Rappler's latest stories on Department of Justice (DOJ)
Bilibid returnees die in Duterte administration blunders
Part 1: Massive errors in record-keeping and ill-prepared facilities keep thousands in jail for months, and kill at least 4 convict returnees. They regret heeding the President's call.
DOJ again flexes legal muscle in water row
(UPDATED) 'Should liberality be used in favor of the concessionaire to the detriment of the public and the government?' says Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete
DOJ distances water review from Villar Prime Water issue
(UPDATED) Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra asks Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay Villar to inhibit 'to dispel suspicions'
Legally yes, realistically no: Duterte's powers to take over water operations
Guevarra reveals it is the DOJ that recommended revoking the extension of Maynilad and Manila Water
In fractured justice system, a simple solution: Let's talk
Setting up more organized and stronger coordinating systems in the justice sector is a global trend. The Philippines tries to keep up.
PH government admits it's unable to take over water operations
In the event that Manila Water and Maynilad do not agree to the revision of contracts, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says 'then we go to court'
Gov't not keen on 'compromise' with Manila Water – DOJ
'Some members of the Cabinet want an overhaul of the existing concession agreements. Others are thinking of more drastic actions,' says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
DOJ 'revokes' Cebu order deputizing cops as prosecutors
'No approval from the Prosecutor General nor from the regional prosecutor was sought,' says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
In nearly 3-year drug trial, DOJ yet to submit AMLC report vs De Lima
'Either the AMLC report is being manufactured...or the DOJ is simply engaged in a drawn-out fishing expedition,' says the camp of detained Senator Leila de Lima
Fearing escape as verdict nears, DOJ wants Zaldy Ampatuan back in jail
(UPDATED) 'In deference to this Honorable Court, it should now stop extending so much grace, sympathy, or concern to accused Zaldy Ampatuan,' says the prosecution
Guevarra declines SC nomination: 'Still in love with DOJ'
'I very much want to join the judiciary in some future time, but I just want to make sure that I'm able to do something more for the DOJ,' says Guevarra
Will he accept? Guevarra nominated to Supreme Court
'I don’t think any lawyer will close the possibility to be appointed to such a lofty position,' says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
Philippines grants asylum to Iranian beauty queen
Among the benefits is the authorization to work here
Albayalde: Guevarra does not have power to reopen drug recycling probe
Guevarra cites the 2000 NPS Rules on Appeal, while Albayalde cites the 2017 revised manual for prosecutors in the reopened investigation into the alleged drug recycling of the so-called Pampanga ninja cops
New deportation rules in PH: Leave country pending appeal
The new rules are set to take effect end of November
BuCor confirms death of inmates but denies 'crisis' in Bilibid
Dehydration or lack of medical attention did not cause anyone at the national state penitentiary to die in recent weeks, says the Bureau of Corrections
DOJ indicts KAPA for defrauding public
The Department of Justice finds probable cause to indict officers of KAPA for violating various provisions of the Securities Regulation Code
NBI ordered to probe Masbate vice mayor Yuson slay
The National Bureau of Investigation probe is expected to aid cops in pinning down the mastermind of the killing of Batuan, Masbate Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson
Trillanes on kidnapping suit: This admin will do its worst
Kidnapping is a non-bailable offense, compared to other cases filed against him since the Duterte presidency
DOJ summons 'ninja cops' in reinvestigation
The 13 policemen are directed to appear at the Department of Justice on Wednesday, October 16
Despite SC ruling, Sotto insists on jailing suspects in drug cases under review
Senate President Vicente Sotto III urges the Department of Justice to change its policy, but the Supreme Court already put its foot down on this issue in 2017
Guevarra to courts: Don't dismiss 'weak' drug cases outright
The Supreme Court also tempers its own ruling to provide leeway for arresting officers who do not comply with the proper rules on handling evidence
Supreme Court orders DOJ to answer case vs GCTA IRR
Bilibid inmates want to nullify DOJ's new Implementing Rules and Regulations for violating equal protection
DOJ: 52 qualified convicts released from Bilibid
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete says 35 more previously released convicts who should not have surrendered in the first place, have been verified for release
DOJ summons Trillanes in kidnapping case
(UPDATED) 'My lawyers would be presenting lots of evidence to debunk this fantastic allegation,' says Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who has been summoned to appear before the Department of Justice on October 11
DOJ to request Interpol monitoring of Manila 'drug queen'
The justice department belatedly issues an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order
Guevarra: DOJ survived GCTA crisis by upholding rule of law
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra makes the statement amid mounting criticism on the DOJ's move to arrest without warrant heinous crime convicts
Guevarra: Surrender of qualified convicts 'phenomenal'
Around 25 convicts who surrendered will be freed Thursday after verification they are qualified for release
DOJ scrambling to release qualified convicts 'who should not have surrendered'
The Department of Justice says it will give second priority to convicts who were either acquitted or granted parole
DOJ: 2,139 GCTA-freed convicts back in jail
The Department of Justice says 130 more previously released convicts have surrendered to authorities on Saturday morning, September 21, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's order
New IRR could risk GCTA of qualified convicts
'That is the burden that the implementors of the law would have to assume,' says Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete
Confusion abounds as DOJ rushes final arrest list of convicts
The Department of Justice is counting on the promise of the Philippine National Police that it will carry out the rearrests peacefully
DOJ suspends rearrest of convicts, but cops already picked up a few
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete announces on the radio early Friday morning that the rearrest should be suspended, but cops already started rearresting at midnight
DOJ 'sanitizes' faulty GCTA arrest list ahead of manhunt
'We have to weed them out so that they won't be included in that list on the so-called fugitives from justice,' says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
Guevarra: Faeldon 'quite likely' administratively liable for GCTA mess
But Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra shies away from making the same statement on Senator Ronald dela Rosa
Guevarra: Give DOJ more control over BuCor
The justice chief wants a review of Republic Act 10575, which 'diminished' the control of the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the Bureau of Corrections
Faeldon knew he needed DOJ clearance for Sanchez's release – BuCor legal chief
But after sacked BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon flatly denies this at the resumption of the Senate probe into the scandal, legal chief Frederic Santos backtracks
Bato dela Rosa eyed power to release convicts as BuCor chief – Guevarra
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says a letter coming from the Bureau of Corrections sometime in 2018 asked for the power to grant early release to convicts
Justice Department rejects OSG bid to bring more sedition probe witnesses
The prosecution panel also denies OSG's request to summon Jude Sabio who wrote in a column that Trillanes tried to get him as lawyer for Bikoy
No special treatment in transfer of De Lima witnesses to marine barracks – DOJ
(3rd UPDATE) Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says he was informed of the proposal but didn't know it had been done
Heinous crime convicts still entitled to lesser GCTA – Guevarra
Heinous crime convicts, recidivists, and habitual delinquents can still avail of good conduct time allowance – though at a lesser rate – under the Revised Penal Code
DOJ puts 1,914 freed convicts on immigration lookout
(UPDATED) Subjects of an immigration lookout bulletin order cannot be stopped from leaving the country but President Duterte has told airport authorities not to let those on the list leave
What are heinous crimes?
There is no explicit definition of what heinous crimes are – only an enumeration of crimes that due to their 'manifest wickedness, viciousness, atrocity and perversity' merited the death penalty until its abolition in 2006
Judge who sentenced Antonio Sanchez asks Panelo to resign
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says he has nothing to do with the possible early release of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez
DOJ starts probe: Is recruitment to progressive groups a crime?
The DOJ hearing is another step taken by the government in its crackdown on what it says is the 'brainwashing' of students through progressive groups
DOJ suspends inmates' early release based on good conduct
(4th UPDATE) The Department of Justice says the suspension will be brief – around 10 days – so as not to 'unduly delay the process' for those qualified under the good conduct time allowance law
TIMELINE: DOJ backtracks on possible early release of Antonio Sanchez
Are the likes of Antonio Sanchez eligible for reduced sentence? The ambiguous provisions of the GCTA law should either be interpreted by the Supreme Court or amended by Congress.
Antonio Sanchez of 1993 UPLB rape-murder case to get out soon – DOJ
This is thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling that retroactively applied a reduced prison term law
DOJ summons leftist representatives over student recruitment
The complaint mistakenly identifies Tom Villarin as Anakbayan representative. Villarin is a member of Akbayan, which is from a different faction of the Philippine Left.
Court junks DOJ request to rearrest Satur Ocampo
Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 finds no basis to overtake an earlier Supreme Court decision that gave Satur Ocampo provisional liberty
