Prosecutors condemn corruption among ranks

MANILA, Philippines - The National Prosecution Service (NPS) yesterday reminded prosecutors of its duty to give justice to everyone even as it condemned corruption by some of its members.

“The National Prosecution Service strongly condemns the ingrained practice of corruption that has permeated some of our members. All prosecutors should be continuously reminded that a public office is a public trust, and that graft and/or corrupt practices have no place in the performance of our noble duty as prosecutors, ” Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, chief of the Department of Justice NPS, said in a statement.

He issued the statement following the arrest of Quezon City Assistant Prosecutor Raul Desembrana in an entrapment operation for alleged extortion.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation caught  Desembrana receiving P80,000 from the lawyer of physician Alex Montes in exchange for the dismissal of a complaint for unjust vexation filed by a retired military chaplain.

“Our role as prosecutors, first and foremost, is that justice should be afforded to everyone. We cannot, and should not, be enticed by any other consideration in the performance of our duty other than the law. All prosecutors are reminded to maintain utmost fidelity to their sworn duty and to uphold personal integrity at all times,” Arellano said.

He said the arrest of Desembrana should serve as a warning to other prosecutors.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had said she would not mind authorizing entrapment operations on a regular basis even “at the risk of causing occasional embarrassment to us as an institution” if only to rid their ranks of misfits and scalawags.

“Integrity should be and ought to be our bedrock, and is still the best and only policy, especially on the part of our frontline service providers such as our prosecutors, ” De Lima added.