Rappler's latest stories on Department of Justice
Supreme Court hands off in DOJ's stricter drug plea bargain rules
Dissenting Justice Benjamin Caguioa says the Supreme Court's efforts to declog court dockets of small-time drug cases will be put to waste
Phishing is top PH cybercrime during pandemic – authorities
Online selling scams and the proliferation of misinformation that cause panic among the public are the other cybercrimes often committed as Filipinos grapple with the COVID-19 outbreak, says the National Bureau of Investigation NBI-Cyber Crimes Division

'For law and order in troubled times:' Guevarra declines 'last' chance for SC
'This opportunity comes at a time when my services as Secretary of the Department of Justice are most needed'
Ex-Wirecard COO was not in PH in June; immigration data faked
(UPDATED) The immigration officers who encoded Jan Marsalek's supposed flight records have been fired
Novartis pays over $700 million to settle U.S. kickbacks case
(3rd UPDATE) Novartis is accused of having hosted tens of thousands of speaker programs and events which the United States Department of Justice says were used to bribe physicians

'Do not be fooled:' Groups say panel probing drug war deaths 'damage control'
(UPDATED) International group Human Rights Watch calls the panel 'nothing more than a ruse to shield the country from international scrutiny'
To avoid ICC, Duterte admin forms panel to probe deaths in police operations
(UPDATED) Justice Secretary Guevarra however tells the UN Human Rights Council the panel will engage the Commission on Human Rights as an independent monitoring body
DOJ main office to reopen on June 29 after virus lockdown
The 11-day lockdown, enforced after 5 employees and an outsourced security guard tested positive for the coronavirus, will be lifted as disinfection has been completed

Returning OFWs priority as gov't studies reentry of foreign workers
The IATF may have a decision next week if they will allow the reentry of foreign workers who hold permanent and long-term visas
Sharon Cuneta plans to sue man who threatened to rape daughter Kakie
Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says Sharon Cuneta sought his help in dealing with the man who threatened to rape her daughter Kakie Pangilinan
DOJ on lockdown after 5 confirmed to be coronavirus positive
72 personnel test positive in rapid tests, but only 5 are validated in confirmatory tests
2 months since, DOJ yet to start hearings on Pimentel quarantine breach
The justice department instead puts the pressure on complainant Rico Quicho to submit hard copies of his evidence
'Consider the Constitution': Groups urge DOJ to recommend veto of anti-terror bill
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra will submit the review to Malacañang on Wednesday, June 17. He will not make it public unless Malacañang releases it from their end.
68 DOJ employees test positive in coronavirus rapid test
With a shortage on swab tests for mass testing, the national government and local governments have been relying on rapid antibody tests
On eve of Independence Day protests, DOJ says rallies 'temporarily banned'
Is it legal to ban rallies during quarantine?
DOJ's precarious role in the contested anti-terror bill
Will prosecutors be independent of the Secretary of Justice who will sit in the anti-terror council?
Will Facebook dummy account probe look at govt too? DOJ says 'all angles'
The DOJ promises it will not misuse user data that will be submitted to them in the course of an investigation
DOJ defends terror bill's dissent exception, but leaves out 'killer' caveat
DOJ Spokesperson Markk Perete says Section 4's exception on dissent 'should calm concerns,' but he leaves out a 'killer' provision. It's the provision on intent.
DOJ cybercrime office to probe dummy Facebook accounts
(UPDATED) Computer-related identity theft is a crime, and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says he's worried over the surge in fake Facebook accounts

DOJ starts review of constitutionality of anti-terror bill
'You appear to be a decent and honorable man, unlike many. Your principal will not be there forever, but your reputation and integrity will outlive you,' human rights lawyer Edre Olalia pleads to fellow Atenean lawyer Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
DOJ asserts: 'Gabby Lopez is a Filipino citizen since birth'
Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay Villar also tells a joint House panel that ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez did not lose his Filipino citizenship when he used his American passport to travel

'Vital witness' in Ampatuan massacre survives attack in South Cotabato
(UPDATED) 'Sangki is a vital witness in the second wave of prosecution for the Maguindanao massacre, and it is not far-fetched that his ambush today had something to do with the horrible case,' says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
Reports of sexual abuse of children triple during lockdown
The justice department receives nearly 280,000 reports from March to May. It blames telecommunications companies for not proactively blocking access to forms of online sexual exploitation of children
[PODCAST] Ang mga problemang dulot ng warrantless arrests
Bakit tila ang due process ay para sa mga kakampi lamang ng Duterte administration?

117 convicts get parole amid pandemic
Over 400 other convicts also eligible for parole are awaiting clearance. Retired military generals Carlos Garcia and Jovito Palparan are not qualified, according to the Department of Justice.
With indictment of teacher, media told be careful when interviewing suspects
Ex-SC Spokesperson Ted Te says the NBI agents are still liable for the arbitrary detention of teacher Ronnel Mas
In PH pandemic: Due process for allies, warrantless arrests for the rest
(UPDATED) Justice Secretary Guevarra commits the NBI to look into the prohibited mass gathering for the birthday of Metro police chief Sinas – when other people in previous mass gatherings were just picked up and jailed
House, DOJ could have done more for ABS-CBN – FLAG
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra defends his refusal to issue a formal legal opinion for ABS-CBN, a document that could serve as a legal defense for the NTC
DOJ: Order vs ABS-CBN 'immediately executory'
Should it stop broadcasting immediately? That is the pressing question now for the network giant.
DOJ promises to assess 100 convicts per week for parole, clemency
The Board of Pardons and Parole is now reviewing the records of an initial batch of 200 convicts
Guevarra counters Calida: ABS-CBN can operate while franchise renewal ongoing
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says 'there is sufficient equitable basis to allow broadcast entities to continue operating' while franchise renewal bills are pending in Congress
TIMELINE: The bid to release low-risk, sick, elderly prisoners in PH
Time is running out as the government decides whether or not to release eligible persons deprived of liberty, given the pandemic

DOJ relaxes parole and clemency rules, excludes heinous crime convicts
The relaxed rules lower the age of sickly prisoners who may avail of executive clemency from 70 to 65

Elderly correctional inmate tests positive for coronavirus
(UPDATED) The female inmate is 72 years old, has pneumonia and has been transferred to the Sta Ana Hospital in Manila
With GCTA suspended, low-risk convicts stranded in BJMP facilities
This means that low-risk convicts, who are clearly convicted of non-heinous crimes, cannot avail of early freedoms even as the pandemic threatens Philippine jails
'Takot na takot kami': While government stalls, coronavirus breaks into PH jails
Like the prisoners, their families also feel trapped with nowhere to go. Their fear is compounded by the agonizing wait for the Duterte government's action.

[PODCAST] Coronavirus: Bakit kailangang palayain ang mga low-risk, may sakit, elderly prisoners?
Ano ang hakbang na dapat gawin upang masiguradong maayos ang proseso kung ito'y matutuloy?

DOJ needs 'one more week' to decide on release of low-risk convicts
For convicts serving their sentence, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says any release would be a purely executive decision that needs no permission from the courts
DOJ summons Koko Pimentel over quarantine breach complaint
(UPDATED) The preliminary hearing is scheduled on May 20
DOJ: Early release of sick, elderly prisoners ordered before virus crisis
The Department of Justice says it ordered the release of old and sickly prisoners even before the coronavirus outbreak. Groups say these vulnerable inmates remain behind bars.

Coronavirus patients urged to waive confidentiality: ‘Being diagnosed not a crime, stigma’
'By being candid, the COVID-19 patients and PUI’s will help most their family members, friends, co-workers and those they were close with,' says a joint statement by 3 organizations of doctors and lawyers

DOJ 'leaves it to NBI' to decide legality of own probe on Vico Sotto
'The DOJ will monitor and provide such guidance as may be requested,' says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
SC, DOJ, DILG urged: Issue joint order not to arrest light offenders
'Otherwise we will have a situation where the more we lock people up, we're creating newer problems that we don't really need actually,' says former SC spokesperson Ted Te
DOJ sticks to arrest policy, but rolls out electronic inquest
There are calls to be lenient and just allow violators to go home after booking them because of lack of suitable jails
DOJ allows release of seized medical supplies to hospitals
Government will be given priority in the auction of these items, says the justice department
[PODCAST] Law of Duterte Land: DOJ and warrantless arrests
In the 2nd and final part of the 'War on the Law' podcast, we take a look at the evolving definition of warrantless arrests under the Department of Justice
'Compassion': DOJ not investigating Pimentel quarantine breach without complaint
The justice department also rules out a warrantless arrest, as Secretary Guevarra appeals for compassion
Prosecutors' offices to be closed nationwide, but officers on call for urgent matters
This means legal remedies will become a challenge for those who will be arrested during the lockdown
DOJ stands firm on warrantless arrests – even if courts scaled down, prosecutors stranded
(UPDATED) 'Otherwise, we will have a breakdown of law and order,' says Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
DOJ: Police can arrest violators of Luzon lockdown even if they do not resist
The government turns to a broad law to justify this policy: RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases which punishes 'non-cooperation'