The Supreme Court announced the designation of several Regional Trial Courts as special courts that will exclusively handle corruption cases involving infrastructure projects. The move is in line with Republic Act 10660, which expanded the jurisdiction of RTCs over anti-graft cases.
The SC earlier passed a resolution directing the Office of the Court Administrator to monitor the filing of these cases before the designated courts. Areas without assigned RTCs will refer cases to the nearest region with special courts.
Judges selected to hear these cases will undergo training from the Philippine Judicial Academy covering substantive and procedural laws.
RTCs will have jurisdiction over graft cases that do not involve damage to the government or bribery, as well as cases involving government losses or bribery not exceeding P1 million.
Appeals from the decisions of these designated RTCs will be elevated to the Sandiganbayan.
