Senate bill extends prescriptive period for graft cases

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon has filed a measure that seeks to extend the prescriptive period on filing of graft cases from 15 to 30 years.

Drilon said the Senate supports House Bill 4146 allowing judicial authorities to prosecute unresolved graft cases within 30 years.

The House committee on revision of laws has approved the bill on third and final reading.

“Our justice system can only be a strong deterrent against possible malfeasance if we demonstrate that no matter the passing of years, a crime remains a crime and those who committed (the crime) must be made answerable,” Drilon said.

At present, a 15-year prescription period is being followed on filing of graft cases against public officials and after such period, the government may no longer prosecute graft cases.

“We must not let time hinder our quest for justice. It is imperative then that we legislate the necessary reforms that will strengthen our justice and legal system,” Drilon said.

The senator said that the proposed bill, along with other anti-corruption measures, manifests the determination of Congress to stamp out corruption in government amid the controversy over the pork barrel fund scam.

Drilon noted that the proposed measure will complement the amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law that was recently passed by the Senate on third and final reading.

He said the Sandiganbayan charter is seen “to hasten the disposition of cases” in the anti-graft court, which now has a backlog of 3,000 cases and would take five or more years before they are promulgated.

Drilon said the amendments will address the limitations encountered by the Sandiganbayan, “which is supposed to lead the fight against corruption in the bureaucracy.”

He noted that the Sandiganbayan Law or Presidential Decree No. 1606 last underwent legislative scrutiny almost 20 years ago.

“The result is that a case in the Sandiganbayan now takes about an average of five to eight years to litigate and resolve,” he said.