THE Senate has conducted its first hearing on the bill seeking to create special courts that will exclusively try cases involving police officials.
Convening to discuss Senate bill no. 1274 or the Police Court Act of 2016 are the justice and human rights joint committee as well as public order, dangerous drugs, and Finance committees.
The said bill seeks to "establish the police law enforcement courts and grant these courts exclusive original jurisdiction over violations of constitutional rights and PNP rules of engagement committed by the police."
The bill was proposed by Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the justice committee.
Gordon said the creation of exclusive courts will speed up the resolution of cases involving erring police, including those involved in summary killings.
Gordon said the swift resolution of the cases filed against them is necessary to gain the public's trust to the law enforcers.
The Senate committee on justice chair said he had spoken with Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno about the said bill and the latter "agreed without hesitation."
The judiciary has created more than 200 additional trial courts in July 2016 to exclusively handle drug-related cases in the country, which spiked after President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office. (VoxPop Philippines)
