SC: 12% disposal rate of drug cases in lower courts in 2017

Data from the 2017 Judiciary Annual Report said the total figure of drug cases in lower courts alone can be broken down into a beginning balance of 204,805 cases, 83,396 newly-filed cases and 1,104 reopened or revived cases. (Photo: Cabrera Photo/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has reported that 12 percent or 34,483 out of 289,316 drug-related cases have been disposed by lower courts in 2017.

Data from the 2017 Judiciary Annual Report said the total figure of drug cases in lower courts alone can be broken down into a beginning balance of 204,805 cases, 83,396 newly-filed cases and 1,104 reopened or revived cases.

During the public interview for the Chief Justice post, Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta said despite the significant reduction in the backlog of cases due to the continuous trial program of the SC, the courts are failing in drug cases because judges find it difficult to comply with the tight requirement of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Under Article XI, Section 90 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, cases must be resolved not later than 60 days from the date of filing of the Information (charge sheet) while decision of the case must be issued within 15 days from submission.

He explained that if the drug courts will schedule the trial during arraignment, they could handle six to seven cases that will fall within the 60-day deadline.

Considering the evidence that should be examined, witnesses to testify, laws to be studied, Peralta said the 60-day deadline “is humanly impossible.”

Peralta noted that it was a good thing that Senator Richard Gordon was present during the deliberation as he hinted on possible amendment to the anti-drug law, particularly on the deadline given to the judges handling drug cases.

He added that there are also circumstances trial court judges could not control, including the police officers who file complaints but when it was their turn to testify, they simply “disappear.”

Peralta said disposal of cases increased significantly since they started implementing the continuous trial system in 2012.

It was pilot tested in criminal cases in selected courts in Quezon City then later expanded to cover 52 pilot courts in Metro Manila, both in metropolitan trial courts and regional trial courts (RTCs).

Then, in September last year, the High Court implemented it in all trial courts, including the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals.

Due to the continuous trial system, Peralta said the case disposal rate of RTCs significantly increased from 1.12 percent to 44.8 percent.