Republika ng Pilipinas KAGAWARAN NC KATARUNGAN

Department of Justice Manila

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APR 0 5 201

DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 0 1 7 TO Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries and Heads of

All Services/Offices including the Prosecutor General and Regional/Local Prosecution Offices Nationwide

SUBJECT : National Prosecution Service (NPS) Registry and Reporting of Cases Relating to the Dangerous Drugs Act

1.0 In line with the government's campaign against illegal drugs and to facilitate monitoring/reporting thereon, all prosecution offices nationwide including regional prosecution offices and the DO) Prosecution Staff shall individually/ separately maintain and continually update a complete registry of cases involving violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act in electronic as well as physical record (i.e. spreadsheet file, database, logbook and/or index file).

2.0 The said registry shall include at least the following information on all of such cases filed before prosecution offices since CY 2016, as applicable:

2.1 NPS docket number; 2.2 Name/s of respondent/s; 2.3 Current detention status of respondent; 2.4 Name/s of complainant/s; 2.5 Specific offense/s charged; 2.6 Evidence presented/submitted (e.g. type, amount, value of drugs); 2.7 Date filed before the prosecution office; 2.8 Investigating prosecution officer/s; 2.9 Current case status; 2.10 Nature of resolution (e.g. filed in court, dismissed); 2.11 Date of issuance/release of resolution; 2.12 Appeal/review status (if applicable); 2.13 Additional information if filed in court:

2.13.1 Criminal case number; 2.13.2 Court branch; 2.13.3 Name's of accused (if different from original complaint); 2.13.4 Specific offense/s charged (if different from original complaint); 2.13.5 Date filed before the court; 2.13.6 Trial/prosecuting officer/s assigned; 2.13.7 Current case status in court; 2.13.8 Nature of court decision/disposition; 2.13.9 Date of promulgation of decision/disposition;

2.14 Remarks/other relevant information.

3.0 The said registry shall henceforth serve as basis of status and inventory reports on illegal drugs cases that may be required by the Department or requested by oversight and law enforcement agencies concerned. For efficiency and data privacy purposes, such reporting shall be governed by the following:

3.1 Such reports and particular information therein shall be required by the Department on need basis only, subject to further guidance and approval/authorization/issuance of the Secretary of Justice in accordance with the specific purpose and control procedure including the appropriate processing unit; and

3.2 If requested directly from prosecution offices concerned by entities or persons apart from case parties concerned, release of such reports and/or personal information therein shall be subject to the DOJ Freedom of Information Manual and Department Order No. 202, s. 2017, pursuant to Executive Order No 02, s. 2016.

4.0 Prosecution and DOJ offices shall appropriately/adequately secure and control the subject registry and case reports therefrom, respectively, including all physical/electronic records and personal information therein in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and relevant issuances of the National Privacy Commission and this Department.

5.0 This Circular takes effect immediately and supersedes all earlier issuances requiring submission of one-time or periodic status/inventory reports to the Department and the Prosecutor General on cases involving dangerous drugs, except the following:

5.1 Department Circular No. 051, s. 2015, with mandatory Quarterly Report of Operations requiring statistical data on cases including those involving dangerous drugs; and

5.2 Department Order No. 211, s. 2008 on the Quarterly Report for the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) on illegal drugs cases filed in court (i.e. directly to DDB without need to furnish the DO)) in line with its Integrated Drug Abuse Data Information Network.

6.0 The Prosecutor General and Regional Prosecutors are advised to immediately disseminate this Circular to all constituent provincial/city prosecution offices and ensure compliance thereof within respective jurisdictions.

For guidance and compliance of all concerned.

VITALIANO N AGUIRRE H Secrètaiy Depa rn f LISI10E

C C 018 15

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