MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has stopped the collection of fees from complainants filing cases at the National Prosecution Service.
In issuing Department Circular No. 25, De Lima revoked Department Circular No. 42 that then Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez issued in 2004.
“All assessment clerks and collection officers under the National Prosecution Service shall forthwith cease and desist from assessing and collecting legal fees stated in the above-mentioned circulars,” read the circular.
De Lima said fees need not be collected from litigants since the salary of prosecutors had already increased by 100 percent with the implementation of the Salary Standardization Law.
“This will address the recurring issue of denial of access to justice by parties and litigants by imposing an exaction on the redress of wrongs when filing criminal complaints,” she said.
“The DOJ will continue to work hard on making justice available everywhere to everyone with the full support of the national government.