The city fiscal His powers, duties and compensation.
Section 25
SEC. 25. The city fiscal His powers, duties and compensation.—There shall be a city fiscal, who shall be the chief legal adviser of the city. There shall be four assistant city fiscals, who shall be known as the first, second, third and fourth assistant city fiscals, respectively. The city fiscal and his assistants shall each receive the salary provided for in existing laws to be payable from national funds: Provided, however, That their salaries shall be paid from city funds until such time as the appropriation for the same has been included in the said annual appropriations act. The city fiscal shall, subject to the general supervision of the Secretary of Justice, have the following general powers and duties: He shall personally or through any assistant represent the city in all civil cases wherein the city, or any officer thereof, in his official capacity, is a party; and shall prosecute and defend all civil actions related to or connected with any city officer or interest. He shall, when directed by the Mayor, institute and prosecute in the city's interest, a suit on any bond, lease, or other contract and upon any breach or violation thereof. He shall, when requested, attend meetings of the Council, draw ordinances, contracts, bonds, leases and other instruments involving any interest of the city, and inspect and pass upon any such instrument already drawn. He shall give his opinion in writing, when requested by the Mayor or the Council or any of the heads of the city departments, upon any question relating to the city or the rights or duties of any city officer thereof. He shall, whenever it is brought to his knowledge that any city officer or employee is guilty of neglect or misconduct in office, or that any person, firm, or corporation holding or exercising any franchise or public privilege from the city, has failed to comply with any condition, or to pay any consideration mentioned in the grant of such franchise or privilege, investigate or cause to be investigated the same and report to the Mayor. He shall investigate all charges of crimes, misdemeanors, and violations of laws and city ordinances and prepare the necessary information or make the necessary complaints against the persons accused. He may conduct such investigation by taking oral evidence of reputed witnesses and for this purpose may, by subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, summon witnesses to appear and testify under oath before him, or produce documents and other evidence before him, and the attendance of, or the production of documents and other evidence by an absent or recalcitrant witness may be enforced by application for warrant of arrest to the city court or the Court of First Instance. He shall have charge of the prosecution of all crimes, misdemeanors and violations of laws and city ordinances triable in the Court of First Instance of Zambales and the city court, and shall discharge all the duties in respect to criminal prosecution enjoined by law upon provincial fiscals. He shall cause to be investigated the causes of sudden deaths which have not been satisfactorily explained and when there is suspicion that the cause arose from unlawful acts or omissions of other persons or from foul play. For that purpose he may cause autopsies to be made in case it is deemed necessary and shall be entitled to demand and receive for the purpose of such investigations or autopsies the aid of the city health officer. He shall at all times render such professional services as the Mayor or City Council may require, and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.