FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SECOND REGULAR SESSION 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 3099 
'12 
JANl? r'?:1) 5 
Introduced by Senator FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill is being filed to further enhance the disposition of cases in the 
Sandiganbayan, a specialized court created by law to effectively and swiftly deal with 
corruption cases against erring government officials and employees. At present, the 
Sandiganbayan is divided into five (5) divisions of three (3) justices each. 
Undeniably, the arrangement that 3 justices sit as a panel and act as trial judges 
to hear the evidence of the parties and decide each case worked when the number of 
cases that reached the Sandiganbayan was small. However, over the years, the 
government expanded and its transactions multiplied. The capacity of this Court to 
decide cases promptly has been strained beyond its limits. Consequently, graft cases are 
heard and decided on the average of 5 to eight (8) years. 
This delay is intolerable if the war against corruption is to be won. Inevitably, 
something needs to be urgently done to increase the Sandiganbayan's capacity to hear 
and decide cases with the least possible cost. This bill proposes that Section 3 of 
Presidential Decree 1606, as amended, be further amended to allow individual justices 
of this Court to sit and receive evidence, for and in behalf of his Division. This 
arrangement, if approved, shall significantly expedite the resolution of cases in the 
Sandiganbayan. 
Foregoing considered, the passage of this Bill is earnestly requested. 
'~ 
nK11J.,KLIN M, DRILON 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
SECOND REGULAR SESSION 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 3099 
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Introduced by Senator FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
AN ACT 
FURTHER AMENDING 
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, 
AS AMENDED 
Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1606, as amended, is hereby 
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further amended to read as follows: 
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"SEC, 3. - Divisions of the Courts; Quorum. The Sandiganbayan shall sit in five 
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(5) divisions of three justices each. [The five (5) may sit at the same time. 
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Three Justices shall constitute a quorum for sessions in divisions: Provided, That 
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when the required quorum for the particular division cannot be had due to the legal 
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qualification or] IN CASE OF temporary disability of a Justice or [of] a vacancy 
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[occurring therein], the Presiding Justice may designate [an Associate] ANOTHER 
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Justice of the Court, to be determined by strict rotation on the basis of the reverse order 
lOaf precedence, to sit as a special member of said division with all the rights and 
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prerogatives of a regular member of said division in the trial and determination of a case 
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or cases assigned theretoL unless the operation of the court will be prejudiced thereby, 
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in which case, the President shall, upon the recommendation of the Presiding Justice, 
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designate any Justice or Justices of the Court of Appeals to sit temporarily therein]. 
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EVERY CASE FILED WITH THE SANDIGANBAYAN SHALL BE 
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RAFFLED FOR ASSIGNMENT TO A JUSTICE-IN-CHARGE, WHO SHALL 
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MONITOR AND REPORT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE TO THE 
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MEMBERS OF HIS DIVISION. THE JUSTICE-IN-CHARGE SHALL HEAR 
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AND RECEIVE EVIDENCE FOR THE DIVISION TO WHICH HE BELONGS 


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AND RESOLVE EVERY INCIDENT THAT ARISES IN THE COURSE OF THE 
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PROCEEDING IN THAT CASE. 
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AFfER THE CASE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR DECISION, THE 
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JUSTICE-IN-CHARGE SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE DIVISION, 
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WHICH REPORT SHALL CONTAlN A SUMMARY OF THE CONFLICTING 
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CLAIMS OF THE PARTIES, THE ISSUE OR ISSUES INVOLVED, THE 
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ARGUMENTS OF THE CONTENDING SIDES, AND THE LAWS AND 
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JURISPRUDENCE THAT CAN AlD THE DIVISON IN DECIDING OR 
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RESOLVING THE CASE. 
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IN CONSULTATION, THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE DIVISION 
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SHALL AGREE ON THE CONCLUSION OR CONCLUSIONS IN THE CASE 
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AND ASSIGN A MEMBER TO WRITE THE DECISION FOR THE DIVISION. 
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IF THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF ALL ITS MEMBERS CANNOT BE HAD, THE 
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PRESIDING JUSTICE SHALL DESIGNATE BY RAFFLE TWO SPECIAL 
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MEMBERS FOR THE DIVISION TO CONSTITUTE IT INTO A DIVISION OF 
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FIVE JUSTICES. THE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF SUCH DIVISION 
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SHALL PREV AlL. 
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SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,