TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) – – The Department of Justice (DOJ) Region 2 has achieved a zero backlog on cases filed for preliminary investigation and inquest in the region.
Regional Prosecutor Atty. Rommel C. Baligod said there were 2,844 cases resolved under preliminary investigation and 1,755 for inquest resolved within the prescribed period posting a hundred percent disposition rate in Cagayan Valley Region.
He also said the National Prosecution Service in the region was able to secure 1,713 convictions for the first semester of the year with 328 acquittals and helped the court dispose of 2,041 cases.
“The criminal proceedings have two stages, the preliminary investigation and court trial. In the preliminary investigation, we don’t have a problem as we have zero backlogs. The delays are in court but there are also reasons for the court delays,” Baligod said during the recent Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas episode.
To decongest jails and for humanitarian concerns, Baligod said the DOJ has recommended lowering bail to up to P10,000 maximum for indigents accused of a crime.
“One of the reasons why there is congestion in prisons is because there are those who cannot afford to post bail for their temporary liberty,” He said.
Another initiative, Baligod said is the recommendation for dismissal of pending cases assessed with no reasonable certainty of conviction based on existing evidence.
“Previously, we can already file a case if we can see that there is a probable cause, but now, we see to it that the degree of proof is within a reasonable certainty of conviction to proceed with the filing of the case,” he added.
Baligod also said he keeps on reminding the prosecutors to attend religiously to their clients and ensure that the ‘justice for all’ mantra of the DOJ will be served. (OTB/PIA Region 2)
