DOJ revamps task forces to boost prosecution rate

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER file photo

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has undertaken a major revamp of the chairmanship and composition of 19 task forces of the National Prosecution Service (NPS) handling various sensitive and controversial cases.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the reorganization in the membership of the different DOJ task forces was aimed at “giving the NPS the boost it needs to reach a disposition rate (of cases)” above the 90-percent level.

She said the reshuffle, as contained in Department Order No. 826 dated October 5, was also intended to prod the NPS into improving its performance in prosecuting cases, particularly those “imbued with public interest.”

“Hopefully, the change will inspire palpable and positive results by the end of this year,” De Lima said.

Without citing specific shortcomings of the previous members of the NPS task forces, she said she decided to take positive steps to “revitalize and infuse dynamism into the service.”

Among those named to head some of the task forces were Senior Deputy State Prosecutors Richard Anthony Fadullon, Theodore Villanueva and Miguel Gudio Jr.

Fadullon, who previously led the prosecution panel in the Maguindanao massacre case, was assigned as chair of both the task forces on antiterrorism and on human rights and extralegal killings.

Villanueva, on the other hand, will head three NPS task forces—illegal drugs, antimoney laundering and antikidnapping.

Gudio, who recently approved the filing of tax evasion charges against Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his wife Ma. Angela, will lead the task forces on financial fraud and the tax suits filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

According to De Lima, the cases being handled by the various NPS task forces  affect the whole nation, whether in terms of public order and security, economic stability and development, or the overall integrity of government services.

“This is why we are intent on ensuring that they are given the degree of focus that is commensurate to their importance and, at the same time, that they are justly resolved without undue delay,” she said.

As the state’s principal prosecution agency, De Lima said the NPS should lead in the improvement of the country’s criminal justice system.

“Therefore, if we see that there is room for improvement in this vital organization, we will institute appropriate reforms to address whatever may be holding it back from achieving optimum efficiency and effectiveness,” she said.