Perform ‘beyond better,’ RP Calica tells Region-12 subordinates

DEPARTMENT of Justice Regional Prosecutor Al Calica called on his subordinates to continue to perform “beyond better” to further improve the delivery of justice in SOCCSKSARGEN (Region-12).

In a directive last October 31 assessing their performance addressed to the respective head prosecutors in the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, General Santos, Koronadal and Tacurong and the provinces of Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and South and North Cotabato, Calica complimented them for the “slightly higher rating” they registered in the third quarter, from an average of 4.911 points to 4.928 points, for the assessment period ending in June and September, respectively.

To ensure effective delivery of justice across all regions in the country and simplify the monitoring of compliance, the DOJ, under Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, came out with Department Circular (DC) 39 in November 2023 consisting of four major ‘indicators’ that are then tabulated giving the ‘weighted average’ performance of every prosecution office, with 5 points being the highest.

The indicators are: case disposition (40 percent), ‘aging’ or the number of days a case has been acted upon counted on the day it was received (40 percent), success (conviction) rate (10 percent) and ‘timeliness’ of action on each complaint (10 percent).

Calica, who would be missed greatly when he retired by March next year for his exemplary leadership, urged the prosecution offices in General Santos City, South Cotabato, Koronadal, North Cotabato and Tacurong to perform better after they fell below the region’s expected success rate for the quarter, with the last three “figuratively in the red.”

“With less than two months left before 2024 ends, it will be challenging for the aforesaid offices to improve their respective success rate,” Calica noted, addressing his concern to CP Clemencia Cataluña (GenSan City), PP Joseph Atensor (South Cotabato), CP Jesse Villegas (Koronadal City), PP Bonifacio Estremos (North Cotabato), and CP Renato Consebit (Tacurong City).

On the positive side, Calica congratulated the prosecution offices in Cotabato City (CP Mariam April Mastura), Kidapawan City (CP Romeo Rodrigo III), Sarangani (PP Elmer Lastimosa) and Sultan Kudarat (PP Hilbert Hostallero), with perfect 5 points weighted average across all four performance indicators.

The data also showed Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat with over 98 percent success rate in terms of conviction, based on the parameters laid down under DC 20 series of 2023 also approved by Secretary Remulla. On the other hand, Kidapawan City had an average of 96.4 percent conviction rate closely followed by Sarangani at 95 percent.

Under DC 20, all prosecutors are mandated to only file cases not only based on prima facie evidence but, cases “with reasonable certainty of conviction” to improve the conviction rate of all prosecution offices in the country.

With the mixed performance result, Calica urged his subordinates “to make the most of the remaining weeks of 2024 to achieve that ‘beyond better’ target of our region, which translates to better public service.”