Press Release
January 12, 2009

CHIZ TO PROBE BRIBERY SCANDAL IN PROSECUTION SERVICE

Purported acquittal of cases involving heinous crimes through alleged bribery and influence peddling in the National Prosecution Service will be probed by the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights once congressional session opens next week.

Senator Chiz Escudero, committee chairman said he is filing a resolution today to look into the alleged bribery scandal which has brought to fore a very serious issue concerning the administration of justice itself.

Escudero said the allegations involving the country's prosecutors are too disturbing to be ignored especially since these have been said to result to the acquittal of cases like large scale smuggling, plunder, rape and drug-related crimes.

The senator wants to validate reports that almost 80% of all cases filed in court have been dismissed, specifically illegal drug cases being handled by the Philippine Enforcement Drug Agency (PDEA).

"Such statistics is equivalent to two-is-to-one ratio of dismissal and acquittal as against conviction relating to illegal drugs alone".

Escudero is also after the track record of prosecutors in relation to the cases they have handled and are handling.

"Isa sa titingnan namin yung track record ng mga prosecutor pagdating sa mga kasong isinasampa o nirerekomendahan nilang madismiss, ilan na ba ito, ano ano klaseng kaso ito at kung mayroon tayong judge-bitay ika nga na noon, puro mga execution ang mga desisyon. Baka naman may mga piskal tayo na puro dismissal din ang desisyon ng anumang kasong nakakarating sa kanilang lamesa, kukunin naming ang statistics at datos dahil baka may pattern tayong makikita tungkol sa bagay na ito" Escudero said.

Escudero said the whole National Prosecution Service must be reviewed and accordingly provided appropriate safeguards to thwart any possibility of bribery or influence peddling.

"It really must be looked into and, if warranted, be tempered with appropriate legislation to avoid their office's vulnerability to money and fortune".

As this developed, the senator challenged the Office of the Ombudsman, which has now started a "quiet" probe into the matter, to really rise up in this issue and to show something for its investigation on this issue and all other issues in the past.

He said Ombudsman Gutierrez cannot sit idly by anymore as she did with previous issues under her office because this bribery scandal has shown the vast powers granted by law to public prosecutors.

"The Ombudsman is the underbelly of the government's cleansing system. Ombudsman Gutierrez has been one with the DOJ before she went to OSG. As a way of personal and professional aside, she should see to it that the National Prosecution Service and all government agencies for that matter, is properly cleansed and policed".

News Latest News Feed