Sandiganbayan Proposes Public Information Division
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan is pushing for the creation of a public information division to improve how its decisions and resolutions are shared with the public. This new office will include a spokesperson tasked with making the court’s rulings more accessible and easier to understand.
Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg revealed that the Sandiganbayan is collaborating with the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice’s office to bring this vision to life. “One of the things that we are thinking of moving forward is the creation of a public information division for the Sandiganbayan. In order for us to be more, not transparent, but more understandable to the public,” she said.
She explained that court decisions often involve complex cases and are lengthy, making them difficult for ordinary citizens to comprehend. “The decisions, the resolutions that come out of our chambers are lengthy because they involve cases that are complex most of the time. And when cases of this nature are decided upon, it is not very easy to understand or it is not easy reading, so to say,” Econg added.
Addressing Public Understanding and Accessibility
Econg emphasized the court’s responsibility to communicate clearly with the public. She said, “It is incumbent upon us, to be able to reach out to the public. And so, we are proposing that a public information division be set up in the Sandiganbayan. And I’m sure other appellate courts will follow as well.”
Some justices have also suggested preparing summaries of the Sandiganbayan’s decisions and resolutions. Alongside this, they propose appointing a spokesperson who can explain these documents in simpler terms. “We need a person – a spokesperson – to explain and reach out to the public in order for the public to understand why the decisions of the court are in that way,” she said.
She acknowledged that court rulings often have winners and losers, which can lead to misunderstandings. “We all know that when cases are decided, there is, of course, a victor and there are those who lose the case. And those who lost the case will misunderstand our decision. We want decisions to be stripped of their legality and reach out to the masses in a language that they can understand better,” Econg explained.
Enhancing Press Access and Court Transparency
Beyond the public information division, Econg addressed concerns from the press covering the Sandiganbayan. Reporters have requested better access to the anti-graft court’s library for decisions and resolutions not yet posted online.
She assured that these issues will be tackled once the proposed division is established, aiming to improve both transparency and media accessibility.
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