Anti-graft court Sandiganbayan expects to resolve initial cases filed against lawmakers involved in anomalous flood control projects before the end of 2026.
During a Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the judiciary’s proposed budget on Thursday, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg revealed that the Office of the Ombudsman has filed a total of 26 flood control cases involving sitting and former senators and congressmen.
Econg highlighted that the earliest set of cases, filed on November 18, 2025, has already progressed significantly in trial court proceedings.
“Of the first cases that were filed, they are already in the defense stage. That means that in less than a year we are already on the defense side. So, that’s pretty fast,” Econg told lawmakers. She added that one case was archived after the accused could not be located.
The Presiding Justice expressed confidence that the anti-graft court can reach a final disposition on these initial cases within the year by adhering to statutory trial speed requirements.
“If we follow the Speedy Trial Act that was enacted by the Supreme Court, we will see the conviction within the year po, or acquittal within the year. Well, the disposition, within the year, which may be a conviction or acquittal,” Econg said.
Econg emphasized that accelerating trial timelines remains critical to preserving evidence and protecting witness testimonies, preventing delays that often undermine high-profile public corruption prosecutions.