Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday formally launched a new collaborative program between the Department of Justice (DoJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aimed at improving the prosecution of criminal cases by strengthening coordination between law enforcement and government prosecutors.

Speaking at the launch of the Training and Educational Program for DoJ Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Agents (TEPLEA), Remulla said the idea behind the initiative isn’t entirely new. He pointed to its roots in the Estrada administration, when prosecutors and police officers worked together under the now-defunct Presidential Task Force (PTF).

“This is not a new invention,” Remulla said. “This was already in place during President Erap’s time. Back then, prosecutors were embedded in task forces, and the results were clear — the partnership worked.”

The goal of the program, he said, is to make collaboration between law enforcement and prosecutors a standard operating procedure across agencies — not just a one-off experiment. Senior DoJ prosecutors, NBI agents and PCG officers are all part of the project.

“Too often, people work in silos to protect their own turf,” Remulla noted. “We can’t let that happen anymore. Justice should never be sacrificed for convenience.”

Drawing from his own experience as a former defense lawyer, Remulla recalled how weak or poorly prepared police testimonies often led to acquittals.

“It was easy to dismantle their cases,” he said. “That should never be the norm. Police officers and prosecutors play a more crucial role in society than defense lawyers like I once was.”

While emphasizing the importance of the right to defense, Remulla said the greater public interest lies in the proper prosecution of crimes and the punishment of offenders.

“The goal is simple: When we file a case, we should be ready for trial — no delays, no excuses,” he said. “Continuous trial should be the norm.”

Remulla called the new initiative a “cleansing mechanism” for society — one that ensures accountability while upholding the rule of law.