MANILA, Philippines - Less than 4 out of every 10 cases in various courts all over the country have been resolved, much to the alarm of some senators scrutinizing the judiciary's proposed budget for 2012.
 
Data from the Supreme Court show out of a total of 1,012,817 pending cases, the courts have disposed of only 380,490 or 37.5 percent.
 
Of all the courts, the Sandiganbayan has the lowest case disposition rate at 3.86 percent.
 
"This is a stumbling block to the government's effort to prosecute grafters in this government," finance committee chairman Sen. Franklin Drilon told reporters after the hearing on Tuesday.
 
During the hearing, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz explained delays are usually caused by the lack of witnesses from both prosecution and defense panels and the numerous motions raised during proceedings, among others.
 
"The pace of a trial can be hastened or slackened depending on how the judge would handle the trial. If he imposes discipline on the parties, 50 percent of the problem is solved," Drilon said.
 
Sen. Joker Arroyo described the current rate at which cases have been disposed of as "shocking."
 
"Can you not revise the rules so that there will be more speedy trials," he asked Villaruz.
 
Villaruz said the Sandiganbayan has already done so. For instance, a case will only be accepted once the Office of the Ombudsman has certified it, and no pleadings on the determination of probable cause will be accepted.
 
He added the anti-graft court also plans to hold continuous hearings on long-overdue cases.
 
Drilon asked the judiciary to submit to the committee an action plan on expediting the resolution of cases.