The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday, April 30, it achieved a 95.65 percent conviction rate in criminal cases it filed in 2023 using witnesses placed under its Witness Protection Program (WPP).
In a press statement, the DOJ said the 2023 accomplishment surpassed the 84.8 percent conviction rate posted in 2022.
The DOJ's statement, however, did not mention how many cases were filed in 2023, how many WPP witnesses utilized, and the nature of the criminal cases filed in courts. It also failed to mention how many witnesses are beneficiaries of the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP).
It merely said: “Moreover, the WPSBP has achieved a perfect 100 percent rating in processing applications for witness coverage and percentage of witnesses covered with no reported untoward incidents."
It also said the Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C Remulla congratulated the WPSBP for what it has accomplished in 2023.
“Your mission plays a very vital role in upholding the Rule of Law, a snappy salute to your unwavering dedication to safeguard witnesses with your very own lives on the line to ensure that justice will never be denied, delayed or compromised,” Remulla said.
“The Department recognizes your accomplishments of ‘exceeding expectations’ in your professional lives. We need more of you,” he also said.