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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PAO: 'No more assistance to persons on extra-judicial confessions during custodial, active criminal investigations'

PAO: 'No more assistance to persons on extra-judicial confessions during custodial, active criminal investigations'

Published May 23, 2023 09:53 am
It seems the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has had enough of the recantations made by detained suspects of their extra-judicial confessions executed before its lawyers during custodial and active criminal investigations. In Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 002 dated May 22, 2023, all PAO lawyers were directed “to refrain from giving any form of assistance in the execution of extra-judicial confessions.” The MC was signed by Deputy Chief Public Attorney Silvestre A. Mosing by authority of PAO Chief Persida Rueda Acosta. It states: “All requests for legal assistance of any suspected persons in connection with the preparation, explanation and execution, including administration of oaths of any extra-judicial confessions shall be declined and properly indorsed to the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and such other law enforcement agency or any investigating officer handling the investigation of a crime.” It said the MC was issued in response to “several incidents in the past, wherein Public Attorneys assisted suspected/accused persons during custodial investigation in the explanation, and the preparation of extra-judicial confessions, which were later recanted by the said persons assisted by the PAO.” “This Order is being issued to avoid conflict of interest in case the PAO will be later on assigned by the court as counsel de oficio (court appointed counsel) for the accused in same case. This is likewise to protect the Office from being used and abused by unscrupulous and evil-minded persons who intend to mislead investigators or to avoid culpability. Ultimately, this Order is being issued to preserve the integrity and dignity of the Office,” it also said. It pointed out that if the detained person wishes to execute an extra-judicial confession but cannot afford the services of his own counsel, “said person shall be advised that he/she can be provided with a competent and independent counsel by the investigating officer pursuant to Section 2, Paragraph (b) of R.A. No. 7438 (the Act Defining Certain Rights of Persons Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial Investigation as well as the Duties of the Arresting , Detaining and Investigating Officers).” PAO said its circular also also “repealed and modified” portions of the 2021 Operations Manual that states: “In case the arrested/detained person wishes to execute an extra-judicial confession, the assisting Public Attorney shall ensure that the affiant is given the full opportunity to make an informed and voluntary decision, advised of the consequences of executing of an extra-judicial confession, and under no compulsion to sign the same by apprising such person of the Miranda Rights under the 1987 Constitution and pursuant to R.A. 7438. “Should the arrested/detained person insist on giving an extra-judicial confession after the Public Attorney has apprised the said person of the rights as stated in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Public Attorney shall: 1) Be present at all stages of the proceedings; 2) Ensure that the arrested/detained person is accorded full rights as provided for in Section 2 of RA No. 7438; and, 3) Read and adequately explain to the arrested/detained person in a language and dialect known and understood by the arrested/detained person the contents of the extra-judicial confession before such person signs or affixes a thumb mark thereon.” Just today, May 23, four suspects in the killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel R. Degamo and nine other persons on March 4, 2023 in Pamplona town recanted their testimonies that admitted their participation and implicated Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. in the killings. During their custodial investigation, they were assisted by PAO lawyers.
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