Lawyers from PNP to probe high-profile poll violence cases

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Legal Service will investigate high-profile and sensational cases of election-related violence. 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has deputized the PNP lawyers as police prosecutor assistants (PPA) to serve as crime scene attorney (CSA).

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and Prosecutor General Claro Arellano signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday to deal with sensational and high-profile cases of election-related violence.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the PNP lawyers deputized as PPA shall be under the direct control and supervision of  DOJ prosecutors.

“The MOA will widen our participation in building up cases against criminals,” he said. “It will also help the PNP improve the skills of our lawyers in the litigation of court cases.”

After the pilot testing, a DOJ-PNP body will assess if the scope of implementation of the deputation needs to be expanded, Cerbo said.

Last March, Purisima issued a memorandum circular defining the official role of PNP lawyers in crime scene investigation.

The circular designates the CSA as member of the Crime Scene Responder Team along with the first responders, investigator on case and SOCO (scene of crime operatives) forensic examiners.

The MOA has been a work in progress by the PNP Legal Service then under Chief Superintendent Francisco Uyami, who has since been designated director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

PNP Legal Service director Senior Superintendent Rufino Jeffrey Manere is seeing through the continued implementation of the program.