Legal action team to boost delivery of justice in NIR

The Police Regional Office – Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) led the activation of the Joint Focus Legal Action Team (JFLAT) as part of initiatives to strengthen the delivery of justice in the region.

PRO-NIR Director, Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, was joined by stakeholders from the Department of Justice, Philippine Army, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) during the activation ceremony held Wednesday at the Kanlaon Hall of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office headquarters in Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.

“In the Negros Island Region, justice will not only be pursued it will be coordinated, relentless, and firmly grounded in legal excellence,” Ibay said in a statement.

According to the PRO-NIR, the activation of the JFLAT “underscores a united, whole-of-government approach, enhancing the delivery of justice throughout Negros Island.”

It said the formation of JFLAT marks a strategic leap in aligning operational and legal efforts between the Philippine National Police and prosecutorial bodies.

The initial meeting tackled comprehensive cascading activity, including operational briefings on JFLAT’s legal framework, inter-agency coordination procedures, and collaborative mechanisms.

Presentations on best practices in evidence handling, common pitfalls in case filing, and the value of legal assessments before and after law enforcement operations were also discussed by legal experts and other resource persons.

“This is designed to harmonize case-building protocols, provide real-time legal consultation, and ensure the efficient and accurate filing of criminal charges, solidifying JFLAT’s role as a vital mechanism in upholding the rule of law in the region,” the PRO-NIR said.

It said the inter-agency initiative is aligned with national directives to move beyond mere arrests.

“By closing the gaps between investigation and litigation, the government aims to deliver timely, effective, and just resolutions to criminal cases.”

Other key officials present included Prosecutor II Flosemer Chris Gonzales, chairperson of Legal Cooperation Cluster, JFLAT-Western Visayas; Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Brigade; and NICA-Western Visayas Director Priscilla Escobin.* (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)