Senators back P54.9-B judiciary budget

Senators yesterday supported the proposed P54.9-billion 2024 budget of the judiciary during the Senate Finance Subcommittee budget hearing.

The budget was sponsored by Senator Sonny Angara who is the presiding chairman of the Finance subcommittee.

Senate minority leader Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel during interpellation said the function of the judiciary is very important thus they have to get the needed budget for the services the people need.

Pimentel asked the Supreme Court to look into the "phenomenon" of judges inhibiting from specific cases, stressing that the move is unfair, especially to those deprived of liberty.

The issue was raised by the minority leader during the Senate's plenary debates on the proposed 2024 budget for the judiciary and also brought up the pending case of detained former senator Leila de Lima, who has been jailed over her alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade.

Angara pointed out that two of de Lima's three cases have already been disposed of, while one is still on trial.

His remark prompted Pimentel to urge the Supreme Court to closely look into the practice of some judges of inhibiting from selected cases.

"Maybe the Supreme Court can also look at the phenomenon of judges inhibiting from cases. That should be strict. You are a judge. You must be able to deal with controversial cases even if they are politically loaded," said Angara.

In June 2023, Presiding Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara of Branch 204 voluntarily inhibited himself from presiding over the remaining drug case against de Lima.

He was the second judge to inhibit from de Lima's final drug case, the first one being Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura of Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 256.

Pimentel pointed out that judges should only be allowed to inhibit if the party involved is a close relative.

Senator Raffy Tulfo also aired his full support to the said proposed budget of the judiciary that include the Supreme Court and the lower courts since the people needs the judiciary's support.

Likewise, Tulfo said he is wary about the lack of the hazard pay for judges which is an important budget because they are the ones handling the case and talking with both the complainants and respondents.

Thus, Tulfo pushed for the reinstatement of the hazard pay of the judges because their job is not an ordinary one.

To recall, an earlier hearing on the proposed 2024 budget of the Judiciary was held on 23 August 2023 wherein according to the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the proposed budget of the Judiciary for next year is P57.79 billion, an increase of 5.26 percent compared to the P54.9-billion 2023 budget.

During the hearing, Angara asked Court Administrator Raul Villanueva on the number of security marshals to be employed by the judiciary next year.

In response, Villanueva said that if the number of personnel will be based on the number of courts, then it would be around 5,000 personnel.

Senate President Miguel Zubiri said the budget of the judiciary was already submitted before adjourning the deliberation.