# Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan (lit. 'Support of the nation') is a special appellate collegial court in the Philippines that has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and other offenses committed by public officers and employees, including those in government-owned and controlled corporations. The special court was established by Presidential Decree No. 1486. It was subsequently modified by Presidential Decree No. 1606 and by Republic Acts 7975, 8249 and 10660. It is equal in rank to the Court of Appeals, and consists of fourteen Associate Justices and one Presiding Justice. The Office of the Ombudsman owns exclusive authority to bring cases to the Sandiganbayan.
The Sandiganbayan is housed in the Centennial Building, Commonwealth Avenue, National Government Center, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

## History

The Sandiganbayan was established under the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 11, 1978, by Presidential Decree No. 1486 in the 1973 Constitution. The court was equal in rank to the Regional Trial Courts (then known as the Courts of First Instance). On December 10, 1978, Presidential Decree No. 1606 elevated the ranking of the Sandiganbayan to match that of the Court of Appeals, the second-highest judicial court in the Philippines. The Sandiganbayan began operations on February 12, 1979.
Amendments were introduced in Republic Acts No. 7975 and No. 8249, after the EDSA Revolution in 1986, which limited the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan to "cases involving public officials occupying positions classified as salary grade 27 and higher."
The Sandiganbayan currently sits in seven divisions of three justices each, as per R.A. No. 10660, amending P.D. No. 1606.

### Sandiganbayan Building II

In October 2024, CJ Alexander Gesmundo led the groundbreaking for the 13-storey Sandiganbayan Building II. The green building will rise on a 2,588-square meter property adjacent to the Sandiganbayan Centennial Building. Designed by the University of the Philippines College of Engineering, the Building Research Services with the National Engineering Center is responsible for the preparation of the Detailed Architectural and Engineering Design.

### Martial law

When the Sandiganbayan began operations in 1979, it was composed of only one division (with Hon. Manuel R. Pamaran as Presiding Justice and two Associate Justices) and a 15-membered skeleton crew. In 1981, a second division was launched. A third division was formed on August 4, 1982.

#### Aquino investigation

In the wake of the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. in August 1983, Ferdinand Marcos submitted the case for an immediate trial to the Sandiganbayan. Marcos' critics, who included business leaders and church leaders, claimed that the Sandiganbayan had no experience in trying a murder and demanded an appointment of an imperial prosecutor and independent judicial body instead.
In 1984, the 26 people accused in the assassination of Aquino were acquitted by the Sandiganbayan in a 90-page verdict. The verdict disregarded all findings of the Agrava Commission, which was appointed to investigate the assassination.
On June 13, 1985, the Sandiganbayan, with the aid of the commission, threw out the case against General Fabian Ver, the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, together with seven other military men. The Sandiganbayan voted for the exclusion of their testimonies in that they were self-incriminatory and inadmissible as evidence. The Supreme Court upheld this decision by a vote of 10–3 in August. Ver was soon reinstated as chief of staff by Marcos on December 2.

### Post-martial law
#### 1987 Constitution

On February 2, 1987, a new constitution was ratified under President Corazon Aquino. The 1987 Constitution dictated the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances between the executive, legislature, and judiciary branches.
The 1987 Constitution expanded the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan to include cases investigated by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) involving only on ill-gotten wealth, dictated by Executive Orders No. 14 and No. 14-A (main SB site & EO 14). In April 1994, Imelda Marcos and three former officials of the Ministry of Human Settlements (MHS) were indicted for the misappropriation of Php 97.9 million in MHS funds in 1985. At the same time, however, the Sandiganbayan dismissed charges against Imelda Marcos in connection with the sale of $125.9 million in Central Bank Treasury notes in the 1980s.
Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the Office of the Ombudsman independently monitors all three branches of the government for political corruption.

### Laws on graft and corruption in the Philippines

Laws on graft and corruption have been in effect as early as the 1950s, before the creation of the Sandiganbayan. Graft and corruption laws govern both public officers and natural persons. The collection of these laws is overseen by the Office of the Ombudsman.

#### Republic Act Nos. 3019 and 1379

The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act is a law that stipulates that the Philippine Government shall repress certain acts of both public officers and the natural persons that may constitute graft or corruption. Acts that are subject under these laws include graft, divulging otherwise private information, negligence in warranted requests, undue injury by a public officer to any party – private or government – in the form of unwarranted benefits or disadvantages.
In the case of unexplained accrual of wealth, R.A. No. 1379 states that a petition may be filed against any public officer who has acquired property unlawfully, be it through graft or any form of corruption. This petition should come from the Solicitor General of the Republic of the Philippines as per complaint by a taxpayer.

#### Republic Act No. 7080

Any public officer who amasses a certain amount of ill-gotten wealth (at least fifty-million pesos) through means of criminal acts – be it by himself or in connivance with other, shall be subject to reclusion perpetua, a form of imprisonment for life. Any accomplice shall be sentenced with the same.

#### Republic Act. No. 9184

Under the Government Procurement Reform Act, public officers who commits any of the following who colludes with private individuals performs the following illegal acts in RA 9184 will suffer an imprisonment of not less than six years and one day, but not more than fifteen years.

## Jurisdiction

To determine whether the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction, lawyers look into two criteria, namely: the nature of the offense and the salary grade of the public official.
The Sandiganbayan shall have original exclusive jurisdiction over:
* Violation of Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Law (RA 3019)
* Forfeitures of Illegally Acquired Wealth (RA 1379)
* Crimes committed by public officers namely
** Direct, Indirect and Qualified Bribery
** Corruption of public officials
* Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes committed in relation to their office by public officials.
* Civil and Criminal Cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Orders 1, 2, 14 & 14-A issued in 1986
* Petitions for issuance of Writ of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, injunction and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction; Provided, jurisdiction is not exclusive of the Supreme Court.
* Petitions for Quo Warranto arising or that may arise in cases filed or that may be filed under EO 1, 2, 14 & 14- A
Provided that the accused belongs to a salary grade of 27 or higher, the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over:
* Violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards (RA 6713)
* Violation of the Plunder Law (RA 7080)
* Violation of The Heinous Crime Law (RA 7659)
* Violation of The Anti-Money Laundering Law when committed by a public officer (RA 9160)
* Presidential Decree 46 referred to as the gift-giving decree which makes it punishable for any official or employee to receive directly or indirectly and for the private person to give or offer to give any gift, present or other valuable thing on any occasion including Christmas, when such gift, present or valuable thing is given by reason of his official position, regardless of whether or not the same is for past favors or the giver hopes or expects to receive a favor or better treatment in the future from the public official or employee concerned in the discharge of his official functions.
** Included within the prohibition is the throwing of parties or entertainment in honor of the official or employee or his immediate relatives.
* Presidential Decree 749 which grants immunity from prosecution to any person who voluntarily gives information about any violation of Art.210, 211 or 212 of the RPC, RA 3019, Sec.345 of the NIRC, Sec. 3604 of the Customs and Tariff Code and other provisions of the said Codes penalizing abuse or dishonesty on the part of the public officials concerned and other laws, rules and regulations penalizing graft, corruption and other forms of official abuse and who willingly testifies against the public official or employee subject to certain conditions.
Private individuals can also be sued in cases before the Sandiganbayan if they are alleged to be in conspiracy with the public officer.
The Sandiganbayan is vested with appellate jurisdiction over final judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Court whether in the exercise of their original or appellate jurisdiction over crimes and civil cases falling within the original exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan but which were committed by public officers below Salary Grade 27.

## Composition

The Sandiganbayan has a total of fifteen departments (two head offices, twelve divisions, and one Legal Research and Technical Staff) and a total of 385 authorized positions. 335 of 385 of these positions are filled.

### Electoral procedure

According to the Presidential Decree No. 1606, Section 1, the Presiding Justice and all Associate Justices shall be appointed by the president, as amended by Republic Act 8249.
Appointment of the Court Officials and other employees, however, is not dependent on the president. According to Rule II, Section 7 of the Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan, "The Supreme Court shall appoint the Clerk of Court, the Division Clerks of Court and all other personnel of the Sandiganbayan upon recommendation of the Sandiganbayan en banc chosen from a list of qualified applicants prepared in accordance with the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations."

#### Qualifications

Presidential Decree No. 1606 further states that "No person shall be appointed Presiding Justice or Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan; unless he is natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least 40 years of age and for at least ten years has been a judge of a court of record or been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines or has held office requiring admission to the bar as a pre-requisite for a like period.

### Justices
#### Division and roles

The Sandiganbayan originally had three divisions that assisted the Office of the Presiding Justice, according to the Article XIII of the 1973 Constitution. The number of divisions was raised to five divisions in 1995. In 2015, through the Republic Act 10660, under the Aquino Administration, the number of divisions was expanded to seven divisions. Currently, the Sandiganbayan has Office of the Presiding Justice, Office of the Clerk of Court, Legal Research and Technical Staff, seven divisions (Office of the Deputy Clerk of Court), and five other divisions namely Judicial Records Division, Administrative Division, Budget and Finance Division, Management Information System Division, Security and Sheriff Services Division. The functions and roles of these offices and divisions are:
* Office of the Presiding Justice – Enjoy precedence over the other members of the Sandiganbayan in all official functions; implements the policies, executes the resolutions and enforces the orders of the Court en banc; performs the functions specifically vested upon him by law, rules and regulations or those implied therefrom; performs all other functions and duties inherent in his position.
* Office of the Clerk of Court – The Clerk of Court is the administrative officer of the Sandiganbayan. He shall discharge his functions under the control and supervision of the Sandiganbayan en banc through the Presiding Justice. As administrative officer, he shall take direct charge of the administrative operations of the Sandiganbayan and exercise general supervision over its subordinate officials and employees except those belonging to the staff of the Presiding Justice and the Associate Justices. He shall assist the Presiding Justice in the formulation of programs and policies for consideration and action of the Sandiganbayan en banc. The Clerk of Court shall act as its secretariat and prepare its agenda, minutes of meetings and resolutions.
* Legal Research and Technical Staff – Provides legal and technical assistance to the Court by conducting legal research and studies; takes charge of all legal and related matters.
* Office of the Deputy Clerk of Court (seven divisions) – Assists the Clerk of Court in providing technical and administrative support and assistance to their particular Division of the Court; takes charge of the pre and post adjudicative matters relative to cases assigned to the First Division.
* Judicial Records Division – Takes charge of docketing of cases; plans, implements and evaluates programs for the systematic management of judicial records; and performs other related functions. Prepares entries of judgment; issues copies of decisions, resolutions and orders; maintains a systematic filing and records keeping; and handles the Court's information system, monitoring requests for statistical data.
* Administrative Division – Attends to the manpower development and service needs of the Court; and performs all functions relative to administrative and personnel matters. Attends to the procurement and maintenance of the properties, supplies and equipment of the Court, including the Court's physical plant Takes charge of the collection and disbursement of the Court.
* Budget and Finance Division – Prepares and executes the budget of the Court; initiates plans and formula for more effective utilization of funds allotted to the Court; fiscalizes the agency's financial interest including disclosure of deficiencies in control needing corrections. Keeps accounting records for the Court; prepares reports required by the Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Audit and other government agencies.
* Management Information System Division – Provides technical services related to the planning, development, implementation and maintenance of information systems; takes care of all information and communications technology requirements of the Court.
* Security and Sheriff Services Division – In charge of the formulation of plans, implements and evaluates program for the systematic management of security of the Sandiganbayan premises, property and personnel and performs other related functions; takes charge of the formulation of systems for the effective services of Court processes and enforcement of Writs issued by the various Divisions of the Court; serves as liaison office with the various law enforcement agencies and the media regarding all court orders and processes issued by the various divisions of the Court, and other court related matters; takes custody of all accused processing their bail for their temporary liberty and/or to turn-over accused who voluntarily surrenders to the authorized detention centers; oversee that all judicial and extrajudicial proceedings are accomplished; takes charge of the formulation of effective management and implementation of all kinds of court orders or processes and writs coming from the various divisions of the Court.

## Cases
### Procedures

The Sandiganbayan holds regular sessions in its principal office in Metro Manila. Sessions may be held outside of Metro Manila when authorized by the Presiding Justice. Cases are heard either en banc or more commonly, by divisions.
Cases are distributed among the divisions through a raffle system. The assignment of a case to a division is permanent, regardless of changes in constitution. Justices may inhibit (i.e., recuse) themselves from a case if they served as Ponente, the Member to whom the Court, after its deliberation on the merits of a case, assigns the writing of its decision or resolution in the case. in the appealed decision of the lower court, or if they or their family members are personally related with the case, or for any other compelling reason. In case of inhibition (recusal) or disqualification, the case will remain with the same division, but the recused justice will be replaced.
Cases may reach the Sandiganbayan either through an appeal from a Regional Trial Court or by original petition filed with the Sandiganbayan. After a case is raffled to a Division, the accused party must be arraigned within thirty days. A pre-trial conference is then held to reach an agreement and issue a pre-trial order. The case is then taken to trial. Following the Speedy Trial Act of 1998, no trial may exceed six months from its starting date. However, the act also allows for certain delays that are excluded from the computed time of trial, including delays caused by other related proceedings involving the accused, absence of the accused or essential witness, and mental or physical incompetence of the accused to stand trial.

### Adjudication

Cases are deemed submitted for decision after the last brief, pleading, or memorandum is filed, or after the deadline for doing so has passed. All adjudicatory action is exercised through the divisions of the Sandiganbayan. The rendition of judgment or final order is based on the unanimous vote of the three Justices in the deciding division. When the Sandiganbayan sits en banc to resolve motions and other incidents, at least eight justices must vote in order to adopt a resolution.
In a joint trial involving multiple cases, a joint or separate judgment may be rendered by the division. In cases involving multiple accused, the division may also render judgment for one or more of the accused by a unanimous vote.
If a unanimous vote cannot be reached in any case, a special division of five will be formed to decide the case by majority vote. Promulgation is done by reading the judgment aloud with the accused present along with any Justice from the deciding division. Decisions are published in the Official Gazette or the official website of the Sandiganbayan.

#### Appeals

In general, a party sentenced to any penalty lower than death, life imprisonment, or reclusion perpetua may appeal by filing a motion for reconsideration or a motion for new trial within fifteen days of promulgation of judgment. If a new trial is granted, the previous judgment will be overruled and the new judgment rendered. New trials must also not exceed six months in duration, albeit allowing for certain delays as specified in the Speedy Trial Act. For civil cases, the accused party may file for a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court. If the party files an appeal to the Supreme Court, any motion of reconsideration filed to the Sandiganbayan will be deemed abandoned.
If the accused party wishes to appeal from a sentence of life imprisonment or reclusion perpetua, a notice of appeal is filed with the Sandiganbayan and presented to the adverse party. In cases where the Sandiganbayan sentences the accused to death penalty, an automatic appeal follows where the Supreme Court will conduct a review of judgment before the final decision is rendered.

### Notable cases
#### Jinggoy Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan

In June 2014, plunder charges against former Philippine senator Jinggoy Estrada and several other members of Congress allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam run by Janet Lim-Napoles were filed by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan. Estrada was accused of plundering ₱183 million from the Priority Development Assistance Fund.

##### Withdrawal of justices

In December 2014, all three justices of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division (Associate Justices Roland Jurado, Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Gómez-Estoesta) assigned to the case against Estrada recused themselves from the case for "personal reasons". This marked the first time in the court's history that an entire division withdrew from hearing a case. Though the justices refused to elaborate on their reasons for recusal, the withdrawal was said to have been due to "pressure" from the public to deny Estrada's petition for bail.

#### Imelda Marcos vs. Sandiganbayan

In 1991, ten counts of graft were filed against former first lady Imelda Marcos before the Sandiganbayan. Marcos was accused of creating private Swiss foundations during her time as governor of Metro Manila, between 1978 and 1984. She was also accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act by holding financial interests in multiple private enterprises. The government has since uncovered Marcos Swiss deposits amounting to $658 million.
Another corruption case against Marcos involving "unlawfully acquired" art collections amounting to $24 million has been brought to the Sandiganbayan by appeals from the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Office of the Solicitor General. The case is being handled by the Special First Division of the Sandiganbayan.

##### Delays in court proceedings

The case against Imelda Marcos has been ongoing for over 26 years due to multiple causes of delay in court proceedings. In 2017, Marcos was absent from what was scheduled to be her last day of trial for the graft case. In the same year, the trial was reset by the Fifth Division due to the failure of the defense to present their last evidence in the case.

## Membership
### Incumbent justices

The Sandiganbayan consists of a Presiding justice and twenty associate justices. Among the current members of the Court, Maria Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta is the longest-serving justice, with a tenure of 4,075 days (10 years, 118 days) as of March 18, 2025; the most recent justice to enter the court is Lord A. Villanueva, whose tenure began on January 30, 2025. Number of Incumbent Justices by 1 (appointment of Lord Villanueva on 30 January)
| Office | Justice (Date of Birth) | Date Appointed | Appointed by | Date of Retirement (70 years old) | Replacing | Position |
| Presiding Justice | Geraldine Faith Econg (1967-08-06) August 6, 1967 (age 57) | January 7, 2025 | Marcos, Jr. | August 6, 2037 | Cabotaje-Tang | Chairperson, Second Division |
| Senior Associate Justice | Maria Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta (1967-03-17) March 17, 1967 (age 58) | January 20, 2014 | Aquino III | March 17, 2037 | Cabotaje-Tang | Seventh Division, Chairperson |
| Associate Justice | Sarah Jane Fernandez (1969-05-14) May 14, 1969 (age 55) | May 5, 2015 | Aquino III | May 14, 2039 | Ong | Sixth Division, Chairperson |
| Associate Justice | Michael Frederick Musñgi Michael Frederick L. Musñgi (1965-04-14) April 14, 1965 (age 59) | January 20, 2016 | Aquino III | April 14, 2035 | New Seat | Fourth Division, Chairperson |
| Associate Justice | Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega (1965-12-18) December 18, 1965 (age 59) | January 20, 2016 | Aquino III | December 18, 2035 | New Seat | First Division, Chairperson |
| Associate Justice | Karl Miranda (1957-10-09) October 9, 1957 (age 67) | January 20, 2016 | Aquino III | October 9, 2027 | New Seat | Third Division, Chairperson |
| Associate Justice | Zaldy Trespeses (1972-12-30) December 30, 1972 (age 52) | January 20, 2016 | Aquino III | December 30, 2042 | New Seat | Seventh Division, Senior Member |
| Associate Justice | Bernelito Fernandez (1955-06-09) June 9, 1955 (age 69) | October 28, 2016 | Duterte | June 9, 2025 | Diaz-Baldos | Third Division, Senior Member |
| Associate Justice | Lorifel Lacap-Pahimna (1961-02-10) February 10, 1961 (age 64) | Mar 1, 2017 | Duterte | February 10, 2031 | Inoturan | Fourth Division, Senior Member |
| Associate Justice | Edgardo Caldona (1970-02-12) February 12, 1970 (age 55) | Mar 10, 2017 | Duterte | February 12, 2040 | Hernandez | Second Division, Senior Member |
| Associate Justice | Bayani Jacinto (1969-04-30) April 30, 1969 (age 55) | May 29, 2017 | Duterte | April 30, 2039 | Jurado | First Division, Senior Member |
| Associate Justice | Kevin Narce Vivero (1960-01-02) January 2, 1960 (age 65) | November 28, 2017 | Duterte | January 2, 2030 | Martires | Sixth Division, Senior Member |
| Associate Justice | Maryann Corpus-Mañalac (1966-07-27) July 27, 1966 (age 58) | December 8, 2017 | Duterte | July 27, 2036 | Cornejo | Fifth Division, Senior Member |
| Associate Justice | Georgina Dumpit-Hidalgo (1964-04-14) April 14, 1964 (age 60) | January 18, 2018 | Duterte | April 14, 2034 | Ponferrada | Seventh Division, Junior Member |
| Associate Justice | Ronald Moreno (1970-01-23) January 23, 1970 (age 55) | June 8, 2018 | Duterte | January 23, 2040 | Gesmundo | Third Division, Junior Member |
| Associate Justice | Arthur Oliveros Malabaguio (1965-01-10) January 10, 1965 (age 60) | March 4, 2022 | Duterte | January 10, 2035 | Cruz | Second Division, Junior Member |
| Associate Justice | Juliet M. Manalo-San Gaspar (1971-07-02) July 2, 1971 (age 53) | September 26, 2023 | Marcos Jr. | July 2, 2041 | Quiroz | First Division, Junior Member |
| Associate Justice | J. Ermin Ernest Louie Miguel (1971-01-22) January 22, 1971 (age 54) | October 8, 2024 | Marcos Jr. | January 22, 2041 | Herrera Jr. | Fourth Division, Junior Member |
| Associate Justice | Gener M. Gito (1971-07-17) July 17, 1971 (age 53) | October 8, 2024 | Marcos Jr. | July 17, 2041 | Dela Cruz | Fifth Division, Junior Member |
| Associate Justice | Lord A. Villanueva (1975-06-09) June 9, 1975 (age 49) | January 30, 2025 | Marcos Jr. | June 9, 2045 | Lagos | Sixth Division, Junior Member- |

### Membership Timeline (Econg Court)

Note: The vertical Blue line denotes "now" (March 18, 2025).
Bar Key: Aquino III appointee Duterte appointee Marcos. Jr. appointee

### Age Timeline of each incumbent Sandiganbayan Justices
## Demographics
### By appointing President

| President | Total (Percentage) | Justices | Seat Change |
| Aquino III | 9 (42.86%) | A. Cabotaje-Tang Presiding Justice R. Lagos Senior Associate Justice M. Gomez-Estoesta G. Econg S. Fernandez M. Mendoza-Arcega K. Miranda M. Musñgi Z. Trespeses | by 1 |
| Duterte | 9 (42.86%) | E. Caldona M. Corpus-Mañalac B. Fernandez G. Hidalgo B. Jacinto L. Lacap-Pahimna A Malabaguio R. Moreno K. Vivero | |
| Bongbong Marcos | 1 (4.76%) | J. Manalo-San Gaspar | |
| Vacant | Vacant | 2 (9.52%) | by 2 |

### By gender

| Gender | Total (Percentage) | Justices | Changes in Numbers |
| Male | 10 (47.62%) | C. Caldona B. Fernandez B. Jacinto R. Lagos Senior Associate Justice A. Malabaguio K. Miranda R. Moreno M. Musñgi Z. Trespeses K. Viviero | by 2 |
| Female | 9 (42.86%) | A. Cabotaje-Tang Presiding Justice M. Corpus-Mañalac G. Econg S. Fernandez G. Hidalgo M. Gomez-Estoesta L. Lacap-Pahimna J. Manalo-San Gaspar M. Mendoza-Arcega | |
| Vacant | Vacant | 2 (9.52%) | by 2 |

### By tenure

| Year | Total Retiring | Justices |
| 2024 | 2 | A. Cabotaje-Tang Senior Associate Justice R. Lagos |
| 2025 | 1 | B. Fernandez |
| 2027 | 1 | K. Miranda |
| 2030 | 1 | K. Viviero |
| 2031 | 1 | L. Pahimna |
| 2034 | 1 | G. Hidalgo |
| 2035 | 3 | M. Musñgi M. Mendoza-Arcega A. Malabaguio |
| 2036 | 1 | M. Corpuz-Mañalac |
| 2037 | 3 | M. Gomez-Estoesta S. Fernandez G. Econg |
| 2039 | 2 | B. Jacinto J. Manalo-San Gaspar |
| 2040 | 2 | R. Moreno E. Caldona |
| 2041 | 1 | J. Manalo-San Gaspar |
| 2042 | in1 | Z. Trespreses |

## Roll of Sandiganbayan Justices (1978–present)

| No. | NOSJ | SOT | Pos. | AO | Rep. | PJ (s) | EOT |
| 1 | Manuel Pamaran | Dec 10, 1978 | PJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | First Presiding Justice | Mar 31, 1986 |
| 2 | Bernardo Fernandez | Dec 10, 1978 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | Pamaran | Jun 11, 1981 |
| 3 | Romeo Escareal | Dec 10, 1978 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | Pamaran | Mar 5, 1996 |
| 4 | Buenaventura Guerrero | Dec 8, 1980 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | Pamaran | May 16, 1986 |
| 5 | Conrado Molina | Dec 8, 1980 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | Pamaran | Jul 18, 1992 |
| 6 | Moises Kallos | Dec 8, 1980 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | Pamaran | Dec 15, 1983 |
| 7 | Ramon Jabson | Nov 20, 1981 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | Fernandez | Pamaran | May 18, 1988 |
| 8 | Fidel Purisima | Aug 4, 1982 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | Pamaran | Mar 10, 1984 |
| 9 | Francisco Consolacion | Aug 4, 1982 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | Pamaran | Mar 10, 1984 |
| 10 | Romulo Quimbo | Aug 4, 1982 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | + | Pamaran | May 16, 1986 |
| 11 | Augusto Amores | Oct 7, 1984 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | Kallos | Pamaran | Jul 5, 1995 |
| 12 | Amante Alconcel | Oct 7, 1984 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | Purisima | Pamaran | May 16, 1986 |
| 13 | Bienvenido Vera Cruz | Oct 7, 1984 | AJ | Marcos, Sr. | Consolacion | Pamaran | May 16, 1986 |
| 14 | Francis Garchitorena | Apr 18, 1986 | PJ | C. Aquino | Pamaran | Escareal (acting) | Jan 16, 2002 |
| 15 | Regino C. Hermosisima Jr. | May 16, 1986 | AJ | C. Aquino | None | Garchitorena | Jul 18, 1995 |
| 16 | Luciano Joson | May 21, 1986 | AJ | C. Aquino | None | Garchitorena | Jan 20, 1990 |
| 17 | Cipriano del Rosario | May 22, 1986 | AJ | C. Aquino | None | Garchitorena | Mar 15, 2001 |
| 18 | Jose Balajadia | May 30, 1986 | AJ | C. Aquino | None | Garchitorena | Feb 14, 1998 |
| 19 | Nathanael Gorospe | Dec 2, 1988 | AJ | C. Aquino | Jabson | Garchitorena | Jan 16, 1993 |
| 20 | Sabino de Leon Jr. | Mar 13, 1990 | AJ | C. Aquino | Joson | Garchitorena | Oct 11, 1999 |
| 21 | Narciso Atienza | Sep 14, 1992 | AJ | Ramos | Molina | Garchitorena | Dec 17, 1993 |
| 22 | Minita Chico-Nazario | May 10, 1993 | AJ | Ramos | Gorospe | Garchitorena | Feb 28, 2003 |
| 22 | Minita Chico-Nazario | Feb 26, 2003 acting since Jan 16, 2002 | PJ | Macapagal-Arroyo | Garchitorena | Sandoval (acting) | Feb 10, 2004 |
| 23 | Roberto Lagman | Nov 28, 1994 | AJ | Ramos | Atienza | Garchitorena | Feb 14, 1998 |
| 24 | Harriet Demetriou | Aug 28, 1995 | AJ | Ramos | Amores | Garchitorena | Feb 14, 1998 |
| 25 | Edilberto Sandoval | Mar 11, 1996 | AJ | Ramos | + | Garchitorena | Sep 17, 2010 |
| 25 | Edilberto Sandoval | Sep 17, 2010 | PJ | Macapagal-Arroyo | Geraldez | Villaruz Jr. (acting) | Oct 4, 2011 |
| 26 | Leonardo Cruz | Mar 11, 1996 | AJ | Ramos | Hermosisima Jr. | Garchitorena | Mar 11, 1997 |
| 27 | Teresita De Castro | Sep 8, 1997 | AJ | Ramos | Escareal | Garchitorena | Dec 15, 2004 |
| 27 | Teresita De Castro | Dec 15, 2004 | PJ | Arroyo | Chico-Nazario | Sandoval (acting) | Dec 3, 2007 |
| 28 | Anacleto Badoy Jr. | Sep 8, 1997 | AJ | Ramos | L. Cruz | Garchitorena | Mar 11, 2002 |
| 29 | German Lee Jr. | Sep 8, 1997 | AJ | Ramos | + | Garchitorena | Dec 17, 1998 |
| 30 | Godofredo Legaspi | Sep 8, 1997 | AJ | Ramos | + | Garchitorena | Sep 8, 2006 |
| 31 | Narciso S. Nario | Sep 8, 1997 | AJ | Ramos | + | Garchitorena | Jan 15, 2002 |
| 32 | Catalino Castañeda Jr. | Sep 8, 1997 | AJ | Ramos | + | Garchitorena | Jan 15, 2002 |
| 33 | Alfredo Gustillo | Oct 5, 1998 | AJ | Estrada | + | Garchitorena | Mar 3, 1999 |
| 34 | Gregory S. Ong | Oct 5, 1998 | AJ | Estrada | Ballajadia | Garchitorena | Sep 23, 2014 |
| 35 | Ricardo Ilarde | Oct 7, 1998 | AJ | Estrada | Lagman | Garchitorena | Mar 3, 2001 |
| 36 | Rodolfo Palattao | Oct 9, 1998 | AJ | Estrada | Demetriou | Garchitorena | Mar 3, 2003 |
| 37 | Maria Cristina Cortez-Estrada | Oct 19, 1998 | AJ | Estrada | Lee, Jr. | Garchitorena | Jul 2, 2009 |
| 37 | Maria Cristina Cortez-Estrada | Jul 2, 2009 | PJ | Arroyo | Peralta | Villaruz Jr. (acting) | Nov 30, 2009 |
| 38 | Raoul Victorino | Jan 31, 2000 | AJ | Estrada | Gustillo | Garchitorena | Feb 15, 2005 |
| 39 | Nicodemo Ferrer | Jan 31, 2000 | AJ | Estrada | de León, Jr. | Garchitorena | Feb 15, 2002 |
| 40 | Francisco Villaruz Jr. | Oct 2, 2001 | AJ | Arroyo | Ilarde | Garchitorena | Oct 5, 2011 |
| 40 | Francisco Villaruz Jr. | Oct 5, 2011 | PJ | B. Aquino III | Sandoval | G. Ong (acting) | Jun 8, 2013 |
| 41 | Diosdado Peralta | Jun 14, 2002 | AJ | Arroyo | del Rosario | Chico-Nazario | Mar 28, 2008 |
| 41 | Diosdado Peralta | Mar 28, 2008 | PJ | Arroyo | de Castro | Sandoval (acting) | Jan 14, 2009 |
| 42 | Norberto Geraldez | Jan 21, 2003 | AJ | Arroyo | Nario, Sr. | Chico-Nazario | Feb 28, 2010 |
| 42 | Norberto Geraldez | Feb 28, 2010 | PJ | Arroyo | Cortéz-Estrada | Villaruz Jr. (acting) | Apr 4, 2010 |
| 43 | Roland Jurado | Oct 3, 2003 | AJ | Arroyo | Castañeda, Jr. | Chico-Nazario | Feb 1, 2017 |
| 44 | Efren de la Cruz | Oct 10, 2003 | AJ | Arroyo | Chico-Nazario | Chico-Nazario | June 18, 2024 |
| 45 | Teresita Diaz-Baldos | Oct 17, 2003 | AJ | Arroyo | Ferrer | Chico-Nazario | Jul 22, 2016 |
| 46 | Jose Hernandez | Mar 9, 2004 | AJ | Arroyo | Bádoy, Jr. | Chico-Nazario | Nov 22, 2016 |
| 47 | Rodolfo Ponferrada | Aug 23, 2004 | AJ | Arroyo | Palattao | Chico-Nazario | Sep 13, 2017 |
| 48 | Alexander Gesmundo | Oct 15, 2005 | AJ | Arroyo | Leonardo-de Castro | de Castro | Aug 14, 2017 |
| 49 | Samuel Martires | Oct 15, 2005 | AJ | Arroyo | Victorino | de Castro | Mar 2, 2017 |
| 50 | Napoleon Inoturan | April 4, 2008 | AJ | Arroyo | Legaspí | Peralta | Aug 1, 2016 |
| 51 | Alex Quiroz | Dec 11, 2008 | AJ | Arroyo | Peralta | Peralta | Jul 28, 2022 |
| 52 | Maria Cristina Cornejo | May 1, 2010 | AJ | Arroyo | Cortéz-Estrada | Sandoval | Mar 1, 2017 |
| 53 | Rafael Lagos | Dec 9, 2010 | AJ | B. Aquino III | Geraldez | Sandoval | Dec 22, 2024 |
| 54 | Oscar Herrera Jr. | Apr 26, 2011 | AJ | B. Aquino III | Sandóval | Villaruz, Jr. | May 23, 2024 |
| 55 | Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang | Jun 11, 2012 | AJ | B. Aquino III | Villaruz, Jr. | Villaruz, Jr. | Oct 7, 2013 |
| 55 | Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang | Oct 7, 2013 | PJ | B. Aquino III | Villaruz, Jr. | G. Ong (acting) | Nov 8, 2024 |
| 56 | Maria Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta | Jun 20, 2014 | AJ | B. Aquino III | Cabotaje-Tang | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 57 | Sarah Jane Fernandez | May 5, 2015 | AJ | B. Aquino III | G. Ong | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 58 | Michael Frederick Musñgi | Jan 20, 2016 | AJ | B. Aquino III | + | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 59 | Reynaldo Cruz | Jan 20, 2016 | AJ | B. Aquino III | + | Cabotaje-Tang | Feb 21, 2020 |
| 60 | Geraldine Faith Econg | Jan 20, 2016 | AJ | B. Aquino III | + | Cabotaje-Tang | Jan 7, 2025 |
| 60 | Geraldine Faith Econg | Jan 7, 2025 | PJ | Marcos Jr. | Cabotaje-Tang | Gomez-Estoesta (acting) | Incumbent |
| 61 | Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega | Jan 20, 2016 | AJ | B. Aquino III | + | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 62 | Karl Miranda | Jan 20, 2016 | AJ | B. Aquino III | + | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 63 | Zaldy Trespeses | Jan 20, 2016 | AJ | B. Aquino III | + | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 64 | Bernelito Fernandez | Oct 28, 2016 | AJ | Duterte | Díaz-Baldos | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 65 | Lorifel Pahimna | Mar 1, 2017 | AJ | Duterte | Inoturan | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 66 | Edgardo Caldona | Mar 10, 2017 | AJ | Duterte | Hernández | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 67 | Bayani Jacinto | May 29, 2017 | AJ | Duterte | Jurado | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 68 | Kevin Narce Vivero | Nov 28, 2017 | AJ | Duterte | Martires | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 69 | Maryann Corpus-Mañalac | Dec 8, 2017 | AJ | Duterte | Cornejo | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 70 | Georgina Hidalgo | Jan 18, 2018 | AJ | Duterte | Ponferrada | Cabotaje-Tang | incumbent |
| 71 | Ronald Moreno | Jun 8, 2018 | AJ | Duterte | Gesmundo | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 72 | Arthur Malabaguio | May 24, 2021 | AJ | Duterte | Cruz | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 73 | Juliet Manalo-San Gaspar | Sep 27, 2023 | AJ | Marcos Jr. | Quiroz | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 74 | J. Ermin Ernest Louie Miguel | Oct 8, 2024 | AJ | Marcos Jr. | Dela Cruz | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 75 | Gener M. Gito | Oct 8, 2024 | AJ | Marcos Jr. | Herrera Jr. | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
| 76 | Lord A. Villanueva | Jan 30, 2025 | AJ | Marcos Jr. | Rafael Lagos | Econg | Incumbent |

### Timeline of Justices by Presiding Justice (1978-present)
#### During the Presiding Justiceship of Manuel Pamaran (1978-1986)

Bar Key: Marcos appointee

#### During the Presiding Justiceship of Francis Garchitorena (1986-2002)

Tanda: Marcos appointee C. Aquino appointee Ramos appointee Estrada appointee Macapagal-Arroyo appointee

### During the Presiding Justiceship of Minita Chico-Nazario (2002–2004)

Bar Key: Ramos appointee Estrada appointee Macapagal-Arroyo appointee

### During the Presiding Justiceship of Teresita de Castro (2005-2007)

Bar Key: Ramos appointee Estrada appointee Macapagal-Arroyo appointee

### During the Presiding Justiceship of Diosdado Peralta (2008–2009)

Bar Key: Ramos appointee Estrada appointee Macapagal-Arroyo appointee

### During the Presiding Justiceship of Maria Cristina G. Cortez-Estrada (July 2 - November 30, 2009)

Bar Key: Ramos appointee Estrada appointee Macapagal-Arroyo apppintee

### During the Presiding Justiceship of Norberto Geraldez (2010)

Bar Key: Ramos appointee Estrada appointee Macapagal-Arroyo apppintee

### During the Presiding Justiceship of Edilberto G. Sandoval (2010-2011)

Bar Key: Estrada appointee Macapagal-Arroyo apppintee Tinalagq ni Aquino III

### During the Presiding Justiceship of Francisco Villaruz, Jr. (2011-2013)

Bar Key: Estrada appointee Macapagal-Arroyo apppintee Tinalagq ni Aquino III

## The rule of seniority

The Associate Justices of the Court are usually ordered according to the date of their appointment. There are no official ramifications as to this ranking, although the order determines the seating arrangement on the bench and is duly considered in all matters of protocol. Within the discretion of the Court, the ranking may also factor into the composition of the divisions of the Court.
The incumbent Justice with the earliest date of appointment is deemed the Senior Associate Justice. The Senior Associate Justice has no constitutional or statutory duties, but usually acts as Acting Presiding Justice during the absence of the Presiding Justice. The Senior Associate Justice is not usually designated as the chairperson of the second division of the Court.
The following became Senior Associate Justices in their tenure in the Sandiganbayan:
| No. | SAJ | DA | TRE | TRE |
| 1 | Bernardo Fernandez | 1978.12.10 | 1978.12.10 | 1981.0..11 |
| 2 | Romeo Escareal | 1978.12.10 | 1981.06.11 | 1996.03.05 |
| 3 | Cipriano Del Rosario | 1986.05.22 | 1996.03.05 | 2001.03.15 |
| 4 | Minita Chico-Nazario | 1993.05.10 | 2001.03.15 | 2003.02.28* |
| 5 | Edilberto Sandoval | 1996.03.11 | 2003.02.28 | 2010.09.17 |
| 6 | Gregory S. Ong | 1998.10.05 | 2010.09.17 | 2014.09.23 |
| 7 | Roland Jurado | 2003.10.03 | 2014.09.23 | 2017.02.01 |
| 8 | Efren N. de la Cruz | 2003.10.17 | 2017.02.01 | 2024.06.18 |
| 9 | Rafael Lagos | 2010.12.09 | 2024.06.18 | incumbent |

### Graphical Representation

Bar Key: Term Term as Senior AJ
* ↑ Justice Escareal became the acting presiding Justice upon the retirement of Presiding Justice Pamaran on March 31, 1986 until April 18, 1986
* ↑ Justice Sandoval the acting Preising Justice from February 10, 2004 to December 15, 2004, from December 4, 2007 until March 27, 2008, from erbruart 27 to 28 2010 and from April 4–5, 2010
* ↑ removed by the Supreme court on 2014.09.14 by a vote of 13-2
* ↑ opted for an early retirement