Aquino asked to certify 2 anticrime bills

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said she will ask President Aquino to certify as urgent two bills seeking to establish a simplified procedure on criminal investigation and to amend the crime section of the Revised Penal Code.

“The Department of Justice (DOJ) will request the President to certify these bills as urgent so we have concrete and verifiable results before 2016. This was outlined during [his] first State of the Nation Address in 2010,” De Lima said in a statement.

First hearing

The Secretary has formally endorsed the two bills to Congress. The House committee on justice headed by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas conducted its first public hearing on the two bills in Cebu City last Friday, with DOJ Criminal Code Committee chair, Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy, in attendance.

Present during the public hearing were representatives from the judiciary, executive agencies, academe, bar, local government units, nongovernment organizations and civil societies. It was the first of the several consultations scheduled to ensure the speedy and smooth passage of the bills.