Akbayan Partylist Representative Chel Diokno expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court (SC) following its announcement that it will establish special courts dedicated to hearing cases related to infrastructure projects and corruption.
“We thank the Supreme Court for heeding our call to expedite and prioritize corruption cases, and we urge the judiciary to impose strict time limits on the trials and appeals,” Diokno said in a Facebook post on Thursday, October 30.
“Dapat itong bigyang pinakamataas na prioridad, dahil buong sambayanan ang ninanakawan, niloloko, at pinapahirapan,” he added, underscoring the need for accountability in the use of public funds.
This development comes amid mounting calls from lawmakers to strengthen the powers of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) — a body created by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to investigate irregular and anomalous flood control projects across the country.
“As the plot thickens, it becomes even more urgent and imperative to pass House Bill No. 4453. To ferret out the truth and ensure accountability–whoever is involved–Congress must act swiftly and decisively,” said Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Representative Leila de Lima, Diokno’s ally in the House minority bloc.
In response, Malacañang said it will study the proposed measure once the full details are available.
“Unang-una po, dapat po siguro makita muna ‘yong pinakadetalye, para po mapag-aralan ito, at kung kinakailangan mag-isyu po ng Certificate for Urgency, ‘yan po ay gagawin ng Pangulo kung matapos po niyang mabasa kung ano po ang gagawing bill,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press briefing of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).