The high court said it requested funds for Information Technology infrastructure and connectivity which are needed for nationwide computerization, GMA News’ Lia Mañalac-del Castillo tweeted.
The infrastructure is the backbone needed for nationwide eCourts and other IT systems, the high court added.
It also said it asked for P70 million to procure computers for data storage in the Angeles Hall of Justice, and P45.3 million for a small claims case monitoring system.
On Saturday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the high court did not seek funding for eCourts for 2014 and 2015, in reply to reports quoting Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as saying a lack of funds may threaten the creation of such courts.
Earlier this week, Sereno lamented key reform programs, including the creation of more electronic courts, are being threatened by a lack of funds.
She said these eCourts provide random electronic system and raffling, which remove human intermediation that makes courts prone to corruption.
“The problem is that the executive department deleted our request for funding of more eCourts,” she said.
Still, Sereno appealed to the public to continue believing in the judiciary. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News
