SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator TEOFISTO "TG,j"Gfu:NGONA ill 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The efficacy of our anti-corruption laws, as well as the deterrence intended through its 
enforcement cannot be overemphasized. Unfortunately, this is often lost in the length of 
proceedings that a case normally takes. Because of this, even high-profile cases involving 
senior pu~lic officials and huge amounts of money oftentimes become buried and lost in the 
memory of our citizens. The need to extract accountability in a timely and relevant manner 
thus suffers. 
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. Because of this large number of cases vis-a.-vis the number of Sandiganbayan 
Divisions (only five), in many instances, around only four (4) to five (5) hearings for every 
case (assuming that there are no postponements) are conducted annually, with an alarming 
average of three to four months interval between each scheduled hearing. As a consequence, 
the average time for disposition of cases (from filing to decision) is almost seven (7) years. 
This bill seeks to increase the number of Associate Justices in the Sandiganbayan and 
to allow this Court, despite the retention of decision-making by division, to assign a single 
justice to hear and receive evidence. It is hoped that these measures would allow fur the 
continuous trial of more cases and to expedite the resolution of the same. 
It is essential for the Sandiganbayan to conduct expeditious trials and speedy 
disposition of cases to impress upon the public its degree of responsibility, integrity, and 
accountability at all times. Increasing its capacity and rationalizing its procedures will make 
this court more capable in performing its principal function of eliminating grant and 
corruption in the government services. 
The immediate enactment of this measure is earnestly requeste 
uk,'Ifl. "TG" GUINGONA III 
Senator 


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(~ih;' of tlfo ~m~t.,~ 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Reg'ular Session 
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SENATE 
412 
S.B. NO. ___ _ 
'13 
JUL -4 A10 :34 
ItECEJV 
Introduced by Senator TEOFISTO "TG" GUINGONA m 
AN ACT STREAMLINING THE JURISDICTION OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN AND 
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SANDIGANBAYAN ASSOCIATE JUSTICES AND 
DIVISIONS AND, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREEE 
NO, 1606, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7975 AND REPUBLIC ACT 8294, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 1, first paragraph, of the same decree is hereby further amended to read 
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as follows: 
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"Section 1. Sandiganbayan; Composition; Qualifications; Tenure; Removal 
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and Compensation- A special court, of the same level as the Court of appeals 
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and possessing all the inherent powers of a court of justice, to be known as 
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the Sandiganbayan is hereby created composed of a presiding justice and 
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[fourteen] FORTY FOUR (44) associate justices who shall be appointed by 
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the President." 
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SECTION 2. The first paragraph of Section 3 of the same decree is hereby further amended 
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to read as follows: 
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"Section 3. Divisions of the Court; Quorum- The Sandiganbayan shall sit in 
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FlFTEEN (15) divisions of three justices each. The FIFTEEN (15) 
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di;Visions may sit at the same time. 
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The first SEVEN (7) divisions shall be stationed in the Metro Manila area, 
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FOUR divisions shall be STATIONED in ONE OR MORE CITIES IN 
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THE VISAYAS for cases coming from the Visayas region, and ANOTHER 
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FOUR DIVISIONS shall be STATIONED IN ONE OR MORE CrfIES 
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IN MINDANAO for cases coming from the Mindanao region 
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SECTION 3. Section 5 of the same decree is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
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Section 5. Proceedings, how conducted; votes required. FOR ALL CASES, 
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THE SANDIGANBAYAN SHALL DESIGNATE A JUSTICE TO 
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HEAR THE CASE AND RECEIVE THE EVIDENCE. HOWEVER, the 
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unanimous vote of the three justices in a division shall STILL BE necessary 
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for the pronouncement of a judgment. In the event that the three justices do 
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not reach a unanimous vote, the Presiding Judge shall designate two other 
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justices from among the members of the Court to sit temporarily with them, 
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forming a division of five justices, and the concurrence of a majority of such 
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division shall be necessary for rendering judgment. 
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SECTION 4. 
URGENCY. RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL NATURE OF 
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INCREASING. THE 
DIVISIONS 
IN 
THE 
SANDIGANBAYAN 
AS 
AN 
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INDISP:ENSABLE 
PART 
OF THE 
EFFORTS 
AGAINST 
GRAFT AND 
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CORRUPTION. THE FUNDS FOR THE FIRST FIFTEEN (15) POSITIONS OF 
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THE ADDITIONAL TmRTY POSITIONS FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICES SHALL 
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BE RELEASED AND THE POSITiONS CREATED WITHIN TmRTY DAYS FROM 
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EFFECTIVITY OF TmS ACT, WHILE THE JUDICIAL AND BAR COUNCIL 
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SHALL, IN THE MEANTIME. IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE TH:E PROCESS OF 
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NOMINATION AND SELECTION OF THE NAMES TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE 
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PRESIDENT FOR APPOINTMENT. AS FOR THE REST OF TIlE FIFTEEN 
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POSITIONS FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICES.· m:E SAME SHALL BE CREATED 
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AND THE FUNDS THEREFOR RELEASED WITHIN NINETY DAYS FROM 
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EFFECTlYITY· OF 
TmS 
ACT. 
THE 
PRESIDENT 
SHALL 
MAKE 
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APPOINTMENTS TO SAID POSITIONS WITHIN THE PERIOD SET BY THE 
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CONSTITUTION. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, 
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the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances or portions thereof, 
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which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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