Ombudsman seeks special Sandigan divisions for 'pork' trial

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday formally requested the Supreme Court to create at least two "special divisions" in the Sandiganbayan exclusively for the trial of plunder cases linked to the "pork barrel" scam.

In her letter to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Morales said that the "national magnitude" and "far-reaching consequences" of the cases involving Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile as well as businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles warrant the special divisions.

Morales cited Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan and Section 5, Article 8 of the Constitution allowing the dedicated divisions to hear, try and decide the cases "where compelling reasons and the interest of justice so require."

The special divisions are expected to prevent delays in prosecution.

A special prosecution panel composed of three teams, meanwhile, were created by Morales on Friday as the plunder cases were docketed before the Sandiganbayan.

Read: Senators face arrest as 'pork' cases filed at Sandiganbayan

Acting director Janina Hidalgo as team leader with assistant special prosecutors Edwin Gomez, Jennifer Agustin-Se and Annielyn Medes-Cabellis compose the first team.

The second team has the leadership of acting director Danilo Lopez with assistant special prosecutors Christina Marallag-Batacan, Anna Isabel Aurellano and Peter Jedd Boco as members.

The panel’s third team is composed of acting director Joefferson Toribio as team leader with assistant special prosecutors Jacinto Dela Cruz, Lyn Dimayuga and Emerita Francia