Philippine National Police
MANILA, Philippines — Police officers should receive training in updated criminal investigation and inquest proceedings, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said on Tuesday.
In a statement, Yamsuan said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should keep up with the reforms because the 2024 Department of Justice – National Prosecution Service (DOJ-NPS) Rules on Preliminary Investigation and Inquest Proceedings sets a higher standard in determining the quantum of evidence needed to file cases.
“Police officers should make sure that the evidence they have secured, gathered, and processed are not excluded by the courts due to improper handling and other technicalities,” he added.
According to Yamsuan, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the reforms on preliminary investigation and inquest proceedings will be all for naught if appropriate training is not given to police officers.
“That’s why the PNP’s focus should be on continuing education and training of personnel to ensure that they will follow the police operational procedures. The DOJ cannot implement the reforms in investigating criminal cases, and cannot win the actual cases with the court if it is not done with the PNP,” he said.
“At one of the hearings, a police officer who acted as the team leader in one of the drug buy-bust operations even admitted that he had not undergone any retraining or any sort of refresher course since entering the PNP almost 14 years ago,” he added.
Under the new rules, the determination of probable cause rests on the shoulders of prosecutors. Before, the courts had to ascertain that the cases filed had merits.
According to the DOJ, greater responsibility will be placed on the shoulders of prosecutors with the signing of the new rules, but potential abuse can be deterred as prosecutors have to sign a certification indicating that the case they came up with has a complete set of evidence.
“These reforms under the able leadership of [Justice] Secretary [Jesus Crispin] Remulla will help the judiciary reduce its mounting case backlogs and aid corrections officials in decongesting the country’s overcrowded jails,” Yamsuan said.
READ: DOJ: Updated criminal probe rules will not lead to abuses
Last July 10, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of the 2024 DOJ-NPS Rules on Preliminary Investigation and Inquest Proceedings in Malacañang.
READ: Marcos: Updated criminal probe rules will prevent filing of ‘frivolous suits’
He said the updated rules would usher in a new era of law enforcement and prosecution because only winnable cases would be pursued, eventually clearing the courts’ backlog.
According to the President, requiring a higher standard of evidence would not only ensure that cases filed by prosecutors are winnable but at the same time, provide protection to people who may be facing “frivolous suits.” With reports from Felice Nafarrete, trainee.