Pacquiao eyes ‘special court’ for corruption cases

Senator Manny Pacquiao. Contributed file photo

MANILA, Philippines — If elected as the next president, Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday said he wants to create a “special court” where corruption cases will be tried.

Such a court, he said, would help with his vision to curb corruption by cutting down the time for the resolutions to corruption and graft cases to three to six months.

“Magbubuo tayo ng special court, tatawagin nating People’s Court. Mag-appoint tayo ng judges at saka prosecutor para mapabilis,” he said in a press conference.

(We will create a special court and we will call it People’s Court. We will appoint judges and prosecutors and that will hasten up the process.)

“Doon sa special court na ‘yan, within 3 months tapos na ‘yung kaso. Eh ‘di ang daming makulong. Within 3 months, pinakamatagal na 6 months, masistensiyahan na ‘yung kaso. Eh ‘di makukulong silang lahat,” he added.

(In that special court, the cases will be resolved within 3 months. Many people will be jailed. Within 3 to 6 months, the accused will be sentenced immediately. All corrupt officials will be jailed.)

If elected president, Pacquiao has pledged to fight corruption, citing it as one of the country’s biggest problems, which leads to poverty and slow economic growth.

Pacquiao claimed that over P10 billion in pandemic aid intended for pandemic-hit families had gone missing.

READ: Pacquiao now wants ‘questionable’ P10.4B fund for SAP probed

READ: Pacquiao says lockdown ‘ayuda’ marred by corruption

He even claimed the Department of Social Welfare, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are among the corrupt agencies in the government.

READ: Pacquiao adds DSWD, DOE, DENR ‍to his list of ‘corrupt’ agencies

The tirade and criticisms of the administration’s policies, especially towards the West Philippine Sea, damaged Pacquiao’s relationship with President Duterte. As a result, the dominant party, PDP-Laban, split into two factions as they separately supported Pacquiao and the Duterte-led wing.

However, the two have seemingly since buried the hatchet when Duterte and Pacquiao met in early November during a meeting in Malacañang.

READ: ‘Renewal of friendship:’ Duterte meets with Pacquiao for first time since rift

Duterte had endorsed his long-time aide, Senator Bong Go, as his successor, but the senator has announced his withdrawal from the 2022 presidential race.