Pimentel asks SC to look into 'phenomenon' of judges inhibiting from cases

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to look into the “phenomenon” of judges inhibiting themselves from cases.

The minority leader raised the matter by citing the case of former Senator Leila De Lima at the continuation of the Senate plenary debates on the proposed 2024 national budget.

“’Yun pong kaso ni Senator Leila de Lima, pending na nang six years yata ito sa Regional Trial Court, is this normal? Six years and nine months,” Pimentel said.

(The case of former Senator Leila de Lima has been pending for about six years in the Regional Trial Court. Is this normal? It's been pending for six years and nine months.)

Senator Sonny Angara, who defends the budget of the Judiciary, said only one of the three cases against the former lawmaker was awaiting trial.

At this point, Pimentel raised the inhibition of judges from the cases, saying it was “unfair to the parties involved, especially those deprived of liberty.”

To recall, the judge handling the remaining drug charges against de Lima inhibited himself from further hearing the case in June following concerns raised by some of the accused.

“Siguro tingnan na rin po ng Supreme Court ‘yung phenomenon of judges inhibiting from cases. Dapat istrikto ‘yun, nag-iinhibit ka… hindi dahil sa mainit ang issue,” Pimentel said.

“Judge ka nga e. I mean pumasok ka nga sa ganyang job description kasi dapat kaya mo ‘yung maiinit na kaso kahit na politically loaded. You will inhibit kung close relative mo ang party because baka pagdudahan ka. Can the Supreme Court be more strict in this inhibition phenomenon?” he asked.

(Maybe the Supreme Court should be looking into the phenomenon of judges inhibiting from cases. This should be dealt with firmly. You don't inhibit just because it is a hot issue. You're a judge and you've accepted that job because you can handle cases even if it is politically loaded. You will only inhibit from cases when your close relatives are parties to the case. Can the Supreme Court be stricter in this inhibition phenomenon?)

Angara, who responded on behalf of the SC justices present at the budget deliberations, said they were monitoring the “phenomenon” Pimentel had raised.

“They agree with you, and... they’re now asking judges to furnish them with the orders of inhibition. Dati (previously)… it’s just a decision made unilaterally. Now the Supreme Court is monitoring that phenomenon you’re speaking [of],” Angara said.

The P58.7-billion proposed 2024 budget for the judiciary is deemed submitted for the Senate plenary's approval. — DVM, GMA Integrated News