism demanded by the Office we hold and shall continue to discharge and perform our public task even more diligently and honestly," Zuño said.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez also warned of sanctions against those who would join a mass leave, which he said "could be a clear disruption of public service. They could be suspended for violation of the Civil Service Law."

"We cannot sacrifice public service. I will initiate sanctions," Gonzalez said.

Zuño said he told the prosecutors that the results of the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be released, the case will be resolved, and Gonzalez is behind the prosecutors.

But Zuño said prosecutors from Region 3 who originally aired the call for a mass leave will go on a leave of absence on January 28 to join the chief state prosecutor when he appears before the Senate inquiry into the allegations prosecutors had been bribed to dismiss drug charges against three scions of prominent families.

Zuño appealed to the public "understand the work of the prosecution service before making any unfounded judgments and to give your prosecutor the benefit of the doubt."

"We sincerely believe that the overwhelming number of our public prosecutors are worthy of your trust and confidence. We can only hope and pray to vindicate our honor because the truth will in the end always triumph," he said.

Aside from Zuño, Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, Chief Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, Senior State Prosecutor Phillip Kimpo, State Prosecutor Misael Ladaga and Investigating Prosecutor John Resado were considered on indefinite leave starting Monday.