G.R. No. 247982 - EDUARDO M. COJUANGCO, JR.,*, VS. SANDIGANBAYAN AND THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT (PCGG).D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

Accordingly, the subject of his petition are the six cases: Civil Case Nos. 0033-B, 0033-C, 0033-D, 0033-E, 0033-G, and 0033-H (subject cases). Relevant thereto, the following are the stages and the timeline in subject cases since the partition of Civil Case No. 0033, starting from the filing of the PCGG's subdivided complaints, to wit: [10] Case No. Complaint Petitioner's Answer PCGG Pre-Trial Brief Petitioner's Pre-Trial Brief Termination/Suspension/Last Incident in the Pre-Trial 0033-B February 28, 1995 June 23, 1999 June 9, 2000 February 11, 2000 May 21, 2001 0033-C April 28, 1995 July 5, 1999 July 31, 2000 February 28, 2000 August 9, 2000 0033-D May 12, 1995 June 23, 1999 June 23, 2000 February 17, 2000 July 5, 2000 0033-E February 28, 1995 June 23, 1999 July 24, 2000 March 8, 2000 October 27, 2000 0033-G May 12, 1995 June 23, 1999 January 16, 2004 March 8, 2000 September 30, 2003 0033-H February 27, 1995 July 5, 1999 July 28, 2000 March 10, 2000 June 1, 2001 Subsequently, the respective pre-trial hearings in Civil Case Nos. 0033-C (in 2000), 0033-D (in 2000), and 0033-E (in 2003) were terminated. Meanwhile, while pre-trial hearings were being conducted in the other cases, the PCGG filed, on various dates, motions for partial summary judgment and/or judgment on the pleadings, in all of the subject cases except in Civil Case No. 0033-H. As a result, pre-trial hearings were halted and the proceedings were directed towards the resolution of the aforesaid motions. The timeline of this incident, including the pertinent Resolutions of the Sandiganbayan, is as follows: [11] Case No. Motion for Partial Summary Judgment/Judgment on the Pleadings Sandiganbayan Resolutions 0033-B September 8, 2002 June 2, 2016 DENIED 0033-C October 31, 2013 September 10, 2016 DENIED 0033-D October 9, 2002 June 2, 2016 DENIED 0033-E January 25, 2006 June 17, 2011 DENIED 0033-G January 16, 2004 January 23, 2006 DENIED 0033-H None None None Relatedly, as early as 2003, petitioner raised the issue of delay in the proceedings of the cases against him, particularly the fact that trial has not yet commenced therein. In his oppositions to PCGG's motions for partial summary judgment and/or judgment on the pleadings, petitioner emphasized that the cases against him have been pending since 1987 yet trial has not commenced. Thus, petitioner prayed that rather dealing further with PCGG's motions for partial judgment on the pleadings and/or partial summary judgment, the subject cases should be scheduled for trial. [12] Sometime in 2013, petitioner reached out to PCGG reminding it of his right to speedy disposition of cases. While initially agreeing to proceed to trial, the PCGG retracted, explaining that to go directly to trial and to dispense with the filing of interlocutory motions are not in the best interest of the Republic. [13] Thus, instead of proceeding to trial and to present evidence, the PCGG filed separate motions for reconsideration on the denial of its motions for part