PH Chief Justice laments budget cuts on courts

The Chief Justice of the Philippines held a rare press conference to express her dismay over budget cuts imposed by the presidential palace on the judiciary. The budget department has slashed by 30% the proposed budget submitted by the Supreme Court after the tribunal struck down parts of the executive’s controversial spending program – a decision repeatedly assaulted by President Aquino in public events. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno warned that a national budget “terribly imbalanced” against the courts will hugely affect the disposition of cases, especially since Malacañang removed the allocation for the electronic court project that in past years have streamlined case workflows. The judiciary is one of the least-funded institutions in the Philippines.

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