PILLARS OF JUSTICE SYSTEM. Police Sr. Supt. Gerardo Ratuita, acting provincial director of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office awards a certificate of appreciation to Regional PNP Director Ricardo Marquez during the Criminal Justice System consultative meeting on October 10 in Laoag City.
Lei Adriano
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
Owing to the increasing number of cases being dismissed by the courts here due
to technicalities, government law enforcers and prosecutors in Ilocos Norte
pledged to work together and enhance case build up to prosecute criminals.
This time around, active participation
from the local community is also highly encouraged, said acting provincial
director Gerardo Ratuita of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office based in
Camp Valentin S. Juan here in Laoag City.
In a consultative meeting among partners
of the criminal justice system held on October 9, Regional PNP Director Ricardo
Marquez said investigators and prosecutors have varying interpretations of the
legal process, hence the need for a personal and closer cooperation between
concerned authorities particularly in the case build-up of suspects.
According to Marquez, the entire process
must be systematized to provide a mechanism for the prosecutor and
investigators to work together.
For example, the regional director said
that in developing an airtight case, the prosecutor acts as the leader. In this
particular case, “all law enforcement agents concerning the case may be
instructed by the prosecutor to produce and submit evidence to file a case and
ensure the success of prosecution,” he added.
“As it is today, the process is not
formal. Investigators gather evidence and submit to the fiscal. The prosecutor
determines if there is a probable of cause and if there’s none, the case dies a
natural death,” Marquez said.
Acting provincial prosecutor Maria Rina
Calija welcomed the development to work closer with the police.
“As partners in the criminal justice
system and as prosecutors, we gave our issues and concerns and so with the PNP.
Now, at least, we were updated,” said Calija referring to an expected
better working relationship with the PNP in the prosecution.
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