SC to review Sandiganbayan rules on marathon hearings for flood control cases

The Supreme Court will review the latest rules of the Sandiganbayan that seek to expedite the trial of cases related to the alleged anomalies in flood control projects and resolve these in less than a year.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, the SC wanted to ensure that this latest move by the anti-graft court will be implemented well. 

“Any rules that may be proposed by any court, whether its collegiate court and CTA and CA, will have to be reviewed by the court en banc,” said SC Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. 

“So any suggestions or recommendations coming from the Sandiganbayan as to expedite the cases involving the flood control projects, for sure we will review immediately these rules and see to it that they are implemented properly,” he added.

Gesmundo made the statement during the third anniversary of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations, which was also attended by several magistrates.

Earlier, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg said they are planning to conduct marathon hearings and issue rulings on the flood control cases within six to eight months.

Econg added that they will let the High Court look into their rules. 

Corruption in the government was also discussed during the SPJI anniversary.

“Addressing corruption is a clear, visible, and urgent priority for all justices, judges, lawyers, court personnel, and all our stakeholders. Corruption should no longer be hidden,” said SC Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. 

The SC also found out that contractors also secured projects to build Hall of Justices. Gesmundo has already ordered an investigation into these projects.

“There were projects included in the budget for some of our Halls of Justice, which were outside the judiciaries budget and therefore, for some of them, these were built by DPWH. And as of yesterday, the justice in charge, Justice Samuel Gaerlan, reported briefly to the Chief Justice, and I witnessed the report, that he is looking at several projects that were funded by some contractors that were listed,” Leonen said.

The “24 Oras” report added that most of the Halls of Justice were already completed and that the Supreme Court’s budget was not used for the construction of these buildings. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News