Go pushes Senate bill on judicial reform

Sen. Bong Go on Wednesday urged the prompt passing of Senate Bill 1186 that would amend Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, also known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act. The measure mandates the creation of additional divisions in the Court of Appeals to assist in managing the judiciary's extensive caseload. Go said 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 promptly and fairly. They say justice delayed is justice denied. That is why I filed this measure to give every Filipino the right to a speedy trial," said Go during a Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights hearing. "It is better to strengthen our courts so they can quickly deal with cases. Justice is important here," he added. The bill seeks to establish three new divisions in the Court of Appeals, each with three justices, to ease caseload pressures and ensure swift resolution of cases. It proposes to increase the number of Court of Appeals justices from 69 to 78 to enhance 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 Supreme Court chief justice, ensuring that delays are kept to a minimum.