/ 
) 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
5 URil 22 i ’ i  1’6 
S E N A T E  
G 
INTRODUCED BY THE HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
..-. . , 
- 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to increase the number of divisions of the Sandiganbayan from its present 
five (5) divisions to forty-four (44) divisions to enhance its capacity to resolve anti-graft and 
corruption cases and to deter further acts of the same which will effectively save billions of pesos 
for the nation. 
As of 31 December 2004, the number of cases pending in the Sandiganbayan is one 
thousand seven hundred eighty-four (1,784). Because of this large number of cases vis-a-vis the 
number of Sandiganbayan Divisions (only five), in many instances, only two (2) hearings for 
every case are conducted every (2) two months. In fact, a quick study recently conducted by the 
Office of the Ombudsman of the thirty (3) high-profile cases presently pending with the 
Sandiganbayan, which include the Ozone Disco Fire, People vs. Tanchangco, People vs. 
Marquez, and People vs. Nazareno, reveal that towards the end of last year, there was an 
alarming average of 3 to 4 months interval between scheduled hearings in every case. 
Findings from a study jointly sponsored by the Supreme Court and the World Bank 
entitled “Philippines: Formulation of Case Decongestion and Delay Reduction Strategy Project- 
Phase I, reveal that on an average, each justice has a workload of 441 cases. Since 
Sandiganbayan justices work in divisions, each division effectively handles more than 1,000 
cases per year. 
The sheer volume of cases being handled by the Sandiganbayan makes it impossible to 
promptly dispose of said cases. It is this sad reality of heavily clogged dockets and the very 
limited number of justices and judges that cause the trial of erring public officials to take years to 
complete. 
Continuous trials would require greater preparation by prosecutors and defense counsel at 
the outset but would reduce the amount of time taken for the trial, and reduce the possibility of 
fading memories on the part of witnesses, and the opportunity for interference with evidence. 
With the increased number of divisions and justice, Sandiganbayan would be able to hold 
continuous trials. 
Sandiganbayan plays a critical role in fighting graft and corruption. Any delay in the 
resolution of anti-graft cases negatively impacts on its ability to deter others to commit similar 
acts of corruption. The search for a solution to this critical problem of congested dockets requires 
recowse to drastic but creative and economical measures. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
~ 


i 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
5 !,‘\I? 2% “ j ‘ b 6  
S E N A T E  
/- 
Introduced by the HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
AN ACT 
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SANDIGANBAYAN DIVISIONS, AND, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, AS AMENDED BY R.A. NO. 
7975 AND R.A. NO. 8249, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1. Section 1, first paragraph, of the same decree is hereby further amended to 
read as follows: 
“SECTION 1. Sandiganbayan; Composition; Qualifications; Tenure; Removal and 
Compensation. - A special court, of the same level as the Court of Appeals and 
possessing all the inherent powers of a court of justice, to be known as the 
Sandiganbayan is hefeby created composed of a presiding justice and [fourteen] FORTY 
FOUR (44) associate justices who shall be appointed by the President.” 
SEC. 2. Section 2 of the same decree is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
“SECTION 2. Official Station; Place of Holding Sessions. - The Sandiganbayan shall 
have its principal office in the Metro Manila area. THE FIRST TO THIRTEENTH 
DIVISIONS OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN [and] shall hold sessions IN METRO 
MANILA [thereat] for the trial and determination of cases filed with I FROM THE 
GEOGRAPHICAL REGION OF LUZON, INCLUDING THOSE FROM THE 
NATIONAL 
CAPITAL 
REGION. THE FOURTEENTH AND 
FIFTEENTH 
DIVISIONS OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN SHALL HOLD SESSIONS IN CEBU CITY 
AND CAGAYAN DE OR0 CITY, RESPECTIVELY, FOR THE TRIAL AND 
DETERMINATION OF CASES FILED WITH IT FROM THE GEOGRAPHICAL 
REGIONS OF [: 
Provided, however, That cases originating from the principal 
geographical regions of the country, that is, from Luzon,] Visayas AND [or] Mindanao, 
RESPECTIVELY; [ shall be heard in their respective regions of origin except only when 
the greater convenience of the accused and of the witnesses, or other compelling 
considerations require the contrary, in which instance a case originating from one 
geographical region may be heard in another geographical region: 3 Provided [further] 
HOWEVER, That [for this purpose] the presiding justice [shall] MAY authorize any 
division or divisions of the court to hold sessions at any time and place outside [Metro 
Manila] THEIR DESIGNATED STATIONS and, where the interest of justice so 
requires, outside the territorial boundaries of the Philippines. The Sandiganbayan may 
require the services of the personnel and the use of facilities of the courts or other 
government offices where any of the divisions is holding sessions and the personnel of 
such courts or offices shall be subject to the orders of the Sandiganbayan. 
e 


SEC. 3. Section 3 of the same decree is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
“SECTION 3. Divisions of the Court; Quorum. - The Sandiganbayan shall sit in [five] 
FIFTEEN [(5)] 15 divisions of three justices each. The [five] FIFTEEN [@)I 15 may sit 
at the same time. 
Three Justices shall constitute a quorum for sessions in divisions: Provided, That 
when the required quorum for the particular division cannot be had due to the legal 
disqualification or temporary disability of a Justice or o f  a vacancy occurring therein, the 
Presiding Justice may designate an Associate Justice o f  the Court, to be determined by 
strict rotation on the basis of the reverse order of precedence, to sit as a special member 
of said division with all the rights and prerogatives of a regular member of said division 
in the trial and determination of a case or cases assigned thereto, unless the operation of 
the SANDIGANBAYAN [court] will be prejudiced thereby, PROVIDED, THAT IN 
CASES BEFORE THE SANDIGANBAYAN DIVISIONS STATIONED IN CEBU 
CITY AND CAGAYAN DE OR0 CITY, THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICES OF 
THE COURT OF APPEALS IN THOSE CITIES DULY AUTHORIZED BY THE 
COURT OF APPEALS PRESIDING JUSTICE FOR THE PURPOSE SHALL 
IMMEDIATELY MAKE THE DESIGNATION, UPON REQUEST OF THE 
CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATE JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEALS 
DIVISIONS IN CEBU CITY AND CAGAYAN DE OR0 CITY, RESPECTIVELY [in 
which case the President shall upon the recommendation of the Presiding Justice, 
designate any Justice or Justices of the Court of Appeals to sit temporarily therein].” 
SEC. 4. Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
therefore, inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,