Mediation process starts in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has formally kicked off its mediation process of some cases identified under the law to decongest dockets.

The Department of Justice Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) formally launched yesterday the pilot implementation of the Rules on Mediation in the National Prosecution Service in Cebu City.

OADR Executive Director and State Counsel Bernadette Ongoco thanked the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, led by City Prosecutor Liceria Rabillas, for taking the challenge in trailblazing the pilot implementation of the NPS mediation program.

“Starting this project once more hasn’t been that easy but knowing that we have your support, it makes everything worthwhile and promising,” Ongoco said.

The DOJ, with the support of Governance for Justice (GO JUST), has revived its NPS mediation program as provided for under Republic Act 9285, otherwise known as the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Act of 2005 with Cebu City as pilot area.

Ongoco announced that in a few days after serving notices, mediation will start and conferences will be held where parties will talk face to face.

“We are optimistic that this pilot implementation will reap a thundering success,” Ongoco said.

Rabillas said that Cebu City was chosen as a pilot area because during the last time where all or almost all of the prosecutors field offices who conducted mediation, Cebu City Prosecution Office has the highest success rate in mediation.

Besides, Rabillas said the office is a member of the Cebu City Justice Zone which was created as part of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council which has the overall objective of achieving swift and fair administration of justice and the immediate objective of increased efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system.

Knowing the workload of the prosecutors at present is so heavy, Rabillas said they do multi-tasking.

“With the task given to our office, we will do our best to implement the NPS rules on mediation to the best we can and to surpass what we may have achieved before,” Rabillas said.

DOJ Undersecretary Mark Perete, who graced the occasion, said what has been launched is a mechanism to hopefully prevent criminal proceedings from commencing in the first place.

“This is to advance a new paradigm where people will solve their own problem instead of resorting to litigation. People would begin to understand that certain problems need not (to be) intervened (into) by the state,” Perete said.

He is hoping the community will embrace the project.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu City, led by Atty. Regal Oliva, has expressed support to the program, saying that it is one way of promoting justice in a “speedier and cheaper way” for the community.

The City of Cebu, through Liga ng mga Barangay President Franklyn Ong, and Provincial Board Member John Ismael Borgonia, who represented Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, also assured their support to the program. — GAN (FREEMAN)