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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC urged to look into 'phenomenon' of inhibiting judges

SC urged to look into 'phenomenon' of inhibiting judges

Published Nov 13, 2023 07:18 am

The Supreme Court should look into the case of the number of judges inhibiting from specific cases. 

 

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III pointed this out during the continuation of the Senate’s plenary debates into the proposed budget for 2024 of the judiciary. 

 

Pimentel brought up the case of detained former senator Leila de Lima, who has been jailed over her alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP). 

 

De Lima’s case has been pending for six years and nine months in the regional trial court. Though two of her three cases have been disposed of. 

 

“Maybe the SC can look into the phenomenon of judges inhibiting from cases. That should be strict,” Pimentel said in Filipino during the plenary debates. 

 

“As a judge, it’s part of your job description. So you must be able to deal with controversial cases even if it is politically-loaded,” he said. 

 

Pimentel pointed out judges are only allowed to inhibit if a relative is closely involved in a certain case they are handling.

 

“It’s actually unfair to the parties involved, especially those deprived of liberty,” the senator said.

 

In response, Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, who is sponsoring the judiciary’s budget, said the SC agrees with Pimentel’s position and is now asking judges to furnish them with orders of inhibition.

 

 

 

 

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