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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. No
SENATE
2542
24 FEB-7 P3 35
RECEiVtOBV;
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, AS AMENDED BY 
R.A. NO. 7975, R.A. NO. 8249, AND R.A. NO. 10660, ESTABLISHING 
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS ON CASES 
INVOLVING CORRUPT PRACTICES AND ACTS COMMITTED BY PUBLIC
OFFICIALS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
For cases involving corrupt practices and acts supposedly committed by public 
officials, Presidential Decree No. 1606, as amended, provides that Regional Trial 
Courts (RTCs) shall have exclusive original jurisdiction where the information; (a) does 
not allege any damage to the government or any bribery; or (b) alleges damage to 
the government or bribery arising from the same or closely related transactions or 
acts in an amount not exceeding one million pesos (P 1,000,000). More particularly, 
the same PD, as amended, mandates that the aforementioned cases shall be tried in 
a judicial region other than where the official holds office.
The administration of justice is always scaled between considerations of 
efficiency and effectiveness as well as the need to ensure that the court personnel 
and processes are not unduly influenced by respondent public officials, especially in 
such cases cognizable by the RTCs. However, since its institution in 2015, the 
justification that such RTC cases be heard in a place other than where the respondent 
public official holds office had proven illusory. More to the point, there is little evidence 
to show that the integrity of court officials and court processes will be compromised


simply because the venue of said cases remains in the place where the respondent 
public official holds office.
On the other hand, conducting trials outside the place where the crime was 
committed present avoidable challenges for the officials tasked with the administration 
of justice. Evidence and witnesses will have to be transported at extended distance; 
reducing the efficiency and the availability of the same.
This bill thus seeks to reaffirm our trust in the judiciary, its officials and 
employees, as well as its processes; and realigns PD 1606, as amended, with other 
laws respecting the venue of the cases that may involve public officials and employees 
(i.e. libel and cyber-libel). The Supreme Court is further empowered to promulgate 
rules and mechanisms to ensure that the integrity, independence, and physical safety 
of the members of the judiciary and their staff are protected.
Once enacted and pursuant to a more efficient administration of justice, this 
measure shall provide that such RTC-cognizable cases be heard in the city or 
municipality where the respondent public official holds office.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. No
SENATE
2542
24 FEB-7 P 3 -35
received B\;
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
1 
AN ACT
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FURTHER AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, AS AMENDED BY
3 
R.A. NO. 7975, R.A. NO. 8249, AND R.A. NO. 10660, ESTABLISHING
4 
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS ON CASES
5 
INVOLVING CORRUPT PRACTICES AND ACTS COMMITTED BY PUBLIC
6 
OFFICIALS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 1606, as amended, is hereby
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further amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 4. Jurisdiction. - The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive
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original jurisdiction in all cases involving:
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"a. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, otherwise known
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as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act No. 1379, and
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Chapter II, Section 2, Title VII, Book II of the Revised Penal Code,
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where one or more of the accused are officials occupying the following
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positions in the government, whether in a permanent, acting or interim
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capacity, at the time of the commission of the offense:
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"(1) Officials of the executive branch occupying the positions of
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regional director and higher, otherwise classified as Grade 'IT
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and higher, of the Compensation and Position Classification Act
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of 1989 (Republic Act No. 6758), specifically including:
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"(a) Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the 
Sangguniang panlalawigan, and provincial treasurers, 
assessors, engineers, and other provinciai department 
heads:
"(b) City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the 
sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurers, assessors, 
engineers, and other city department heads;
"(c) Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the 
position of consui and higher;
"(d) Philippine army and airforce colonels, naval captains, 
and all officers of higher rank;
"(e) Officers of the Philippine National Police while 
occupying the position of provincial director and those 
holding the rank of senior superintendent and higher;
"(f) City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, 
and officiais and prosecutors in the Office of the 
Ombudsman and special prosecutor;
"(g) Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of 
government-owned or controiled corporations, state 
universities or educational institutions or foundations.
"(2) Members of Congress and officiais thereof classified as 
Grade '27' and higher under the Compensation and Position 
Ciassification Act of 1989;
"(3) Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the provisions 
of the Constitution;
"(4) Chairmen and members of the Constitutional Commissions, 
without prejudice to the provisions of the Constitution; and


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"(5) All other national and local officials classified as Grade 'IT 
and higher under the Compensation and Position Classification 
Act of 1989.
"b. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other 
crimes committed by the public officials and employees mentioned in 
subsection a. of this section in relation to their office.
"c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with 
Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986.
"Provided, That the Regional Trial Court shall have exclusive original 
jurisdiction where the information:
(a) does not allege any damage to the government or any bribery; or
(b) alleges damage to the government or bribery arising from the same 
or closely related transactions or acts in an amount not exceeding One 
million pesos (PI,000,000.00).
"[Subject to the rules promulgated by the Supreme Court, t]The cases 
falling under the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court under this 
section shall be tried in [a judicial region other than] THE CITY OR 
MUNICIPALITY where the ofHcial holds ofHce. THE SUPREME 
COURT SHALL PROVIDE FOR RULES AND/OR MECHANISMS 
THAT SHALL UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF 
THE COURTS AND PROTECT MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY AND 
OTHER COURT OFFICIALS.
"In cases where none of the accused are occupying positions 
corresponding to Salary Grade '27' or higher, as prescribed in the said 
Republic Act No. 6758, or military and PNP officers mentioned above, 
exclusive original jurisdiction thereof shall be vested in the proper 
regional trial court, metropolitan trial court, municipal trial court, and 
municipal circuit trial court, as the case may be, pursuant to their


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respective jurisdictions as provided in Batas Pambansa Big. 129, as 
amended.
XXX
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SEC. 2. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shali be declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shaii remain in
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fuli force and effect.
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SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - AN other iaws, decrees, executive orders and
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issuances, proclamations, ruies and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof
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that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended,
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accordingly.
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SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,