DAVAO City will soon have a new city prosecutor, but this time, the office will be led by a lady after more than a century of being established.
Lawyer Jhopee Salvador Avanceña will be the first woman chief of the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP)-Davao City. She will assume office on February 7, 2022, after being appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Avanceña will take the reins from Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Mariza S. Delos Santos-Jaugan, OCP-Davao City officer-in-charge (OIC), since the retirement of then city prosecutor Nestor M. Ledesma in February 2021.
Jaugan is also the first woman OIC in OCP-Davao City.
"The Office of the City Prosecutor of Davao City has been running smoothly, thanks to the leadership of previous predecessors and its current pool of competent public prosecutors. Maintaining its integrity and efficiency, some improvements will be implemented to further enhance the system to cater to the needs of the public," Avanceña said when asked what her first mandate will be and things she wants to improve in her office once she sits.
"Strengthening cooperation with different agencies is likewise essential. The OCP will continue to maintain and uphold the public's trust and confidence in the public service," she added.
Under Avanceña's authority will be two deputy city prosecutors (DCPs) and 38 assistant city prosecutors (ACPs).
Avanceña started as a legal researcher for the Office of Councilor Emmanuel Galicia at the Sangguniang Panlungsod in 2001 before becoming an associate lawyer (2002-2004) of Tan Tan Salutan and Vega Law Firm.
In 2004, she was employed as legal officer IV of the City Government of Davao until 2005. She also taught Criminal Law, Evidence and Criminal Procedure at the University of Mindanao–College of Criminology and the Philippine Public Safety College between 2002 and 2006.
In 2005, she became the OIC of the Office of the Business Bureau. Recognizing her ability to multi-task and solve problems, by 2013 she held three concurrent positions in the City Government of Davao, namely: Office of the Business Bureau OIC (2005-2016), assistant city administrator for operations, City Assessor’s Office OIC, while managing her own office, Avanceña Law Office, under an Authority to Practice.
Immediately prior to her appointment as city prosecutor, Avanceña held the position of undersecretary to the president, being the head of the Office of the President-Internal House Affairs Office.
While busy with work as a public servant and officer of the law, Avanceña is also a mother to two little ladies: Jasmine Cassandra and Jenna Margaret. Avanceña is the daughter of Julius and Jovita Avanceña.
For Davao Regional Prosecutor Janet Grace Dalisay-Fabrero, she is looking forward to a stronger and more dynamic one National Prosecution Service-Davao with Avanceña now leading the OCP.
"Her addition as chief would certainly strengthen this commitment of better delivery of public service in the criminal justice system. Her role in the National Prosecution Service-Davao Region is crucial and significant as Davao City Prosecution Office holds about 70 percent of the cases in the region," Fabrero said.