IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay (PIA) – In the latest episode of Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas in Region 9, the spotlight was on three key agencies under the Department of Justice namely the National Prosecution Service (NPS), Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), and Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
The episode featured discussions with resource persons from each agency, shedding light on their mandates and the crucial roles they play in the justice system.
Atty. Eduardo Gonzales, regional director of PAO-9, emphasized the agency’s commitment to providing free legal assistance to the underprivileged underserved communities in Zamboanga Peninsula, highlighting the importance of ensuring access to justice for all.
“We have adopted measures to ensure that lawyers are available wherever legal services are needed. We have strengthened our barangay outreach activities through legal information dissemination. We also have night duties in Region 9, and our lawyers are on-call 24/7 for those in need of urgent legal assistance,” Gonzales said.
Maria Lourdes Guangco, chief probation and parole officer of PPA-9 focused on the agency’s efforts in rehabilitating and reintegrating offenders back into society, promoting the reformation of parolees and probationers through community-based corrections.
“The journey for rehabilitation is really to change their lives from wrong living to right living, and for restorative justice, we are trying to reconcile the offender with the victim so they can live peacefully in the same community,” Guangco said.
Fiscal Manuel Donato Elumba, prosecution attorney of the Office of the Regional Prosecutor 9, discussed the agency’s role in ensuring a fair justice system and criminal cases are prosecuted efficiently and justly.
“The prosecutor’s office will thoroughly review the case first because it’s difficult to file a case only to find out later that the person is actually innocent,” Elumba said.
The initiative provided a comprehensive overview of the justice sector’s contributions to the region, demonstrating the government’s commitment to ensuring that public service remains a priority.
The NPS, PPA, and PAO’s combined efforts in Region 9 highlight their commitment to fair legal processes, effective offender rehabilitation, and accessible legal assistance. Together, they aim to ensure justice and public service are available to all. (EDT/RBI/PIA9-Zamboanga Sibugay)
