Jesus Crispin Remulla
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has created a body to scrutinize the performance of state prosecutors nationwide, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday. In a circular, Remulla said the Prosecution Integrity Board would “monitor, audit from time to time and assess the performance” of the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG). He said the body, whose composition and functions would be spelled out in a separate department order, would also look into the conduct of regional, provincial and city prosecutors handling preliminary investigation. At the same time, Remulla issued new guidelines in reviewing the resolutions issued by the OPG and other state prosecutors involving complaints to be filed before the Regional Trial Courts. “Cases decided on appeal by the prosecutor general and by the regional state prosecutors under this provision shall be considered final and no longer be appealable to the Office of the Secretary of Justice,” read Department Circular No. 27, which Remulla signed on July 13. —Marlon Ramos