Recto Administers Oath to 140 New Prosecutors, Stresses Impartiality and Rule of Law
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto administered the oath of office to 140 newly appointed prosecutors of the Department of Justice's National Prosecution Service during a ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. In a keynote speech, Recto called on the prosecutors to exercise neutrality and remain free from political influence while upholding justice with integrity.
Prosecutors Must Let Law Be Their Sole Guide
Recto emphasized that prosecutors must allow the law to be their sole guide, warning against diluting its majesty with politics or replacing what is right with what is popular. He stated that the new appointees are survivors of the rigorous National Prosecution Service stress test and should not bring politics into charging decisions.
"You are not here to serve personalities or the powerful. You are here to be fair, to hold power – any power – accountable to the law," Recto declared. He urged them to refrain from preferential treatment, stick to evidence, and remain free from bias and manipulation.
Serving as Justice's Advocates and Democracy's Guard Rails
Recto stressed that as the newest members of the DOJ-NPS, the prosecutors serve as both "justice's fiercest advocate and democracy's strongest guard rail." He noted they assume their roles during auspicious times when institutions are allowed to do their jobs, truth is pursued genuinely, and justice is supported without steering.
"For that is how the rule of law is proven: by letting due process run its course without spin, without shortcuts, without political seasoning," he added. Recto told the prosecutors to embody the highest standards of integrity, intelligence, and diligence when representing the people.
Key Attendees and Deployment Goals
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including:
- DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida
- Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Anna Liza Logan
- Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Maria Luwalhati Dorotan Tiuseco
- Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Jesse Hermogenes Andres
- DOJ Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato
The newly appointed prosecutors are being deployed to prosecution offices nationwide to strengthen the DOJ's prosecutorial capacity, reduce caseloads, and advance the President's directive to eliminate case backlogs and accelerate the delivery of justice.
