DOJ regained public trust by upholding law, respecting human rights —Guevarra

Outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) won public trust under his watch by upholding the law and respecting human rights.

Citing an independent survey in July 2021, Guevarra said the DOJ gained the highest trust rating in the National Capital Region among the Executive Department with 67%.

Guevarra said his target when he took the position to lead the DOJ was to return the good image of the department and to return the public’s trust in it.

“So as against the target, I believe na ‘yun ang major achievement na nagawa ng aking admnistrasyon during the past more than four years,” Guevarra said in a radio interview.

The Justice secretary said this was achieved through numerous strategies.

“Una muna ay ang pag-uphold ng batas. Pangalawa, ang pag-respect ng human rights. Pangatlo ay ang paglaban sa corruption. Pangapat ay ang pagkakaroon ng policy ng compassionate justice,” he said.

(First is through upholding the law. The second is respecting human rights. The third is fighting against corruption. The fourth is having a policy of compassionate justice.)

Guevarra will be replaced by Cavite Representative Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla in the DOJ under the administration of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Under Guevarra, the DOJ led the panel composed of different government agencies reviewed killings being linked to President Rodrigo Duterte's war on illegal drugs.

A report on the review conducted by the panel said police failed to follow protocols in some of their operations that led to the death of the suspects. —KBK, GMA News