THE Supreme Court (SC) recorded an 87.75% success rate in hearings held via videoconference from May 5, 2020 to April 9, 2021.

During that 11-month period, 234,540 videoconference hearings were conducted with an “87.75% success rate,” Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez told reporters on Friday.

The remaining 22.25% were considered unsuccessful “due to technical and internet connection problems,” SC Chief Public Information Officer Brian Keith F. Hosaka explained.

Mr. Marquez also reported that 137,645 prisoners have been released as of April 9, including 53,297 whose cases were heard through videoconferencing amid restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, who retired last March 27, ordered the conduct of online trials and hearings in all courts last year as part of response measures to the health crisis.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), under its “Justice Bilis” (Quick Justice) campaign, also pushed for the faster resolution of cases by improving the technology systems in courts. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

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