Approval of criminal cases delayed at Cebu Prosecutor's Office

CEBU, Philippines - The approval for the filing in court of the more than 50 criminal cases at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has been delayed because the provincial prosecutor is temporarily barred from signing the resolution of cases for not having complied yet with the required Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.

Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba said she has not signed resolutions of cases this month because she is still waiting for her certificate of MCLE compliance from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Manila.

Petralba explained that the Supreme Court required an MCLE number of the approving authority in the information of cases that will be filed in court. According to Petralba, although she has complied with the MCLE last November, her certificate was not yet released.

She, however, said that one of her staff was already in Manila to follow-up her certificate. Petralba said that inquest cases however were not affected because assistant provincial prosecutor Federico Pansoy is signing on her behalf.

Petralba said under the rules on criminal procedures, information of cases are not supposed to contain MCLE compliance number of the approving authority because it is not a pleading.

She said only pleadings are required but the Supreme Court has considered the information of cases as a form of pleadings already.

Lawyers are required to complete 36 units of MCLE every three years. MCLE is mandated by the Supreme Court to update lawyers of recent laws, jurisprudence and procedures. — Fred P. Languido/LPM (THE FREEMAN)