Cayetano: No legislation needed for daily trials
on pork scam, high-profile cases
"To delay prosecution is to deny justice for the Filipino people."

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter "Companero" S. Cayetano said that a protracted court battle for those involved in the P10-billion pork barrel scam would practically deny the justice being sought by the Filipino people for the corruption of public funds.

In pushing for his proposal that daily trials be held for the pork barrel scam and other high-profile cases once they reach the courts, Cayetano said political and legal maneuvers may happen if the said cases are subjected to the country's present slow-paced criminal justice system . "Habang tumatagal ang kaso, nawawala ang ibang witnesses. Nagkakasakit, umaalis ng bansa o namamatay ang mga may alam sa kaso. Nawawala ang mga dokumento," the senator lamented.

"Kung gusto nating ayusin ang criminal justice system natin, napakaimportante na mabilis ang paglilitis. Sa buong mundo, ito ay isang requirement. Madaling gawin ito ng Supreme Court kung ibabalik nila ang special criminal courts at kung babaguhin ang rule on continuous trial."

Cayetano said that his proposal needs no legislation from Congress, as the Supreme Court can designate special criminal courts on its own as was similarly done during the time of former president Fidel V. Ramos.

He said that through the efforts of his late father, Senator Rene "Companero" Cayetano, the SC issued Administrative Order 51-96 in 1996 designating special criminal courts in Metro Manila and other cities to hear cases involving heinous crimes and finish the trial within 60 days.

Cayetano explained the said special courts were designated to try and decide cases of kidnapping, robbery, dangerous drugs, carnapping and other heinous crimes under Republic Act No. 7659 "in the interest of speedy and efficient administration of justice..."

The Senate leader said that a speedy resolution of the pork barrel scandal and other high-profile cases is important in restoring the faith and confidence of the people in the government, amidst fears that politics may hinder the full prosecution of those involved in graft cases.

"That is why ang advice ko para mawala din ang pag-iisip ng ating mga kababayan na mababago ito ng politika: Number one, magkaroon ng continuous trial and Number two, dapat lahat ay magbigay ng buong suporta, kakampi man nila o kalaban, kaalyado man sa pulitika o hindi," he explained.

Cayetano earlier said that the recent statements of Vice President Jejomar Binay - a declared presidential aspirant - belittling the efforts of the DOJ in pursuing the pork barrel scam are a cause for concern for whistleblowers and state witnesses

He said that some fear that if Binay wins in the 2016 elections, the case would be abandoned as some of those accused in the pork barrel scam are his staunch allies in the opposition.