MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) was commended on Wednesday by senators after it reported that they were able to solve 94 percent of the 21,423 rape cases filed in court last year.
During the 2025 budget deliberation of the DOJ and its attached agencies in the Senate, Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres attributed the success to the Training and Education Program for Law Enforcement Officers (Tepleo), which promotes the proactive involvement of prosecutors in case build-up.
The training seeks to strengthen the partnership between prosecutors and law enforcers, aiming for airtight cases and a reasonable certainty of conviction in court proceedings.
"It is the result of the close cooperation and coordination of the prosecutors and law enforcement agents where they are now on the same side gathering evidence together, the prosecutors guiding them and making sure that they have sufficient evidence gathered in the right manner that is necessary for us to get the conviction under this higher threshold," Andres told senators.
With this “very good news,” Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said he is considering increasing the DOJ's budget for Tepleo.
"From the very start, I was really concerned with this. If we need to increase the budget for trainings between the prosecution and the law enforcement agencies that will make our prosecution more efficient. Sabi ko nga kanina mas airtight na ngayon (As I said earlier it's more airtight now). 94 percent is really very commendable," Ejercito said.
The DOJ and its attached agencies are proposing to spend PHP40.58 billion next year, which is PHP1.11 billion higher than its PHP39.47 billion approved budget for this year.
Concerted effort vs. OSAEC
Despite the success, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla called for a whole-of-government approach against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), particularly on incestuous rape.
Remulla cited an estimate from a partner non-government organization, which reported that the number of OSAEC, including incestuous rape, in the country has reached more than 500,000.
"It's in epidemic proportions and people just keep silent about it. Hindi lang talaga pinag-uusapan pero napakabigat po na problemang ito (It is just not being talked about but this is a very serious problem) that we have to address sooner than later," he said.
The DOJ chief warned that some online child pornography hubs can now be found even in remote areas in the country.
"Tingnan niyo sa inyong lugar yung mga barangay na malalayo tapos merong mga money remittance centers, may mga satellite dish pero walang industry. Ibig sabihin po nun, baka yun po yung center ng child pornography (Try to look in your area, at barangays that are remote but have money remittance centers and satellite dish despite having no industry. This may be an indication that it is a center of child pornography)," he said.
Remulla said the DOJ is already in close collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and is currently asking other concerned agencies, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Supreme Court, to work together to address the problem. (PNA)
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