SC designates RTCS as anti-graft courts

Several regional trial courts (RTCs) have been designated by the Supreme Court (SC) as special courts to handle anti-graft cases in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 10660, the law expanding the jurisdiction of RTCs to include cases under anti-graft statutes.

The recommendation of Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta to designate specific RTC judges was approved by the Office of the Chief Justice.

The approval is pursuant to the Supreme Court En Banc Resolution in A.M. 25-10-24-SC, which directs the Office of the Court Administrator to monitor the filing of cases involving corruption in infrastructure projects before the RTCs.

The special courts will exclusively hear and decide corruption-related cases arising from infrastructure projects. In areas with no designated RTCs, cases will be referred to the nearest judicial region with designated special courts.

The designated judges will undergo training conducted by the Philippine Judicial Academy, with Sandiganbayan associate justices leading the lectures.

The training will cover substantive and procedural laws, including RA 7080, or the Law on Plunder; RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; rules on bail in plunder cases; evidentiary rules in anti-graft cases; the rule on cyber warrants; and rules on forensic evidence, among others.

Under RA 10660, the RTC has exclusive original jurisdiction when the graft case does not involve damage to the government or any bribery, or when it involves damage to the government or bribery arising from transactions not exceeding P1 million.

Jurisdiction over graft cases involving public officers occupying positions lower than Salary Grade 27 belongs to the proper RTC, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court or Municipal Circuit Trial Court in accordance with Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, or the Judiciary Reorganization Act.

The Sandiganbayan will hear appeals from the decisions of the designated RTCs.