Police are partners in resolving crimes, Pangasinan prosecutor says

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (13 August) — The prosecution and the police are indispensable partners in the resolution of criminal complaints, the Pangasinan prosecutor pointed out Thursday in a media forum.

Provincial Prosecutor Segundino P. Ferrer said that because of such partnership, the prosecutors work closely with the police in preparing necessary information and complaints against persons accused of committing crimes.

“Hindi kami nagkokontrahan kundi nagtutulongan kami,” Ferrer told the KBP Forum at the Philippine Information Agency where he guested along with Assistant Prosecutor Ma. Teresa Porlucas.

Ferrer was reacting to the remarks aired by Sr. Supt. Percival Barba in last week’s edition of the forum. “Ang hinanhanap nila yong mali namin, instead na i-guide kami. They should tell us kung ano yong technicalities,” the provincial director was quoted as saying.

Ferrer explained that the prosecution determines if there is a probable cause – a possibility that an accused committed the crime- in filing a case a against a suspects or suspects. If there was none, then the prosecution would dismiss the case, he said. “Our job is not only to prosecute but to do justice,” he also said, highlighting the quasi-judicial function of the prosecutor’s office.

The prosecutor assigned to a case has 60 days to resolve it, according to Polucas. “Kung di pa gumalaw o nagdesisyon yong prosecutor, puede kayong lumapit sa provincial prosecutor para magreklamo,” she said.

Ferrer, meanwhile, reacted strongly when told about an alleged admission by a prosecutor himself that some cases are dismissed because of pay-offs. “I do not allow that here in Pangasinan. Do not believe in intrigues. Ginagawang dahilan lang yan, na nabayaran daw ang pulis o ang prosecutor o ang judge kung nadismiss ang isang kaso. We hope you understand the nature of our work,” he said.

Porlucas noted that even if a case is dismissed by a prosecutor for some reasons, a complainant can still “go to the higher level” especially if the evidence is strong.

On buy-bust operations where most complaints filed by the police are dismissed by the prosecution, she said that there are requisites to be considered: 1) there must be a report from a concerned citizen, 2) that surveillance was conducted for three to seven days, and 3) there was a test-buy. “Kung wala ang mga ito, we have no other option but to dismiss the case,” she said. “Kahit totoong drugs nga yon, pero di naman naayon sa batas ang pagkakuha” she also noted.

“Masakit din sa amin pag nadismis ng korte ang isang kaso because of some lapses kaya maingat din kami,” Ferrer said. “Ayaw namin yong sinasabi ng ibang kapulisan na bahala na ang piskal dyan. Walang ganyanan,” he added.

Two weeks ago, the provincial prosecutor’s office had a dialogue with ranking police officers during a district conference to thresh out issues in the preparation of information regarding criminal cases. The government lawyers also gave lectures on Article 125 of the revised penal code and other laws. (PIA Pangasinan)