Sandiganbayan eyes finishing flood control cases in 6-8 months; open to livestreaming proceedings

The Sandiganbayan is eyeing to conduct marathon hearings on anomalous flood control projects and have a decision in less than a year, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg said Tuesday.

In an exclusive interview with GMA Integrated News, Econg said the court is aware of the public sentiment to exact accountability on those responsible for the anomaly.

“It has shaken the entire Filipino society. I think we can also do our share in making sure that there is accountability when it comes to people who are charged. The money involved is definitely much bigger than PDAF (priority development assistance fund). It’s alarming,” Econg said.

Econg said the Sandiganbayan will submit to the Supreme Court for approval the “expedited rules in Sandiganbayan.”

Under these new rules, Econg said they can finish the hearings and rule on flood control cases in six to eight months.

Econg said they will give five to ten days for arraignment and pre-trial once an accused is arrested. The Court will then give 60 days each or a total of two months for the prosecution and defense to present evidence and witnesses and the Court will have 60 days to rule after the case is submitted for decision.

“Sentencing we will shorten, tatlo kami (we are three in the division). We will give the ponente, 40 days. The most senior member who is not the ponente, ten days to review and then the junior member, another ten days. By next year we will have, I cannot assure you kung may makulong (if there will be people sent to jail) but we will have decisions,” Econg said.

In the pre-trial, the accused may or may not plead to a lesser offense, Econg said.

“Dito sa pre-trial, ang ating prosecution, manglilitis at ‘yung defense na attorney, abogado ng akusado, they will come to court, pag-uusapan baka mag-plead guilty, baka mag-plead guilty to a lesser offense, ibig sabihin aamin s’ya ng sala, hindi ‘yung chinarge pero mas mababa, we’re not sure,” Econg said.

(During the pre-trial, the prosecution and defense lawyers will come to court. They will discuss the possibility of the plaintiff pleading guilty to a lesser offense. That means he or she will admit culpability, but we're not sure if this will be for the same charges.)

But flood control complaints may not necessarily be filed at the Sandiganbayan.

The anti-corruption court covers public officials under Salary Grade 27 but the highest public official charged at the moment by the DPWH at the Ombudsman is former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara who is at Salary Grade 25.

“The classification is not the gravity, it’s not the amount that is involved but it pertains to the salary grade of the public official concerned. I think very clear naman ang sinabi ni Ombudsman na talagang iniimbestiga nila and they want to make sure that the charges are correct. So if they feel na wala talagang involved na persons na masasakop dito sa Sandiganbayan, then that will be filed in first or second level district,” she said.

(The classification is not the gravity, it’s not the amount that is involved, but it pertains to the salary grade of the public official concerned. I think it’s very clear what the Ombudsman has said - that they will investigate and they want to make sure that the charges are correct. So if they feel that there won’t be any persons covered by the Sandiganbayan, then that will be filed in [the] first or second level district.)

Livestreaming the proceedings

Econg also said that if there is public clamor, the Sandiganbayan is open to livestreaming the proceedings even as media has already been allowed to cover inside the court in other cases.

She said the Court would seek permission from the Supreme Court which currently bans live coverage of court hearings to protect the rights of the accused.

“Alam mo ang Supreme Court napaka-responsive naman. (The Supreme Court is very responsive.) If that’s the clamor, we will reiterate a request. The beauty of continuous trial, because I tried it several times when I was in the regular court, even media, even the public who sits, you would know whether the accused will be guilty or not. Alam n’yo (You will know) just as the judge knows what will happen, Kung ano ‘yung (what will be the) decision in the end. And the moment our decision is wrong, halatang halata kami (it will be very obvious) if it’s wrong. If the Supreme Court allows, of course, we are (asking permission) because we are not hiding anything,” she said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News