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The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

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Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172552069124120220824-supreme-court-facade-GC-1.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><div> </div><p>MANILA — The judiciary has asked the House Committee on Appropriations to augment the proposed 2025 budget for the courts by P12.5 billion to fund additional personnel, hazard pay for judges and sheriffs, and other personnel benefits.</p><div><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">The Executive has proposed a <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">P63.57 billion</span> budget for the judiciary next year, which is<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"> 5 percent higher than its 2024 budget of P60.17 billion, but 25 percent lower compared to the P84.39 billion budget it requested for 2025.</span> </span></div><div><span id="isPasted"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/6/marcos-jr-vows-stronger-ties-between-executive-judiciary-1811">• Marcos Jr. vows stronger ties between executive, judiciary</a></span></div><p>“We are only asking for consideration, the total amount of P12.53 billion or 60 percent of the amount that was excluded with respect to what we have submitted or proposed for 2025,” <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Court Administrator Raul Villanueva told the House panel.</span></p><div><strong>PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS?</strong></div><p>He also sought the inclusion in the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Act of a special provision on public private partnership for major infrastructure projects and/or procurements of the judiciary.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/19/22/judiciary-members-face-senate-tackle-reforms-in-courts">• Judiciary members face Senate panel, tackle reforms in courts</a></div><p>Villanueva said this will address the judiciary’s current limitations and future challenges with respect to the procurement of ICT equipment and the construction of court houses nationwide. </p><p>Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas, however, raised a concern on possible conflict of interest.</p><p>“Hindi ba magkaroon ng conflict of interest kapag pinapasok n’yo ‘yung private? Ano ang safeguard n’yo rito? Paano n’yo mare-regulate ‘yun? Kasi private ito. Baka magkaroon ng undue influence,” the lawmaker said.</p><p>“We are of course aware of that possibility. But we look at the PPP as something that would enable us to fast track the implementation of our projects... It usually takes six months to one year to complete the bidding and then of course the deliverables, then the construction starts. It takes a while. We think the PPP will cut short this process because we can already consider unsolicited offers for purposes of construction requirements that we have,” Villanueva replied.</p><div><strong>ANTI-TERRORISM LAW</strong></div><p>Brosas, meanwhile, asked about the safeguards placed by the Supreme Court in the rules governing the Anti-Terrorism Act to ensure the protection of human rights.</p><p>“The rules, first, are largely taken from the law itself. Second, with respect to the rights that should be protected in so far as those that may be covered in these rules, they are included as well in the rules that were provided by making sure that there are timelines as well in so far as when matters can be brought before either the court of appeals or even the regional trial courts,” Villanueva replied.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/3/photo-rights-groups-call-for-the-junking-of-the-anti-terror-law-1247">• PHOTO: Four years after the Anti-Terror Law</a></div><p> The Supreme Court released earlier this year the rules governing the Anti-Terrorism Act, which includes provisions on surveillance, with law enforcement agencies mandated to secure a Court of Appeals approval.</p><p> A total of 14 anti-terrorism courts have so far been set up around the country, according to Villanueva. Of this number, two are in the National Capital Region, and one each for other regions. The court administrator said they are open to setting up additional anti-terrorism courts if necessary.</p><div> <strong>DISPOSITION OF CASES</strong></div><p> The Supreme Court has accomplished 79 percent of its target on the disposal of judicial cases in 2023, according to Villanueva, but second level courts have exceeded their targets.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/16/23/supreme-court-to-use-ai-technology-in-courts">• Supreme Court to use AI technology in courts</a></div><p> “With respect to the Supreme Court, particularly the judicial cases before them, actual disposal is 79 percent compared to the target disposal for 2023. In 2024, as of June 30, 2024, the accomplishment rate is 48 percent. But in so far as trial courts is concerned, we are actually disposing more than the number of cases coming in,” he said.</p><p> As of June 30, 1,667 of the 2,661 authorized permanent positions in the Supreme Court are filled.</p><p> For lower court judges, vacancy rate is currently at 20 percent.</p><p> “Recently, appointments for 155 lower court positions were issued. This reduced vacancy rate to 20 percent and then there are pending shortlist for different judicial positions numbering about 225 with the Office of the President. If appointments are issued, the vacancy rate would only be 11 percent,” Villanueva said.</p><p>The House panel terminated the deliberations on the judiciary’s proposed 2025 budget within around an hour.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EOcMOjWI4GM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The judiciary has asked the House Committee on Appropriations to add some P12.5 billion to its 2025 proposed budget of P63.57 billion.</p>

The judiciary has asked the House Committee on Appropriations to add some P12.5 billion to its 2025 proposed budget of P63.57 billion.

Judiciary asks House panel for P12.5 billion addition funding for 2025

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Judiciary asks House panel for P12.5 billion addition funding for 2025

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 05, 2024 03:38 PM PHT

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