By Jeffrey Damicog
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to launch next year the Philippine Crime Index intended to make uniform the listing and classification of crimes among government agencies and the judiciary.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
“The Department of Justice will soon launch the Philippine Crime Index,” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra who hopes that the launching will take place early next year.
“This index contains, among others, a complete and updated list of all crimes and the elements that constitute these crimes,” he explained.
The Secretary noted that the Philippine Crime Index will be accessible online and can be used, among others, as “an important tool to ensure that every information filed by our prosecutors in court is less prone to quashal.”
DOJ spokesman and Undersecretary Markk Perete said that with the Philippine Crime Index there will be no need for the courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies to have separate crime indexes.
“Ginamit natin yung index na iyon (We will be able to use the crime index) for the purpose of helping prosecutors and judges in making parang faster decisions,” he noted.
“And it is also going to be used by our police officers sa pag-gather ng (to gather) crime statistics,” he added.
Perete revealed the firm CD Asia was hired to create the Philippine Crime Index which will be a part of the National Justice Information System.
He said the DOJ will be maintaining the Philippine Crime Index but the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center has been tapped in updating it.
The Philippine Crime Index already went past three phases with the final phase involve the updating for new laws passed by Congress, noted the spokesman.
“Actually nag-soft launch na tayo (We already made a soft launch),” said Perete.
“We’re meeting with a number of agencies para malaman nila kung ano ang laman ng index (to let them know the contents of the index) and how they can use the index,” explained the spokesman who added that that participating government agencies have also been asked to submit credentials.