Roxas sees higher crime conviction rate

MANILA, Philippines - Imagine the Philippine National Police (PNP) employing high-tech equipment in analyzing evidence and solving crime – just like on TV.

This was the vision of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II after several government agencies signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the European Union to formalize EPJUST (EU-Phl Justice Support Program) II, a follow-up of two previous EU-funded programs.

“This agreement will help us fund various projects, particularly on the aspect of crime investigation and equipment,” said Roxas.

He said that at present, police investigators are largely dependent on testimony of witnesses in investigating cases.

EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said the cooperation of the Philippine government and the EU through EPJUST II marked the start of a new phase in a long-term partnership.

“The 2nd EPJUST focuses on two specific issues –  the question on the accessibility to justice, in particular the poor and vulnerable, and the impunity that prevails for major crimes, including political killings,” Ledoux said.

He said increasing the accessibility of the justice system for all Filipinos and fighting impunity is only achievable if the justice system is properly monitored and its stakeholders held fully accountable.

“We very much appreciate the trust given by the Philippine government. The reason we have EPJUST 2 is that the assessment of EPJUST 1 has been positive,” Ledoux said.

Ledoux recalled when he arrived in 2011 and presented his credentials to President Aquino, the Chief Executive expressed his gratitude to the EU for the EPJUST program.

DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero said the “Access to Justice for the Poor Program” is focused on improving the administration of the barangay justice system and training the judiciary and community members on human rights, women and gender issues.

Panadero said the DILG is coordinating with local government units and some organizations of lawyers for the full-fledged legal information offices to assist those in need of legal assistance.

Under the MOA, the EU also allocated some 10 million euros (P540 million) to finance the country’s comprehensive reform program to help the government address the problem of human rights violations, including extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances.

Roxas said the program aims to help achieve equitable access to an efficient justice system for Filipinos, in particular the poor, disadvantaged, and vulnerable people, by improving the capacity and accountability of the criminal justice system’s stakeholders in handling cases of summary killings and enforced disappearances.