More cases resolved by DOJ’s main office prosecutors in 2022

The Office of the Secretary of Justice Prosecution Staff (OSJPS), which handles cases filed directly before the main office of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila, has resolved over 30 percent more cases in 2022 compared to those filed in 2021. In 2022, OSJPS records showed that 2,656 cases were resolved or 85.13 percent of the 3,120 cases filed and underwent preliminary investigation. In 2021, the same records showed that the disposition rate was 53.44 percent when 1,102 cases were resolved out of 1,062 cases filed. Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento, head of the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service (NPS) of which the OSJPS is a component, lauded the improved case disposition in 2022. “I commend the OSJPS and the National Capital Region (NCR) prosecution offices for their continued hard work and dedication to public service,” Malcontento said. Criminal complaints undergo preliminary investigation before the NPS – composed of the OSJPS and city and provincial prosecutors nationwide – before they are filed with the courts. In the case of OSJPS, Malcontento said it recently underwent evaluation for its performance in 2022 and obtained a 4.42 final weighted score equivalent to an adjectival rating of “very satisfactory.” He said that the 16 Offices of the City Prosecutors (OCPs) in NCR also underwent performance evaluation for 2022. “The impressive performance of the OCPs in the NCR is an indication of the prosecutors’ continued commitment to the vision and directive of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla to ensure an effective, efficient and equitable administration,” he said. He said that based on evaluation report “the top performers that obtained 5.0 final weighted score equivalent to an adjectival rating of ‘Outstanding’ are the OCP Las Pinas under City Prosecutor (CP) Marylin Cynthia Fatima Madamba-Luang, OCP Makati under CP Dindo G. Venturanza, OCP Mandaluyong under CP Bernabe Augustus C. Solis, OCP Manila under CP Giovanni T. Lim, OCP Marikina under CP Laurence Joel M. Taliping, OCP Muntinlupa under CP Aileen Marie S. Gutierrez, OCP Paranaque under CP Benjamin S. Vermug, Jr., and OCP San Juan City under CP Blas Antonio M. Tuliao.” He noted that the OCPs of San Juan, Makati, Las Pinas and Muntinlupa were also the top four performers in 2021. The other OCPs also received “very satisfactory” ratings and gained scores of 4.30 to 4.95 in the performance ratings for 2022, he said. These are OCP Valenzuela under CP Lemuel B. Nobleza with a rating of 4.95; OCP Pasig under CP Rey Camilo B. Dumlao II, 4.85; OCP Quezon City under CP Vimar M. Barcellano, 4.75; OCP Pasay under CP Elmer Cris L. Rillo, 4.75; OCP Navotas under CP Armando H. Cavalida, 4.70; OCP Taguig under CP Vincent L. Villena, 4.45; and OCP Malabon under CP Rennet D. Evangelista, 4.30, he also said.