New Sandigan divisions won’t handle existing ‘pork’ scam cases

MANILA, Philippines - Sandiganbayan Senior Associate Justice Samuel Martires yesterday said none of the cases that have been filed in connection with the pork barrel scam would be given to the new divisions of the anti-graft court.

Martires told The STAR that in full session, Sandiganbayan magistrates agreed that cases that have been submitted for ruling or decision would stay with the divisions that handled their trial.

“One hundred fifty to 250 cases will be offloaded to the new divisions,” he said, noting that there will also be a reshuffle of associate justices in order to enable seniors to head the new divisions.

The Sandiganbayan, following the creation of two new divisions, will now have seven courts with three magistrates each.

On Monday, President Aquino appointed Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, Reynaldo Cruz, Geraldine Faith Econg, Karl Miranda, Michael Frederick Musngi, and Zaldy Trespeses as new associate justices of the Sandiganbayan.

They took their oaths before Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Justice Francis Jardeleza at the Supreme Court.

The addition of two more courts is expected to improve the case disposition rate, lower the caseload and speed up trials at the anti-graft court.