Sandiganbayan: Some flood control cases may be resolved within the year

Facade of the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City. INQUIRER PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan on Thursday said some flood control cases could be decided within the year as the anti-graft court pushes for the speedy disposition of corruption cases. Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, during the Senate budget hearing for the judiciary’s 2027 planned spending, said that as of now, there were already 26 cases filed before the anti-graft court. She said these include cases against some senators and congressmen. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Sandiganbayan orders BJMP to take custody of Romualdez “Of the flood control cases that were filed, the first of these cases was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on Nov. 18, 2025. They are already on the defense side,” Econg told the senators. “That means that in less than a year, we are already on the defense stage, so that was pretty fast,” she added. Without naming names, Econg said that one of the earliest cases filed was archived because the accused could not be located. “The other cases that have co-accused are already on the defense stage,” she said. Article continues after this advertisement Asked by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian if a resolution of that particular cases may happen soon, Econg said: “If we follow the Speedy Trial Act tat was enacted by the Supreme Court, we will see conviction within the year, or acquittal, within the year.” “The disposition within the year, which may be a conviction or acquittal,” she added. Article continues after this advertisement “We will no longer say what’s our preference,” Gatchalian said in jest. /mr Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.