Pimentel deplores 'inhibition phenomenon'

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino «Koko» Pimentel 3rd on Monday asked the Supreme Court to look into the rising incidence of judges inhibiting themselves.

Sen. Rafael «Raffy» Tulfo, on the other hand, pushed for more funding to modernize lower courts.

The senators made the separate appeals during the plenary deliberation on the proposed P57.79 billion 2024 budget of the judiciary, 5.26 percent higher than this year's P54.9-billion budget.

Pimentel deplored that the «increasing» incidence of judges inhibiting from cases «is becoming a phenomenon.»

He cited the case of former senator Leila de Lima who has been detained for more than six years due to delays caused by judges inhibiting from handling her drug cases.

«Can't the SC (Supreme Court) be stricter in addressing this 'inhibition phenomenon'?» Pimentel asked.

Sen. Juan Edgardo «Sonny» Angara, the sponsor of judiciary's budget, said

the high tribunal «now requires judges to furnish them with orders of inhibition.»

Angara added that the judiciary's budget will cover the creation of sharia and family courts, and for the hazard pay of lower court judges.

Tulfo has sought to restore the judiciary's proposed allocation for their programs, particularly for the hazard pay of judges and establishment of more family courts.

The judiciary initially proposed P71.9 billion for its 2024 budget.