281 new courts created in regions, says Escudero

It’s a record of sorts.

At least 281 courts have been created nationwide by the Senate in a bid to ease congestion in court cases, according to the head of the Senate justice committee.

“This is the first time that the Senate has approved this many new courts,” Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said.

Escudero’s committee shepherded the creation of one regional trial court in the Ilocos, two in Cagayan Valley, 25 in Central Luzon, 80 in Calabarzon and Mimaropa, three in Eastern Visayas and six in Zamboanga Peninsula.

One municipal trial court was created in the Ilocos, 10 in Calabarzon, 31 in Central Visayas, two in Northern Mindanao and 27 in the Davao region.

“The Filipino people put their trust in us for a reason,” said Escudero. “Let the numbers do the talking for us,” he said.

Escudero also said lawmakers should open the use of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to public scrutiny.

Escudero said his use of the PDAF has already been made available to the public via the Internet. He dared other lawmakers to do the same.