Ochoa to DOJ prosecutors: Ensure efficient criminal justice system to lure investors

Press Release
April 1, 2012

MALACAÑANG  –  Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. has exhorted prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to complement the administration’s efforts in restoring investor confidence and managing the economy by ensuring an efficient criminal justice system.

Speaking at the 24th National Convention of the Prosecutors’ League of the Philippines recently, Ochoa underscored the need for the DOJ and its prosecution arm, the National Prosecution Service (NPS), to help establish the Philippines as “a nation where justice and the rule of law prevails” to make it more attractive to investors.

“We have to do our share to inspire confidence among businessmen, who want a return on their investment, and seek security for their persons and their properties,” Ochoa stressed.

As the country’s economic revival making the headway, Ochoa said it was important for those in the criminal justice system to step up in order to match the plans and programs of President Benigno Aquino III and his economic managers.

“While it is their job to encourage foreign investors to bring business into the country, it is the job of those involved in law enforcement, like the DOJ and NPS, to discourage international criminal syndicates from operating in this country and victimizing our people,” Ochoa added.

Ochoa likewise urged prosecutors to emulate the President’s example and brand of leadership in providing justice and accountability to the Filipino public.

He noted the President’s clear foresight and political will to attain a vision of “a country where people are held accountable for their crimes; a government that is dead-set at putting closure to the controversies that have eroded the credibility and legitimacy of our institutions; an administration that will ensure a level playing field for foreign and local businessmen; and a nation whose people abide by and uphold the rule of law.”

“The President has chosen to lead by example and has been unequivocal about ensuring that our people obtain justice, so those tasked to enforce our laws – including those in the prosecutorial service – must be emboldened to ensure that those who break our laws do not profit from their crimes, but are made to pay for them,” Ochoa said.

“The Prosecution Service and DOJ must take its cue from the President, and must exhibit the same qualities the Chief Executive has shown in his campaign for reforms. You must be uncompromising in the pursuit of justice and must be unrelenting in your efforts to ensure that the victims of crimes, regardless of rank or station, obtain justice.”

At the same time, Ochoa cited tremendous achievements of various government agencies in terms of international crime-fighting and prevention.

Ochoa said the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), which he heads, had been vigorously coordinating and aligning the efforts of government agencies tasked to combat organized criminal activities.

The Executive Secretary said the initiative of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking – composed of PAOCC, DOJ, Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Department of Labor and Philippine Overseas Employment Agency – resulted in the rescue of more human trafficking victims during the last two years. This accomplishment was the main reason why the United States removed the Philippines from its “Tier 2 Watchlist” last year, he said.

According to Ochoa, much credit goes to the DOJ and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who has taken the lead in the government’s anti-human trafficking efforts.

“The DOJ played a major role in the success of our anti-human trafficking efforts as it tied together the efforts of numerous agencies to thwart human trafficking syndicates and build solid cases that led to the convictions of the criminal elements responsible,” Ochoa said.

He added: “This should serve as the model by which the DOJ and the NPS can get involved in law enforcement efforts – from investigation and pursuit of criminal elements, all the way to evidence gathering and the successful prosecution of the masterminds behind the terrible crimes committed against our people.”

With these successes in combating crimes, Ochoa said the only message the Aquino administration wanted to convey to the international community was “our doors are open for business, but they are closed to crime.”

“For legitimate businessmen who wish to invest in our country and want a good return on their investment, we will roll out the red carpet and make lives easier for them; for criminals who want to engage in profit from illegal activities within our borders, we will make business bad for them and will use all the resources of the state so that they are caught, tried and punished for their crimes,” Ochoa said.