In view of "Alabang Boys", scorecard system for prosecutors proposed

The implementation of a scorecard system for prosecutors to keep track of their performance and determine who among them have dismissed than filed cases
was proposed by Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today.

Gordon made the proposal as some prosecutors and officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) were alleged to have been bribed to dismiss the drug-related cases of the so-called "Alabang Boys".

"We should have scorecards for prosecutors. If a prosecutor dismisses cases too soon and too often, we should look into that. The Department of Justice should closely look after those who keep on dismissing cases," he said.

"If, for example, a prosecutor has 300 cases and he was only able to file two, what would that mean? We cannot help but suspect that either he was bribed to dismiss most of the cases, or there is lack of evidence," he added.

Gordon noted that one of the reasons for the continuous upsurge in the number of drug traffickers in the country is due to poor investigation and prosecution of drug-related cases.

He stressed that a performance review of prosecutors and policemen, especially those assigned on drug-related cases, should be done to determine the area where they lack training.

He said it is important to have effective law enforcement training among anti-narcotics agents, especially among military men who are tasked to do police work, so that they may be well aware on how they should enforce the law.

"Through the scorecard, the DOJ would see how many drug-related cases were dismissed and why. If most of the cases were dismissed due to lack of sufficient evidence, then we will have to look into how policemen are doing their investigation," Gordon said.

"Our law enforcers should undergo training on investigation and proper handling of evidence so that cases would not be dismissed for lack of evidence or mere technicality," he added.

Gordon also said that the country's ever-growing problem on illegal drugs could be solved if a deadline is imposed on the proper investigation, prosecution and conviction on drug-related cases.