Over 900,000 cases unresolved in PH courts – Poe

 

MANILA, Philippines — There are almost one million unresolved cases in courts nationwide, Senator Grace Poe bared on Monday.

Poe made the pronouncement during the Senate plenary debates on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill, when Senator Jinggoy Estrada asked how many unresolved cases are courts in the country currently facing.

According to the Poe, who sponsors the budget of the judiciary, unresolved cases total the following (most figures have been rounded off, per Poe):

• Supreme Court – 14,756; 
• Court of Appeals – 26,000; 
• Court of Tax Appeals – 1,500; 
• Regional Trial Courts – 362,000; 
• Sharia Courts – 298,000 ; 
• Family Courts – 64,000;
• Metropolitan Trial Courts – 40,000;
• Municipal Trial Courts in cities 69,000 
• Municipal Trial Courts, 28,000;
• Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, 29,000; 
• Sharia Circuit Courts – 1,368

Poe said the regular period for the resolution of cases is 90 days—failure to do so during that period results in administrative charges against the presiding judge.

Due to the rule, there are at least 150 cases of judges facing administrative complaints, she said.

Delays being addressed

Meanwhile, Poe during the debates, noted that the Supreme Court has begun proactively addressing the issues on delays by improving its technologies, and focusing on the digitalization of some court processes.

“That’s one of the reasons why we’re strengthening [the judiciary’s] ICT capability, right now of course if you don’t have the physical presence you have the video conferencing,” said Poe.

“…and then also with AI (artificial intelligence) and of course we can never replace human talent, but we can always support it—with additional research generated from AI, cross referencing of cases, this is part of the funding that we have given the judiciary,” she added.

Poe said that of the P65,785,395,000 budget of the judicial sector for 2025, P5.249 billion will be utilized for the improvement of SC’s technological capabilities.

“[The amount will be used] to utilize technology for the swift and efficient dispensation of justice, alam naman natin na naghahabol tayo when it comes to technology (we know we’re trying to catch up with technology,” said Poe.

As of posting time, the judiciary’s budget has already passed the Senate plenary discussions.