THE Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) signed a memorandum of agreement on Wednesday to develop prosecutorial guidelines for handling community-based conflict cases.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the initiative seeks to integrate justice and peace-building efforts, particularly in areas affected by recurring clan feuds and localized conflicts.
”Peace and justice are inseparable. A community cannot have true peace without justice,” Vida said during the signing ceremony.
He said community-based conflicts, especially in Mindanao, often arise from disputes over land, politics, family honor or crime, leading to cycles of violence that displace families, disrupt livelihoods and hamper development.
Under the agreement, the technical working group will draft guidelines to help prosecutors handle these cases while remaining anchored on the Constitution, due process and the rule of law.
Vida stressed that the initiative would not weaken criminal prosecution.
”Where evidence establishes liability, accountability must follow. Peace initiatives cannot replace criminal responsibility,” he said.
He added that prosecutors who understand the social context of conflicts are better equipped to apply the law fairly, noting that the DOJ aims to achieve not only successful prosecutions but also reconciliation and lasting peace in affected communities.
Opapru Secretary Mel Sarmiento said the partnership will strengthen coordination between the formal justice system and community-based peace mechanisms.
He said local government officials, traditional and religious leaders play a vital role in resolving conflicts, adding that the agreement will help institutionalize community-led peace efforts while upholding the rule of law.
Asked how criminal prosecution can be reconciled with peace-building, Vida said many communities, particularly in Mindanao, value restorative approaches alongside legal accountability, but stressed that the state’s duty to prosecute crimes remains unchanged.
