• 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 2986 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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'11 
OCT -5 P 6 :31 
Section 7, Article IX-A of the 1987 Constitution expressly states that "[EJach 
Commission shall decide by a majority vote of all its Members any case or matter brought before 
it within sixty days from the date of its submission for decision or resolution. A case or matter is 
deemed submitted for decision or resolution upon the filing of the last pleading, brief, or 
memorandum required by the rules of the Commission or by the Commission itself Unless 
otherwise provided by this Constitution or by law, any decision, order, or ruling of 
each Commission may be brought to the Supreme Court on certiorari by the aggrieved 
party within thirty days from receipt of a copy thereof" 
Of the three Constitutional Commissions, Commission on Elections (COMELEC), 
Commission on Audit (COA) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) covered by the 
provision mentioned above, it is only the CSC whose decision, order, or ruling is subject 
to the appellate review of the Court of Appeals pursuant to Section 9 of Batas 
Pambansa BIg. 129, as amended, known as the Judiciary Reorganization ,Act of 1980 
as implemented by Section 1, Rule 43 of the Revised Rules of Court. However, 
recognizing that the CSC just like the COMELEC and COA, is an independent 
Constitutional Commission and is supreme in its own field, there has been a strong 
move to restore to the Supreme Court the sole power to review through a special civil 
action on certiorari any decision, order or ruling of the CSC. It is high time that a highly-
regarded Constitutional Commission such as the CSC be given its just respect for, 
among other things, unceasingly protecting the security of tenure of government 
officials and employees and promoting merit and fitness in the bureaucracy. 
It is in this context that I introduce and recommend the passage of this present bill 
restoring to the Supreme Court the sole power to review, through the special civil 
action on certiorari, all actions of the CSc. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2986 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
'11 
OCT -5 
p 6 :31 
AN ACT RESTORING JURISDICTION OVER FINAL DECISIONS, ORDERS, OR 
RESOLUTIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FROM THE COURT OF 
APPEALS TO THE SUPREME COURT, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
SECTION 9 (3) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG.129, AS AMENDED, KNOWN AS 
THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
Section 1. Section 9 of Batas Pambansa BIg. 129, as amended, known as the Judiciary 
2 
Reorganization Act of 1980, is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
3 
"Sec. 9. Jurisdiction. - The Court of Appeals shall exercise: 
4 
"(I) Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, 
5 
certiorari, habeas· corpus, and quo warranto, and auxiliary writs or 
6 
processes, whether or not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction; 
7 
"(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgment 
8 
of Regional Trial Courts; and 
9 
"(3) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgments, decisions, 
10 
resolutions, orders or awards of Regional Trial Courts and quasi-judicial 
11 
agencies, instrumentalities, boards or commissions, including the 
12 
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Social Security Commission, 
13 
AND the Employees Compensation Commission, [and the Civil Service 
14 
Commission] except those falling within the appellate jurisdiction of the 
15 
Supreme Court in accordance with the Constitution, the Labor Code of the 
16 
Philippines under Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, the 
17 
provisions of this Act, and of subparagraph (1) ot the third paragraph and 
18 
subparagraph (4) of the fourth paragraph of Section 17 of the Judiciary Act 
19 
of 1948. 
20 
"The Court of Appeals shall have the power to try cases and conduct hearings, 
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receive evidence and perform any and all acts necessary to resolve factual issues 
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raised in cases falling within its original and appellate jurisdiction, including the 
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power to grant and conduct new trials or further proceedings. Trials or hearings 
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in the Court of Appeals must be continuous and must he completed within three 
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(3) months, unless extended by the Chief Justice." 
1 


1 
Section 2. Any decision, order or ruling of the Civil Service Commission may be 
2 
brought to the Supreme Court through a special civil action on certiorari under the 
3 
Revised Rules of Court by the aggrieved party in accordance with the Constitution. 
4 
Section 3. All provisions of laws and rules inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
5 
are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
6 
Section 4. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in a 
7 
newspaper of general circulation. 
8 
Approved, 
2