(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
These numbers were disclosed in the “Statistics on Cases Filed, Pending, and Disposed of as of Dec. 31, 2020” released by the Sandiganbayan recently.
This was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic which impacted people’s work capabilities as lockdowns kept people at home in order to stop the spread of the virus.
Ombudsman prosecutors have been refrained during the quarantine to physically appear before the Sandiganbayan from April to June and as a result, zero cases were filed.
The anti-graft court had to make certain adjustments to keep judges, staff, prosecutors, and the defense team safe.
Physical distancing measures were established and the court used modern technology to conduct hearings.