Lawmaker eyes additional Sandiganbayan courts

MANILA ,Philippines  — From only five divisions, a congressman has proposed to increase the number of courts of the Sandiganbayan to increase its capacity to resolve anti-graft and corruption cases.

Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, filed House Bill 5212 to increase the number of divisions of the Sandiganbayan from its present five to 14 divisions to enhance the court’s capacity and speed up the disposition of cases pending in the anti-graft court.

“The Sandiganbayan plays a critical role in fighting graft and corruption. Any delay in the resolution of anti-graft cases negatively impacts on its ability to deter others to commit similar acts of corruption. The search for a solution to this critical problem of congested dockets requires recourse to drastic but creative and economical measures,” he said.

Abaya said that at 2,514 graft cases are still pending with the five courts of the Sandiganbayan and the existing five Sandiganbayan divisions can only handle two hearings for graft cases every two months.

The proposed bill seeks to amend Presidential Decree 1606 as amended by Republic Act 7975 and 8249, or An Act Further Defining the Jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

Abaya said the bill will also increase the composition of the anti-graft court to one presiding justice and 44 associate justices instead of one presiding justice and 14 associate justices.

“The sheer volume of cases being handled by the Sandiganbayan makes it impossible to promptly dispose of said cases. This sad reality of heavily clogged dockets and the very limited number of justices and judges cause the trial of erring public officials to take years to complete,” he said.

Abaya said the delay in the dispositions of cases only push corrupt officials not to fear conviction.

“It will also deter further commission of such acts which will effectively save the government billions of pesos,” he said.

Under the bill, the 1st to 13th divisions of the court shall hold sessions in Metro Manila for the trial and determination of cases filed from Luzon, including those from the National Capital Region (NCR).

On the other hand, the 14th and 15th divisions of the Sandiganbayan will be created in Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City, respectively, for the trial and determination of cases from Visayas and Mindanao.   - (THE FREEMAN)