Ombudsman Remulla seeks special graft courts in RTC

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said he asked the Supreme Court for the establishment of special courts in regional trial courts to fast track the hearing of graft cases.

During the Senate committee on finance’s deliberations into the proposed P6.390 billion budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for fiscal year 2026, Remulla underscored the importance of institutional contact between the Ombudsman and the judiciary. 

“Ang aking hinihiling sa isa hong kaibigan natin sa Korte Suprema, si Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, na baka kailangan po namin ng special courts para po sa RTC, ‘yung graft court ho talaga ng RTC,” Remulla said. 

(I’ve asked one of our friends at the Supreme Court, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, that maybe we need special graft courts at the RTC.) 

“Para wala na hong pingpong, wala na hong pasahan ng jurisdiction. Pagka-meron ho tayong special court sa RTC, ay malamang po mas mabilis po ang pagdinig ng mga kaso,” he added. 

(With this, there will no longer be a sort of ‘pingpong’ where the jurisdiction is being passed back and forth. If we have a special court in the RTC, the hearing of cases will be expedited.) 

Remulla said his office is targeting to file cases against several officials linked with the anomalous flood control projects before the Sandiganbayan within 30 days. —AOL, GMA Integrated News