In his first flag ceremony as acting Justice Secretary, Frederrick Vida on Monday called on all officials and employees of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue working together to carry out the agency’s mandate, emphasizing that the department’s success depends on the collective effort of its 5,700-strong workforce.

Speaking during his first flag-raising ceremony as DOJ Officer-in-Charge, Vida expressed gratitude for the trust given to him by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to lead the department, vowing to sustain its mission of upholding justice and public service.

He said that he will be at the DOJ as long as the President has his trust and confidence in him. “In whatever capacity the President would like me to fulfill, I will do,” Vida said. “Let’s continue the work. We owe it to the public who pays for our salaries and to the next generations who trust us.”

Vida, a former mayor of Mendez, Cavite, who joined the DOJ in January 2023 and was appointed Undersecretary later that year, reminded DOJ personnel that no role within the agency is too small in ensuring that justice is served.

“There is no big or small role. Every part is important,” he said. “The Department of Justice cannot move forward unless we all work together.”

He also echoed the words of former Justice Secretary and now Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, telling employees that “the first thing you should do is show up.”

“You need to show up,” Vida said. “If you are not present, you are not part of the story, not part of the work or you are not working.”

Amid what he described as “very interesting times” marked by natural and man-made challenges, Vida urged officials and staff to remain steadfast in their duties and mindful of their responsibilities.

“At present, we live in very interesting times… There are natural calamities, and even more disturbing, man-made ones,” he said. “But we must remember that the DOJ and its officials are here to perform their duties and serve the people.”

In urging the employees and officials, Vida said, “Let’s continue the work. We are a product of our past, and our future will be a product of what we do now.”