‘JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED’ — BONG GO PUSHES FOR JUDICIARY EFFICIENCY BY PROPOSING ADDITIONAL DIVISIONS IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

On Wednesday, September 18, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go supported efforts for judicial reform as he championed Senate Bill No. 1186 during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. The bill seeks to amend Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, or the Judiciary Reorganization Act, by creating additional divisions in the Court of Appeals (CA) to help address the overwhelming caseload burdening the judiciary.

Go emphasized that every Filipino facing legal charges is entitled to a speedy trial and fair disposition of cases, which the current system often struggles to deliver due to backlogs and delays.

“As the number of cases continues to rise, our courts are under increasing pressure to resolve disputes in a timely and fair manner. Sabi nga po nila – Justice delayed is justice denied. That is why I filed this measure to help every Filipino, when accused, the right to a speedy trial and to a speedy disposition of a case against him,” underscored Go.

“Mas mainam na mapalakas pa natin ang ating mga korte upang mas mabilis nilang matugunan ang mga kaso at hinaing ng mga Pilipino. Importante po rito ang hustisya,” he added.

The measure seeks to establish three new divisions in the Court of Appeals, each with three justices, to ease caseload pressures and ensure swift resolutions. Under the proposed plan, the first 17 divisions will be based in Manila to handle cases from the Third to Fifth Judicial Regions, while three additional divisions will be stationed in Cebu for cases from the Sixth to Eighth Judicial Regions.

Cagayan de Oro will house the 21st to 23rd divisions, which will process cases from the Ninth and Tenth Judicial Regions, while Vigan City will host the 24th division for cases from the First and Second Judicial Regions. Lastly, Davao City will become the home for the 25th and 26th divisions, which will cover the Eleventh and Twelfth Judicial Regions.

This proposed expansion will increase the number of CA justices from 69 to 78, further enhancing the judiciary’s ability to dispense justice efficiently. The bill also mandates that trials and hearings must be concluded within three months unless extended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, ensuring that delays are kept to a minimum.

Go reiterated that these proposed reforms can lead to a more efficient judiciary, as they address delays that have long plagued the justice system. “The fulfillment of the Judiciary’s mandate should not be jeopardized by the sheer number of cases being handled by them,” he concluded.

The senator’s push for the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 1186 highlights his commitment to upholding the rights of Filipinos and ensuring that the country’s judicial system is more responsive to the needs of the people.

Furthermore, on the same manifestation, the senator also highlighted the need for SBN 1185 or the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Modernization Act.

“Let us be reminded that these measures are necessary reforms that will address the challenges faced by these institutions. By modernizing the Bureau of Immigration and expanding the capacity of the Court of Appeals, we are reinforcing the foundation of governance and justice system in the country,” Go concluded.