Several regional trial courts (RTCs) were designated by the Supreme Court (SC) as special courts to handle anti-graft cases in accordance with Republic Act No. (RA) 10660, the law expanding the jurisdiction of the RTC to include cases under anti-graft laws.

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 was pursuant to the resolution of the SC en banc in A.M. No. 25-10-24-SC directing the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) to monitor the filing of cases involving corruption in infrastructure projects before the RTCs.

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

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

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 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, and 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.