No Ban for Media to Report Cases at Fiscal's Office

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima clarified that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not issued any directive prohibiting the media from getting updates on cases pending in the City Prosecutor's Office.

De Lima stated this to reporters at the sidelines of the anti-trafficking forum of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here on Wednesday.

"I don't prohibit the media to get updates on the process of the cases," she said.

In a press conference held after the forum, a reporter based here asked about Chief Prosecutor Raul Bendigo's letter stating that photocopying the charge sheets is prohibited by the Regional State Prosecutor's Office (RSPO) Regional Circular No. 2010-003.

The RSPO circular states that no requested documents and pleadings pertaining to a case shall be released by any prosecution office in the region and/or its personnel to the media until after the final termination or preliminary investigation. The circular was issued for the protection of the interest of all the concerned parties in a case and so as not to hamper the speedy and impartial disposition of cases.

"What is the rationale behind this? I'll check on it," De Lima said.

The DOJ, however, issued Memorandum Circular 09 dated Sept. 30, 2010 regulating the follow-up of criminal and administrative cases and other matters in the Department. The memorandum, signed by De Lima, covers interested parties although it does not specifically mention if these include members of the media.

She said barring reporters from doing their jobs goes against the program of the Aquino administration to promote transparency in government affairs.

"In Manila, I allow the media to get the information on the cases," De Lima said. (PNA)