The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday, July 4, it will soon allow online preliminary investigations of criminal complaints filed before government prosecutors.
DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres said during the “Bagong Pilipinas DOJ Town Hall" event held in Dasmarinas City in Cavite that the department will soon issue circulars to implement online preliminary investigations.
Andres said the DOJ took the cue from the judiciary when the Supreme Court (SC) allowed the conduct of video conferencing during trials.
“Video conferencing na po ay ginagawa na sa mga korte at ‘yan po ay magiging parte ng sistema ng DOJ with respect to its preliminary investigation para po mas mabilis ang pag-iimbestiga ng mga kaso (Video conferencing is being done in courts and this will be part of the system of the DOJ to expeditiously conduct the preliminary investigation),” he said.
“Ang e-submission po ng affidavits ay pwede na online (The online submission of affidavits will also be allowed),” he added.
Since then, preliminary investigations are being done in the presence of prosecutors, complainants, respondents, and witnesses to decide if the complaints will be filed in court.
The introduction of online preliminary investigation will be done "to achieve our motto of 'real justice, in real time,'" Andres said.
“With accountability mechanisms in place, we will be able to establish a culture where perpetrators are made responsible for their actions,” he stressed.