No fund for salaries of judges-at-large in proposed 2021 budget —Chief Justice Peralta

The salaries of judges-at-large were removed from the Judiciary's proposed budget for 2021, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta told senators as the branch lamented that the P55.9 billion fund it originally pitched was reduced in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

During the Senate budget hearing, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked if the law allowing the appointment of judges-at-large to help speed up the resolution of cases was implemented and if funds were allocated for the same next year.

"Wala pa po pero we have already recommended several candidates to Malacañang. Twenty second-level court judges-at-large and 20 first-level court judges-at-large," Peralta said.

Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sonny Angara said Congress previously made an insertion of P126.47 million in the Judiciary's budget for 2020 for such positions.

Court Administrator Midas Marquez confirmed that the said amount has been released for 50 slots of judges-at-large this year.

"How does the [DBM] expect you to pay these judges that you appoint pursuant to the budget or the General Appropriations Act of 2020 when nothing is provided in 2021? Ano ba 'yan?" Drilon said.

"Again this is another instance of the lack of diligence in arriving at the budget of the Supreme Court... These are not budget items which the judiciary would have to plead for because this is a matter of right. They are entitled to this," he added.

The proposed Judiciary budget for the next fiscal year is P43.54 billion—lower by more than P12 billion than its original proposal.

It is appealing to Congress to add at least P6.58 billion more for the Supreme Court, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, and Court of Tax Appeals.

Also included in their "motion for reconsideration" of additional funding is P244 million for the creation of new positions for 100 judges-at-large in first and second-level courts and P144 million for hazard pay of trial judges in lower courts.

Angara said the finance committee is "looking favorably" upon the appeal of the Judiciary. —LDF, GMA News