Remarks of

Hon. Jesus Crispin C. Remulla

Secretary of Justice

Virtual Briefing for the Diplomatic Corps on the Progress of the Government’s Commitments under the UN Joint Program on Human Rights (UNJP)

17 August 2022, 3:30- 5:00 pm (Manila time)

Excellencies,

Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my honor to have this dialogue with you today to reaffirm the commitment of the Department of Justice to constructive engagement with the international community in the areas of the rule of law, accountability, and human rights.

As underscored by Secretary Manalo, the country’s tradition of human rights engagement is long-standing and firmly-rooted.

This is true for my Department, the DOJ which prides itself on its long history of cooperation with bilateral and international partners including the European Union way back in 2006 on justice system reform programmes.

Through the European Union-Philippine Justice Support Program or EPJUST in 2006, the Philippines and EU engaged in various programmes towards the development of a justice sector strategy, the streamlining of case management processes, and the automation or digitization of case management systems, among others.

This joint partnership has since then expanded into the Governance in Justice Programme or GOJUST, Phases I and II to build on the positive developments particularly in the field of justice and human rights.

Under the current GOJUST II Programme, our government embarks to work on the following key result areas:

• Improvement of justice sector coordination mechanisms;

• Strengthening of the institutional efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of justice services;

• Increasing access to the justice system for vulnerable groups, including women, and

• Evidence-based justice policy and practice / that responds to justice needs.

Thus, the DOJ’s work in the context of the UNJP is not new but a reiteration and reaffirmation of our commitment to constant self-improvement in the area of strengthening domestic mechanisms and processes relating to the rule of law, accountability, and human rights.

When I took the helm of the DOJ last month, I bared plans to boost the efficiency of the country’s criminal justice system since I strongly believe that the certainty of punishment is key to minimizing criminality.

I have discussed with our Secretary of the Interior and Local Government some immediate measures that are meant to improve the way our criminal justice system works including close cooperation between our prosecutors and law enforcers as well as joint training and continuous learning programs for them in both remedial and substantive laws including on surveillance, procedures in conducting arrests, processing of crime scenes, and evidence preservation.

I also consulted with a prison reform expert regarding measures to introduce improvements to the corrections system in the Philippines.

Towards this end, the DOJ will be working closely with the Department of the Interior and Local Government on plans to decongest our prison facilities and to implement effective rehabilitation programs for persons deprived of liberty.

This will include the digitization of records to streamline information and to fast-track processes to facilitate the release of thousands of inmates.

The DOJ is also looking at moving some facilities of the Bureau of Corrections to decongest our prisons and to provide humane living conditions.

These priorities are fully consistent with the Government’s commitments under the UNJP. Since the UNJP’s launch last year, the DOJ continued to embark on inclusive consultations on the improved functioning of the AO35 Mechanism or the Inter-Agency Committee that addresses extra-legal killings and other grave violations of human rights.

As a result, the Operational Guidelines of AO35 has been updated and adopted following a series of consultations with relevant stakeholders including the Commission on Human Rights and civil society organizations.

Presently, the AO35 Technical Working Group is drafting a manual for investigators that is intended to enhance collaboration and to guide law enforcement officers on the effective implementation of the AO35 Operational Guidelines.

Training activities are regularly being undertaken as part of capacity building efforts. As of June 2022, a total of 188 prosecutors, law enforcement officers, military and Commission on Human Rights personnel had benefited from AO35 training activities in the first half of 2022 alone.

Further, preparations for the following programs and activities are currently underway:

• Training on the Minnesota Protocol on Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death.

Together with foreign subject matter experts including Mr. Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or extralegal killings, a training program is currently being developed and tailored specifically for law enforcement officers and AO35 prosecutors who lead the Special Investigation Teams or SITs.

• Creation of a sub-working group for victim support and rehabilitation.

The creation of this group is aimed to complement DOJ’s existing mandates and programs on witness protection and victim compensation. A trauma-informed approach is currently being considered as a basis for policy discussion and capacity building on victim and witness support.

• Discussions on the creation of a National Referral Pathway on accountability that seeks to systematize and streamline complaint processes in order to facilitate investigations and to help direct the resources of government to addressing cases.

Certainly, it is an honor for me to assume my role as Co-Chair of the UN Joint Program Steering Committee together with the UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez.

I look forward to working with him and his team in the next couple of years in the implementation of the UNJP.

Once again, I thank you, Excellencies and other Members of the Diplomatic Corps for heeding the invitation and making time for this briefing.

We thank you, too for all your support to the Government of the Philippines along with meaningful and worthwhile partnerships and engagements that highlight our country’s strong commitment to promote and protect human rights, accountability, and the rule of law.

We shall definitely continue with these commitments and perhaps even with more vigor and enthusiasm as we remain steadfast in fulfilling our human rights obligations and commitments.

Thank you and good day.