1.
In the case of
VICENTE P. LADLAD, et. al. vs.
SENIOR STATE PROSECUTOR EMMANUEL Y. VELASCO, G.R. Nos. 172070-72, June 1, 2007 ;
LIZA L. MAZA, et. al. vs. RAUL M. GONZALEZ,
in his capacity as Secretary of the Department of Justice, G.R. Nos. 172074-76, June 1, 2007 ; CRISPIN B. BELTRAN vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
et. al., G.R. No. 175013, June 1, 2007, the Supreme Court stressed the “basic and fundamental
objective of observing the interest of justice evenhandedly, without fear
or favor to any and all litigants alike, whether rich or poor, weak or strong,
powerless or mighty”.
“x x x.
The obvious involvement of political considerations
in the actuations of respondent Secretary of Justice and respondent prosecutors
brings to mind an observation we made in another equally politically charged
case. We reiterate what we stated then, if only to emphasize the importance of
maintaining the integrity of criminal prosecutions in general and preliminary
investigations in particular, thus:
[W]e cannot emphasize too strongly that prosecutors
should not allow, and should avoid, giving the impression that their noble
office is being used or prostituted, wittingly or unwittingly, for political
ends, or other purposes alien to, or subversive of, the basic and fundamental objective of observing the interest of justice
evenhandedly, without fear or favor to any and all litigants alike, whether
rich or poor, weak or strong, powerless or mighty. Only by strict
adherence to the established procedure may be public’s perception of the
impartiality of the prosecutor be enhanced.
X x x.”
