EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
}
F irst Regular Session 
}
S E N A T E
Senate Bill No J. 209
Hy " V  . 1*
'19 
\!0V 27 
P 4  5 7
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR LACSON
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL MARSHAL SERVICE DEFINING 
ITS FUNCTIONS AND POWERS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is incumbent upon the State to ensure that the lives of all incumbent and sitting 
justices and judges numbering more than two thousand are secured so they can function 
independently and without fear so as not to compromise the fulfillment of their noble role 
in the administration and dispensation of justice.
In the past two (2) decades, there were thirty one (31) reported killings of members 
of the judiciary, five of which happened under the Duterte administration. In a statement 
released relative to the recent killing of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur Regional Trial Court (RTC) 
Branch 25 Judge Mario Anacleto Banez, the Philippine Judges Association (PJA) raised 
the question, “For how can justice be served if the dispensers of justice, themselves, have 
become targets and victims of crimes?”
Considering the numerous unsolved killings of the members of the Judiciary, newly 
appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta in his 10- point agenda, 
emphasized the need for the provision of judicial marshals who will serve as the main law 
enforcement arm of the Court similar to the Supreme Court of the United States Police and 
United States Marshall.
In response to this and recognizing the importance and necessity of the said 
proposal, this legislative measure seeks to create a Philippine Judicial Marshal Service 
under the control and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court whose primary function is to 
protect, safeguard, watch over, provide security, and ensure the safety of justices, judges, 
court officials and personnel, and the various halls of justice, courthouses, and other court 
buildings and properties all over the country. Further, said Marshall Service shall likewise 
have the authority to conduct threat assessments and undertake investigations of crimes 
and other offenses committed, including potential security threats.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
/tx A  1 /^
PANFIIiO M. LACSON 
\^ e n a to r


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OI THE PHILIPPINES 
FirstRt(,l larS i:s s ia \
}
SENATE
Senate Bill No.J. 2 09
o:.. . /  
Hf, ■ I- y
*19 
NOV 27 P4 57
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR LACSON
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL MARSHAL SERVICE DEFINING 
ITS FUNCTIONS AND POWERS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22 
23
Section 1. Creation of the Philippine Judicial Marshal Service and its Functions. There is 
hereby created the Philippine Judicial Marshal Service under the Supreme Court, through the 
Office of the Court Administrator, which shall have the following functions:
(a) To protect, defend, safeguard, watch over, provide security and ensure the safety of 
justices, judges, court officials and personnel, and halls of justice, courthouses, and 
other court buildings and properties;
(b) To conduct threat assessments and undertake investigations of crimes and other 
offenses committed, including potential security threats against justices, judges, 
court officials and personnel, and halls of justice, courthouses, and other court 
properties;
(c) To ensure that court trials and hearings, including judicial conferences, seminars, and 
meetings, proceed orderly in accordance with existing rules, guidelines and practice;
(d) To conduct investigations concerning allegations of irregularities, including graft and 
corruption, committed by justices, judges, court officials and personnel;
(e) To assist in the execution and implementation of court orders; and
(f) To perform such other related functions as the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice, or 
the Court Administrator may order, direct and instruct from time to time.


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
1
Section 2. Officials of the Philippine Judicial Marshal Service and Their Assignments. The 
Philippine Judicial Marshal Service shall be headed by the Chief Marshal who shall have the same 
rank, privileges and compensation of a Court of Appeals Associate Justice. The Chief Marshal 
shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Marshals who shall have the same rank, privileges, and 
compensation of a Regional Trial Court Judge, and be respectively assigned in Luzon, Visayas 
and Mindanao.
Section 3. Qualifications, Appointment and Tenure. The Chief Marshal and the Deputy 
Marshals must be a lawyer and must have been at least a full Colonel of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine National Police (PNP), or an Assistant Director of the National 
Bureau of Investigation (NBI). They shall be appointed by the Supreme Court en banc and shall 
serve until they reach the age of sixty-five (65) unless they become incapacitated to discharge the 
duties of their office or are removed for just cause by a vote of not less than eight (8) justices of 
the Supreme Court.
Section 4. Composition and Size of Personnel of the Philippine Judicial Marshal Service. 
The composition and size of personnel of the Philippine Judicial Marshal Service shall be 
detennined by the Supreme Court which may create such offices, divisions and units under it, as 
it may deem necessary and for this purpose, the Supreme Court is authorized to adopt and 
implement the corresponding staffing patterns: Provided, however. That the positions, titles, and 
salaries of its officials and personnel shall be in accordance with the position classifications and 
salary grades in the Judiciary, the Civil Service Rules and the Salary Standardization Act: 
Provided, further. That all officials and personnel appointed under this Republic Act shall belong 
to the classified service and shall be governed by the Civil Service Law, except those whose 
positions are highly technical or primarily confidential.
Section 5. Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities. The Supreme Court shall detennine and 
define the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the officials and personnel of the Philippine 
Judicial Marshal Service which shall include, but not limited to, the following:
(a) To issue subpoenas for the appearance of any person for investigation, apply for any 
person for investigation, apply for search warrants before any court of law, and file 
complaints before the Ombudsman, City Prosecutor or the Department of Justice;
(b) To take and require sworn statements from any person so summoned, in relation to 
the cases under investigation, in accordance with the Constitution, existing laws, 
jurisprudence and rules;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
(c) To administer the oath of any person in relation to the cases under investigation;
(d) To make arrests, searches and seizures in relation to the functions of the Philippine 
Judicial Marshal Service, and in accordance with the Constitution, existing laws, 
jurisprudence and rules;
(e) To have access over all public records under the custody of any government branch, 
institution, agency or instrumentality, and upon proper request made to private 
telecommunications companies, the records of any individual under investigation 
which shall be treated with the utmost confidentiality and only for purposes of the 
case/s under investigation;
(f) To possess suitable and adequate firearms for their personal safety and protection in 
connection with their duties and responsibilities, and for the proper safety and 
protection of the justices, judges, court officials and personnel, and halls of justice, 
courthouses, and other court properties; Provided, that no prior special permit from 
any other government institution or agency for such possession shall be required.
Section 6. Initial Funding. For purposes of this Act, there is hereby appropriated from the 
National Treasure the initial sum of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) for the salaries, wages 
and other expenses of personnel, the purchase of necessary supplies, materials and equipment, and 
for other purposes. The appropriations for the succeeding fiscal years shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act.
Section 7. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act or an application thereof to any 
person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the other provisions of this Act, and the application 
of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.
Section 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, order, issuances, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the date of its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, 
whichever comes first.
Approved,