NCJ Number
190767
Date Published
March 2000
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper examined the five pillars of the criminal justice system in the Philippines and its responsiveness to governmental agency inadequacies and citizen unrest.
Abstract
The Philippine governmental agencies are seen as being beset by financial, technological, and institutional constraints and a citizenry alienated from each other. This paper presented in 1999 at the UNAFEI, 111th International Seminar on "The Role of the Police, Prosecution, and the Judiciary in the Changing Society" examined the five pillars of the criminal justice system in the Philippines that included: law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary, correctional institutions, and the community. This included discussion on the doctrine of separation of powers, the different branches of government involved, and the delineation of their function. In addition, the paper discussed the procedure involved in law enforcement, prosecution and trial of offenders, and the current situation of and problems faced by the police, prosecutors and the judiciary. It was stated that the efficient and effective functioning of one-component may be hampered by the inefficiency and incompetence of the others. Thus, cooperation, and the coordinated and concerted action of the police, prosecution, and judiciary, as well as the correctional institutions and the community were necessary.