Kakulangan ng lower courts, tutugunan – solon

MANILA, Philippines — Tutugunan ni House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles ang malaking kakulangan sa lower courts sa bansa, lalo na sa gitna ng mga ginagawa ng mga law enforcers sa war on drugs.

Inaprobahan ng panel ni Nograles ang funding requirements para sa substitute bills upang gumawa ng mga posisyon para sa judges-at-large.

“Ang mga panukalang batas ay pinagsama-sama at bibigyan ng appropriations approval ang mga ito,” dagdag pa ni Nograles.

“The criminal justice system in the Philippines is perceived to be slow given the sheer volume of docketed cases. Human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno once said that a trial in the country usually lasts six to 10 years. This measure presents a solution that aims to decongest court dockets in an efficient manner,” pahayag pa ng solon.

Ang mga Judges-at-large ay isa lamang itatalagang hukom na walang permanenteng salas. Ang ibig sabihin nito sila ay puwedeng italaga ng Supreme Court (SC) sa anumang hukuman sa bansa, depende sa pangangailangan.

Ang substitute bills ay lilikha ng 50 Regional Trial Judges-at-Large at may 50 pang Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large. Ito ay nagsususog sa mga seksiyon ng Batas Pambansa (BP) Bilang 129 para sa layuning ito. 

Ayon kay Nograles, ang salary level ng 100 judges-at-large ay kapareho ng tinatanggap ng mga Regional Trial Judges, Metropolitan Trial Judges, Municipal Circuit Trial Judges, at Intermediate Appelate Justices.

‘These new magistrates will also receive displacement allowances, which will cover their housing, food, transportation, and other necessary expenses incurred during their detail to courts which are outside their places of residence. 

The displacement allowances shall be determined by the SC upon the recommendation of the Court Admi­nistrator and the Plantilla Committee.’ Paliwanag pa ng solon.