MANILA – Several flood control-related graft cases before the Sandiganbayan have reached the defense stage less than a year after they were filed, as senators pressed for faster resolution of corruption cases to help restore public trust in government.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg told the Senate during the hearing on the Judiciary’s proposed 2027 budget that the first batch of cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on Nov. 18, 2025, had already progressed to the defense stage.

“The first of the flood control cases that was filed by the Honorable Ombudsman was in November 18, 2025. Of the first cases that were filed, they are already in the defense stage,” Econg said.

“That means that in less than a year, we are already in the defense side. So that’s pretty fast,” she added.

Asked by Senate President Win Gatchalian about the number of flood control cases filed before the anti-graft court, Econg said 26 cases involving senators and congressmen had been lodged.

One case was archived after authorities failed to locate an accused, while other cases involving co-accused had already advanced to the defense stage, she said.

Gatchalian said the progress could mean that some of the cases may soon be resolved, depending on the presentation of evidence and the court’s action.

Econg said the cases could be resolved within the year if proceedings comply with the rules on speedy trial, whether the outcome is conviction or acquittal.

For Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, the pace of the proceedings is important as the government works to restore public confidence following the flood control controversy.

“People are waiting for actions. And I think in our quest for accountability, we are instituting reforms so that we would like to practice transparency because we want to bring back the trust of people in government,” Ejercito said.

He said the Sandiganbayan has a key role in the government’s anti-corruption campaign, stressing that accountability requires not only the filing of cases but also certainty of punishment once guilt is established.

“Yung (The) certainty of punishment at the speedy disposition of justice is very crucial in our fight against corruption and for our quest to reform the government,” he said.

Econg said expediting trials could also help ensure a fairer and more complete presentation of evidence because witnesses remain available and their memories of events are still fresh.

Delays, she said, could weaken cases when witnesses die, become unavailable, or are subjected to outside pressures.

“That’s why the Sandiganbayan is actually pushing for speedy disposition of cases, especially the cases that are recently filed,” Econg said.

The anti-graft court also reported a decline in its caseload to 525 from 1,229 in 2024, while its conviction rate rose to 82.48 percent this year.

“In 2021, one out of 10 gets convicted. But then now it has changed. We now have eight convicted out of 10,” Econg said.

She added that the Sandiganbayan is reorganizing its staffing pattern to make the court more responsive to newly filed cases and facilitate their earliest possible disposition.

No to budget cut

Gatchalian, meanwhile, rejected a Department of Budget and Management recommendation to cut the Sandiganbayan’s funding by PHP551 million, saying additional resources are needed to increase the court’s capacity to handle its caseload.

“I don’t subscribe to the recommendation of the DBM to reduce it by 551 million,” Gatchalian said during the hearing.

He said the court should instead receive more support for manpower and operational requirements as it handles the increasing number of cases filed before it.

“In fact, we should support the Sandiganbayan more rather than reduce its budget because they need to capacitate themselves, make themselves more efficient, get more manpower to support the voluminous cases that are being filed in the Sandigan,” he said.

Gatchalian said the proposed reduction was particularly ill-timed given the need to accelerate the disposition of cases.

“Dapat pa ngang dagdagan para po masuportahan at makahabol ng mas mabilis ang paglilitis (It should even be increased so it can be supported and trials can proceed faster),” he said.

Econg thanked Gatchalian for his support and explained that the court’s capital outlay increased from PHP300 million to PHP719 million because of the planned construction of Sandiganbayan Building 2.

The new building is necessary because the existing Sandiganbayan facility is “no longer safe,” she said, citing technical studies that found deficient columns and concerns over its structural integrity.

The court is also located about 1.2 kilometers from the nearest fault line, posing risks to justices and employees as well as lawyers, litigants, witnesses and other court users, she said.

“We might be ready, but we cannot answer for the safety of all the court users,” Econg said.

She added that the current building can accommodate only five divisions, forcing divisions to take turns using courtrooms despite the creation of two additional divisions in 2016. (PNA)