EDITORIAL - Resolve those cases

There are still debates on whether the indefinite relief of Francis Garchitorena as presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan was warranted. There are also speculations about other factors that might have led the Supreme Court to hand down the unprecedented order. The official reason given by the high court, however, should serve as fair warning to all magistrates that they have to do their job well and improve the administration of justice.

Garchitorena received the administrative sanction as a result of a complaint filed in August last year by the 40,000-member Integrated Bar of the Philippines, which noted that the anti-graft court had a backlog of cases dating as far back as 10 years ago. Garchitorena has pointed out that there were in fact only nine cases unresolved before the court’s First Division which he chaired. But the Supreme Court also faulted him for the backlog of the entire Sandiganbayan and chastised him for delegating too many cases to other justices.

The Supreme Court found out that of 415 cases pending with the Sandiganbayan, 341 were assigned to the First Division, with one submitted as far back as May 1990. Of 138 unresolved cases in the division, 42 were assigned to Justice Catalino Castañeda, nine to Garchitorena and five to Justice Gregory Ong. Nine cases are unaccounted for while 73 cases have not yet been assigned.

Many Filipinos are probably unaware that a law was passed in 1998, Republic Act 8493, requiring judges to resolve cases within six months or 180 days from the date of filing. The Sandiganbayan is given 90 days to resolve cases that have been submitted for decision. You only have to look at the Marcos cases, however, to see how slow the wheels of justice have been grinding in the country’s anti-graft court. The cases dragged on for so long that Imelda Marcos, now 72, will never be put behind bars unless she is convicted of a capital offense such as plunder.

Supporters of Garchitorena may grumble that his relief was unfair. But the Supreme Court’s move should once again remind magistrates all over the country that justice delayed is justice denied. It’s good to see the high tribunal kicking butt and reminding members of the judiciary that they have a job to do.