FILE PHOTO: Sandiganbayan Centennial Building (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines — There will be two additional divisions to the already existing five divisions of the Sandiganbayan.
This is after President Benigno Aquino III signed the amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law.
Republic Act 10660 provides that the anti-graft court will be composed of seven divisions with three justices each.
Under Presidential Decree 1606, there should be three justices to constitute a quorum in a division. Under the new law, only two justices are entailed to constitute a quorum in each division.
It is expected that under the new law, the procedure to resolve corruption cases involving government officers and personnel will be much faster.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson USec. Abigail Valte said, “That would really matter in these cases, faster disposition given the current, you can get the Sandiganbayan, their actual work load to add more divisions means that you are adding more justices to share on the work load of the Sandiganbayan.”
As there will be additional divisions in the anti-graft court, the President is obliged to appoint more justices.
USec. Valte added, “The JBC process will also be followed. So as soon as there is a shortlist, the president will pay the appropriate amount of attention on the appointments.”
At present, the Sandiganbayan is trying high profile cases such as that of the former president and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the pork barrel cases involving congressmen and senators.
The effectivity of the new law takes place 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and newspaper of nationwide circulation. (NEL MARIBOJOC / UNTV News)