Question & AnswerQ&A (OP Administrative Order No. 8)
Administrative Order No. 8, dated March 14, 2011, repeals Administrative Order No. 253 dated January 29, 2009, which prescribed the automatic review of decisions and resolutions of the Secretary of Justice involving dismissal of cases under Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The purpose of AO No. 253 was to prescribe the automatic review of decisions and resolutions of the Secretary of Justice involving dismissal of cases under Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
AO No. 253 was repealed because it unnecessarily delayed the disposition of drug cases and clogged the docket of the Office of the President.
The repeal ensures that drug cases will be disposed of with expediency because they will no longer be automatically reviewed by the Office of the President but will be handled directly by the Department of Justice.
All cases pending before the Office of the President pursuant to AO No. 253 shall be returned to the Department of Justice for their appropriate disposition.
Administrative Order No. 8 took effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
The drug cases are governed by Republic Act No. 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., the Executive Secretary, acted on behalf of the President in the issuance of AO No. 8.
The President relies on the powers vested in him by law to repeal AO No. 253 as provided in AO No. 8.