‘E-subpoena breakthrough in Criminal Justice System’

MANILA, Philippines - Policemen who will serve as witnesses have no more reason to miss court hearings with the adoption of the e-subpoena system where court administrators can send subpoenas through electronic mail to police stations.

Authorities said the Philippine National Police (PNP) receives an average of 700 to 800 subpoenas every day from various courts of law, but most of them were sent through snail mail and failed to reach the intended recipient on time.

Under the new system, the e-subpoena form is sent by the court at least five days before the scheduled hearing or within a day from the order of the court for the service of subpoena.

The Justice Sector Coordinating Council launched yesterday the e-subpoena system in Camp Crame. The JSCC is composed of the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Under the program, the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) will ensure that all court summons sent through email are attended to by intended police stations.

But DIDM chief Director Francisco Don Montenegro admitted that not all police stations have computers and access to the Internet, so these stations would have to coordinate with their provincial offices.

“All our police provincial offices have computers and Internet connections,” Montenegro told The STAR.

Chief Superintendent Ricardo Marquez of the DIDM also said that policemen without access to the Internet could simply check court summons in Internet shops by just logging in to www.subpoena.pnp.org.ph “They will be given usernames and passwords.”

Police chiefs must acknowledge the issued subpoena, inform the concerned PNP personnel, and ensure his attendance in court.

The court process officer shall also acknowledge the subpoena and undertake immediate action to inform the PNP personnel concerned and cause the personal receipt of the subpoena.

The police station and the PNP national headquarters will give feedback on the availability or non-availability of the police officer concerned within three working days from receipt of the subpoena.