Camille Naredo

The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022.

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

Article (news)

Supreme Court

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Supreme Court on Saturday said Regional Trial Courts have been designated as special courts which will handle anti-graft cases involving infrastructure projects.In a statement, the SC said the designation of RTCs is in line with the directive of the en banc to the Office of the Court Administrator to monitor the filing of cases on infrastructure projects.The Office of the Chief Justice approved the recommendation of Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta to designate specific RTC judges. The high court noted that Republic Act No. 10660 or An Act Strengthening Further the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan expanded the  jurisdiction of RTCs to include cases under anti-graft laws.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/26/supreme-court-urged-to-set-time-limits-designate-special-courts-for-flood-control-cases-2244">READ: Supreme Court urged to set time limits, designate special courts for flood control cases</a></div>&quot;The designated judges will undergo training from the Philippine Judicial Academy, with lectures led by Sandiganbayan Associate Justices,&quot; the SC said.The training will cover substantive and procedural laws, including Republic Act No. 7080 or the Law on Plunder, Republic Act No. 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.Under RA No. 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.The SC added that jurisdiction over graft cases involving public officers occupying positions lower than Salary Grade 27 belong 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.Appeals from the decisions of the designated RTCs shall be heard by the Sandiganbayan.&quot;In areas with no designated RTCs, the case shall be referred to the nearest judicial region with designated special courts,&quot; the SC added.The number of designated RTCs is as follows:National Capital Judicial Region: 5Region III: 5Region IV-A: 4Region V: 4Region VII: 4Region XI: 4According to SC spokesperson Atty Camille Ting, the list is only the first batch of courts and all regions will have designated anti-graft courts.&quot;The courts and judges are not named for security purposes,&quot; Ting said.

The Supreme Court on Saturday said Regional Trial Courts have been designated as special courts which will handle anti-graft cases involving infrastructure projects.

The Supreme Court on Saturday said Regional Trial Courts have been designated as special courts which will handle anti-graft cases involving infrastructure projects.

SC designates RTCs as special courts for cases on infrastructure projects

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SC designates RTCs as special courts for cases on infrastructure projects

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 15, 2025 08:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Supreme Court

regional trial courts

anti-graft cases

infrastructure projects

flood control scandal

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