The Supreme Court has designated several Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) as special courts to hear cases involving corruption in government infrastructure projects.
In a statement issued Saturday, November 15, the SC said the move follows Republic Act No. 10660, which expanded RTC jurisdiction over violations of anti-graft laws.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo approved the recommendation of Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estosta to assign judges specifically tasked with handling corruption cases linked to infrastructure projects.
This designation is in line with an SC En Banc resolution directing the Office of the Court Administrator to monitor the filing of such cases in the RTCs.
The SC emphasized that these special courts will have exclusive authority over corruption cases involving infrastructure projects.
In areas without designated courts, cases will be filed in the nearest judicial region where a special anti-corruption court has been established.