EU and UNOPS help strengthen the rule of law in the enforcement and prosecution of illegal drugs cases

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the European Union (EU), through its Governance in Justice or GOJUST Programme, have provided support to the Department of Justice to prepare a “Manual in the Investigation and Prosecution of Illegal Drugs Cases”, a new tool to ensure that the rule of law prevails in all aspects of the administration of Justice.

The Manual was presented on 7 December 2022 with Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as the keynote speaker, and with the participation of H.E Luc Véron, Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines.

“The European Union has been a committed partner to the Philippine’s Justice Sector reform since 2006. Our engagement stems from the importance we attach to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. This new manual will help safeguard due process by setting clear guidelines for justice sector operators on how to handle drug cases. As” said by H.E Luc Véron, Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines.

The Unified Manual in the Investigation and Prosecution of Illegal Drugs Cases was produced by the Department of Justice’s Technical Working Group facilitated by the GOJUST Programme through several write-shops. The manual equips law enforcers with comprehensive knowledge of criminal law, constitutional law, and criminal procedure. With the adoption of the manual by law enforcement agencies and prosecution offices, it is expected that only cases with sufficient evidence are filed with prosecution offices and with the courts.

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With a total grant of  EUR19 million (Php 1.1 billion ) over a period of four years, the EU’s GOJUST Programme supports the Government of the Republic of the Philippines’ efforts to improve access to justice for all Filipinos, and thus, contribute to inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. GOJUST is implemented through technical assistance by the British Council and logistical and grant management support from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as well as the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).