Roxas to PNP: Extend all-out support for e-subpoena system

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has directed the Philippine National Police to extend its all-out support to the “e-Subpoena System”, a web-based information system that facilitates the issuance and expedites the transmittal of court subpoenas and other court notices, through electronic mail.

The recently-launched system is designed to enhance the administration of justice as it ensures that subpoenas and other notices issued by the courts will reach concerned police investigator in charge of a case.

Designed for the exclusive use of the court administrators and clerk of courts and the PNP through PNP Administrators and Court Process Officers (CPOs), the system will be helpful in monitoring police compliance of subpoenas issued by the court.

“The adoption of the e-subpoena will be a big step towards the widespread reestablishment of justice and peace in our country,” Roxas said.

“Matitiyak nito na makakarating sa tamang tao ang mga subpoena, maging sa malalayong lugar,” he added.

A joint initiative of the Supreme Court, Department of Justice and the DILG, the delivery of e-subpoena through e-mail marks the gradual shift from the traditional postal service and hand-carry mail delivery of court subpoenas and other court notices to a faster and more cost-efficient e-mail delivery system.

Aside from monitoring of actions taken by PNP personnel on court subpoenas, the system provides an efficient and effective feedback mechanism of the PNP to concerned courts; provide data for purpose of assessment and analysis of various reports pertaining to compliances; postponement of hearings, non-attendance of court duties and other matters pertaining to court proceedings to be attended by the PNP; and enhances archiving of relative documents as well as faster or easier documents retrieval.

Policemen dutifully attending scheduled hearings will ideally result in speedy disposition of cases by the concerned court. On the part of the PNP, it will ideally result to higher conviction rate.

Roxas explained that the e-mail system will allow faster transmittal of court subpoenas and other notices to concerned parties whether they are the arresting officer, or police officer in-charge of the case, through the PNP administrators.

“Kadalasan kasi ang scheduled hearing ay napo-postpone dahil sa hindi pagtanggap ng mga kinauukulan ng subpoena o court notices. Dahil din dito, nadi-dismiss ang mga kaso kahit na matibay ang ebidensya laban sa mga akusado,” he said.
 
“Sa pamamagitan ng e-subpoena, mapapadali ang pag-deliver ng subpoena at court notices at tiyak na matatanggap ng ating mga pulis. Dito, walang dahilan para hindi maka-attend ng hearing ang mga pulis at ma-postpone o ma-delay ang court proceedings na syang nagiging pahirap lalo na sa mga kababayan natin na walang kakayahang magbayad sa abogado,” he added.

Roxas noted that under the postal service or hand-carry mail, delivery of subpoenas takes 10 to 15 days while through e-mail, delivery takes a few clicks of the “mouse.”

He said once fully operational, the e-Subpoena System will also allow the PNP to monitor the police’s attendance of scheduled court hearings, which will eventually form part of their performance evaluation under the merit and demerit system of the PNP.

Under the system’s procedure, the courts shall issue various subpoenas to particular PNP units through the e-Subpoena and via e-mail. The Court Process Officer (CPO) designated shall acknowledge receipt of subpoena through the e-Subpoena, print and deliver the subpoena to the concerned PNP personnel.