SC taps several RTCs to handle infra-related corruption cases

The Supreme Court (SC) has designated several Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) as special courts to handle exclusively corruption-related cases arising from infrastructure projects of the government.

- By REY G. PANALIGAN

In areas where there are no RTCs, the corruption cases should be referred to the nearest judicial region with designated special courts, the SC said.

The SC, however, did not say how many of the more than 1,300 RTCs nationwide will be designated as special courts.

Some RTCs have been acting as special courts. Among these are those assigned as special commercial courts, illegal drugs courts, and family courts.

The SC’s Office of the Spokesperson said that the designation of RTCs as special courts is in accordance with Republic Act No. (RA) 10660, the law expanding the jurisdiction of the RTC to include cases under anti-graft laws.