SC wants speedy resolution of human trafficking cases

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has taken steps to help the government meet standards in the war against human trafficking set by the US state department and keep $250 million in foreign aid.

This after the High Court directed all judges of regional trial courts, metropolitan trial courts, municipal trial courts in cities, municipal trial courts and municipal circuit trial courts in the country to expedite disposition of all pending human trafficking cases in their respective salas.

Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez, who supervises all first- and second-level courts all over the country, specifically directed judges to continuously hear cases involving violations of Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003) with “hearing dates spaced not more than two weeks apart.”

“More importantly, pending human trafficking cases should be given priority and decided with dispatch, while newly raffled cases should be heard and decided within 180 days from arraignment of accused,” Marquez said in Circular No. 151-2010 he signed last Oct. 26.

He emphasized that unnecessary delay should be avoided, strictly taking into consideration the Speedy Trial Act and SC Circular No. 38-98 dated Aug. 11, 1998.

Marquez also directed judges to submit to the statistical reports division in the Court Management Office of his office a list of all cases involving RA 9208 and their status and also copies of orders and decisions issued on them. He also told them to submit a report to his office by Nov. 30.

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) welcomed this development, saying it would “put a period to the nefarious activities of syndicates which have thrived for so long.”