CEBU, Philippines- “Sad news.”
This was the reaction of Prosecutor Maria Luisa Ratilla, officer in charge of the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, to the announcement of Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that she will prohibit prosecutors and their staff from accepting allowances from local government units.
Ratilla said they will ask De Lima formally to reconsider her decision once they receive a written copy of the order.
De Lima announced her decision last Sunday during the national convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. She said this is to “restore public trust and confidence” in the justice system and for prosecutors and their staff to be fully independent, especially from politicians.
Ratilla contended, however, that the allowances they receive from the city government – P10,000 per month – are not from politicians but from the people. This is also the same amount prosecutors at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office get from the provincial government. Ratilla pointed out that judges, in fact, receive allowances from local government units.
“If judges enjoy it, unta kami pud,” she said.
There are 27 prosecutors at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.
Like Ratilla, Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane said his office, too, will ask De Lima to reconsider her decision.
Nothing wrong
For his part, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he does not see any problem in the arrangement.
“Have they decided cases because we were giving incentives? Are we belittling our people in the judiciary just because they are being given? Would that also (mean) that we should withdraw our honorarium for the police? We should withdraw our honorarium for the barangay? We should withdraw our honorarium for Barangay Health Worker?” he said.
Rama said he supported the move of his predecessor to give incentives because a person succumbs to corruption is he does not get support in raising his family.
He said City Hall will continue to provide allowance but he will not force fiscals to accept if they choose to heed De Lima’s order.
He said De Lima should be “circumspect because no matter what, we must be realistic.”
“Is the salary of our prosecutors enough? They have to answer it. Are there interventions on the part of the executive to make them have decent housing, decent living, and make them proud that they are prosecutors? That they can maintain their independence because their children’s education is assured? Their way of life is not very poor and not also very rich enough that can jibe with the dignity of their position?” Rama said.
“If they cannot address that, if there is a local government that can afford to help, that should not be barred,” he added. (FREEMAN)