Cops, prosecutors to work more closely soon - EU exec

MANILA, Philippines - Policemen and government prosecutors in the country will soon be working closely as a team to speed up the probe and the filing of cases before the courts.

This was disclosed on Thursday by Pamela Fahey, team leader of the European Union-Philippine Justice Support Program, during the launching of the EPJust II at the Department of Interior and Local Government building in Quezon City.

Fahey, also a justice expert, said the EU has been working closely with the Supreme Court to review some of the antiquated rules regarding criminal prosecution in the country to reduce the delays in the investigation and prosecution of cases.

"The EU is working with Justice (Diosdado) Peralta the head of the committee on reviewing or amending the rules of criminal procedure," Fahey told reporters at the sidelines of the EPJust II program launching.

Among the procedures the EU noticed were the working relations between the police and prosecutors, she said.

"The police and the prosecutors don't work to together...we have to change the rules or amend them because the system forbids them to work together," Fahey said.

Aside from the police-prosecutors working relations, Fahey also said that judges should be retrained to "make proper decisions on bail."

She said that sometimes,  suspects spend longer time in jail for a crime they did not commit.

"The trial judge should make proper decisions on bail," Fahey said, noting that the EU will be providing international experts to retrain the judges.  

She said the draft of the review of the rules will be discussed by the SC en banc either in  October or November this year.