Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19th CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  ____ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT  
BANNING THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF A REGULAR MEMBER OF THE 
JUDICIAL AND BAR COUNCIL (JBC) WHO HAS ALREADY SERVED THE FULL 
TERM 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The composition of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is provided for under Section 
8, Article VI11 of the 1987 Constitution. The function of the JBC is to recommend to the 
President appointees to the Judiciary and from among the nominees, the President appoints 
judges and justices without need for confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. Note 
should also be taken that the regular members of the JBC as provided for under Section 8 (2), 
Article VIII are also appointed by the President. 
This bill seeks to ban reappointments to the JBC in order to avoid the possibility of 
instances where its members, in their desire to be reappointed to the Council, succumb to 
pressure from the executive to nominate individuals based on political considerations instead 
of their actual merits and qualifications, seriously undermining the quality of judicial 
appointments and the independence of the judiciary as a whole. 
Moreover, reappointments to the JBC may also result in a loss of opportunity for other 
lawyers and legal experts to serve in the council, limiting the number of potentially talented 
individuals who might inform and enlighten the Council with their views and insights. 
In the end, enhancing the independence of the JBC by avoiding political considerations 
and providing equal access and opportunity to public office will strengthen the independence 
of our judiciary, ultimately promoting the fair administration of justice in this country. 
For the foregoing reasons, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
July 26, 2022
6:22 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19th CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  ____ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. BERNADETTE “DETTE” G. ESCUDERO 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT  
BANNING THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF A REGULAR MEMBER OF THE 
JUDICIAL AND BAR COUNCIL (JBC) WHO HAS ALREADY SERVED THE FULL 
TERM 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Judiciary Independence 
Enhancing Act". 
Sec.2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to enhance 
the independence of the judiciary by insulating it from political pressure. 
Sec.3. Definition. - For purposes of this Act and pursuant to Section 8 (2), Article VI11 
of the 1987 Constitution, the following are the regular members of the Judicial and Bar Council, 
appointed by the President for a term of four years with the consent of the Commission on 
Appointments: 
a. Representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines;
b. Professor of Law;
c. Retired Member of the Supreme Court; and
d. Representative of the Private Sector.
Sec.4. Persons Covered - A regular member of the Judicial and Bar Council who has 
been appointed as such for a full or partial term of office shall not be eligible for any re-
appointment. 
Sec.5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
Sec.6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or parts 
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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