By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Boying Remulla stated on Wednesday (August 28, 2024) that Shiela Guo cannot be considered a reliable state witness.
“I do not believe Shiela Guo or what she is saying,” Remulla remarked. He expressed skepticism over the claim that the dismissed Bamban Mayor would have traveled by fishing boat for three days to reach Sabah.
“It’s hard to believe. If she came from Bongao, Zamboanga, or Tawi-Tawi, it might be plausible. But from Zambales, over 1,300 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu? It’s like something out of a movie,” he added.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Shiela Guo mentioned that she and her sister Alice used several boats to reach Malaysia. She admitted she was unsure of their destination as she was only accompanying Alice.
Remulla emphasized that Shiela Guo’s testimony must be proven indispensable to be considered for the case against Alice.
“She is not a reliable witness so far. It is essential to prove that her testimony is crucial for the case,” the DOJ Secretary said.
Shiela and Cassandra Ong, a Lucky South 99 incorporator, were apprehended in Indonesia and subsequently returned to the Philippines.
ia/mnm
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday (14 Aug 2024) described the sinking of the MTKR Terranova as a Pandora’s Box, exposing long-standing oil pilferage and smuggling operations that have been tolerated for years.
According to Remulla, the incident highlights how the government may be losing billions of pesos due to what is commonly known as the “paihi” system.
“Ito yung paihi na tinatawag. Dalawang klaseng paihi yan. Yung isa, yung sa suppliers ng oil, talagang humihigop talaga sila ng porsyento ng langis… Ito yung Batangas-based group na in-charge ng paihi. Pilferage of oil na matagal nang nananaig na sindikato,” Remulla disclosed in a press conference.
The owner of the MTKR Terranova had earlier denied that the ship was involved in oil smuggling.
“Yung pangalawang paihi naman, itong sa tax ano, sa smuggling na tinatabihan sila ng ibang barko, mag lalabas sila ng fuel na hindi pa nababayaran at hindi pa na markahan ng Bureau of Customs,” Remulla added.
On July 25, the MTKR Terranova capsized and sank 3.6 nautical miles east of Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan, resulting in the death of one crew member.
Just two days later, on July 27, another vessel, the MTKR Jason Bradley, carrying 5,500 liters of diesel, also sank off the waters of Mariveles, Bataan, and was found to have leaks.
A third vessel, the MV Mirola 1, ran aground near the shore of Mariveles town, with oil observed leaking into the ocean from its tanks.
“At sa aking tingin, pwedeng umabot ito ng daang bilyon na nawawala sa atin dahil sa mga sindikatong nananaig sa paihi ng fuel,” Remulla said.
ia/mnm
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Assuring the public that erring prison guards who are proven guilty will not be tolerated, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has ordered an investigation into allegations of abusive strip search done to wives of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“We do not condone degrading or inhuman or absurd treatment towards anyone because we want our prisons to be safe, secure and decent,” Remulla said in a statement on Wednesday (8 May 2024).
The DOJ stated wives of PDLs, assisted by the human rights organization Kapatid, filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights.
It claimed that proper decorum of prison personnel conducting physical searches is highlighted under the Bureau of Corrections’ (BuCor) Operating Manual on how a proper search must be conducted, as well as the provision on penalties against those proven to be carrying illegal contraband.
However, the DOJ emphasized that the BuCor is strictly compliant with international standards and policies on body searches, specifically on rules under the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) which mandate that searches should be conducted in a manner that is respectful of the dignity and privacy of the individual being searched.
“Our department remains fully committed to upholding the highest degree of respect for human rights in the conduct of our corrections functions and guarantees that our agency will continue to innovate ways on how to improve our services to our PDLs and their loved ones,” Remulla stressed.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla lauded the prosecutors who handled the case of actor/host Vhong Navarro following the conviction of Deniece Millinette Cornejo, Cedric Cua Lee, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Simeon Palma Raz, Jr.
Antipolo City Prosecutor Mari Elvira B. Herrera, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel C. Decena-Valdez and Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia L. Torrevillas were the prosecutors in Navarro’s case.
“This conviction is a testament of the hardwork and dedication of our prosecutors that the DOJ will always serve as a beacon of hope for victims of injustice, reaffirming our commitment to the people that justice will be enforced to or against anyone regardless of social status, fame, power or wealth,” Remulla said.
In a 94-page decision dated 02 May 2024, presiding Judge Mariam G. Bien of the Taguig City Regional Trial Court-Branch 153, found Cornejo et al guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of serious illegal detention for ransom and sentenced them the penalty of Reclusion Perpetua.
The Court did not believe the accused’s defense that they performed a citizen’s arrest on Navarro after the latter supposedly attempted to rape Cornejo in the condominium unit.
“No less than the Supreme Court found no credence on Cornejo’s story of rape,” the Court noted.
(el Amigo/MNM)
MANILA — Under the leadership of Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty, representing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, newly appointed and promoted state prosecutors took their oath of office.
Ty administered the oath to 98 out of 122 prosecutors. Remulla reminded them to pursue excellence, uphold ethical standards, and emphasize their crucial role in maintaining the rule of law.
He emphasized their responsibility as guardians of criminal justice and urged them to ensure the protection of individual rights and the fair administration of justice.
Among the appointees, five serve in the Office of the Secretary of Justice Prosecution Staff (OSJPS), while the rest reinforce prosecution offices across Regions I to IV, including the National Capital Region (NCR).
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has instructed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the validity of a circulating death certificate concerning a co-accused in the murder case of broadcaster Percy Lapid.
Remulla’s directive pertains to former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta.
“Exert every effort, act promptly, probe thoroughly, and ascertain the truth by all available means. This necessitates immediate action,” Remulla instructed the NBI.
As of now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not yet received a formal report from the NBI regarding Zulueta’s reported demise.
“We are currently examining the accuracy of these reports and will provide updates to the public upon receiving confirmation from the NBI,” the Secretary stated.
Previously, the Philippine National Police (PNP) had announced that Zulueta passed away due to heart failure.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Sunday (25 Feb 2024) commended the state prosecutors for their exemplary performance in achieving a high case disposition rate for the year 2023.
According to the report from the Office of the Secretary of Justice Prosecution Service (OSJPS), there was an 89.31 percent rate of case disposition in 2023, marking a significant increase from 85.05 percent in 2022 and 53.18 percent in 2021.
Remulla expressed his satisfaction with the dedication and diligence demonstrated by the prosecutors and DOJ staff. He urged them to maintain the positive momentum and continue their unwavering pursuit of justice.
“As the leader of this Department, I am both honored and humbled to witness the outstanding efforts of our dedicated prosecutors and personnel yielding such remarkable results. I encourage the hard-working men and women of the DOJ to persist in their endeavors and strive for even greater achievements,” Remulla remarked.
Case disposition refers to the resolution of complaints filed before the DOJ that undergo preliminary investigation to determine whether they should proceed to court.
“We have been focused on professionalizing the Department’s bureaucracy and enhancing the active involvement of prosecutors in case development, among other initiatives,” the Secretary elaborated.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla have not yet engaged in discussions regarding the possibility of the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to a ranking Department of Justice (DOJ) official.
“I don’t believe that the Secretary and the President have spoken yet (the ICC return issue). It’s something that is beyond my pay level, so I believe it needs to be discussed between the Secretary and the President,” DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said Friday (01 Dec 2023).
“They have discussed many things in the past. However, with the recent news emerging, they haven’t talked about the issue for about a week,” Clavano added.
Earlier, Marcos mentioned that the potential return of the country to the ICC is “under study.”
Resolutions urging the Philippine government to cooperate with the ICC’s investigation into the thousands of killings linked to the war on drugs have been filed by members of the House of Representatives.
In 2019, former President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew the accreditation of the Philippines from the Rome Statute of the ICC.
The ICC is hoping to launch an investigation of FPRRD’s bloody drug war where thousands accordingly perished.
(ai/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said the country will file an environmental case against China over violations in the West Philippine Sea early next year.
Remulla said that the agency would file the environmental case either in January or February 2024. Remulla assured the public that his agency would not stop pursuing the case once filed.
“Mabilis naman trabahuhin ito. Sana by January or February, at the latest March, mai-launch namin ‘yung kaso. Hindi namin titigilan, tatantanan ito,” Remulla said.
“We were encouraged to pursue what we thought— what we think is a good case to pursue in behalf not only of the Filipino people but the rest of humanity. Kasi ang apektado dito hindi lang naman ‘yung bansa natin. Actually, ang totoo rito, ang apektado dito ‘yung buong mundo,” he added.
Remulla said he earlier met with environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. and former Supreme Court Justice Francis Jardeleza.
Based on the “ample” evidence now available and the many more that scientists and other professionals hired for the project are likely to find, the justice secretary said he believes the Philippines has a solid case against China’s “innumerable and immeasurable” damage on Philippine environment like the controversial coral harvesting allegedly done by China in the WPS.