Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House itl No__ 4773

Introduced by REP. ANGELO B. PALMONES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 7, Article IX-A of the 1987 Constitution expressly states that “/E/ach Commission
shall decide by a majority vate of all its Members any case or matter brought before it withia
sixty days from the date of its submission for decision or resolution. A cuse 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 io 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.

{t 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.

ANGELO B. PALMONES


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No__ 4773

Introduced by REP. ANGELO B, PALMONES.

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
(G) 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:

Section 1. Section 9 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended, known as the Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 9. Jurisdiction. — The Court of Appeats shall exercise:

"() Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorart
habeus corpus, and quo warranto, and auxiliary writs or processes, whether or
not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;

"(2) Exclusive origimal jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgment of
Regionat Trial Courts; and

"3) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgments, decisions,
resolutions, orders or awards of Regional Trial Courts and quasi-judicial
agencies, instrumentalities, boards or commissions, including the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Social Security Commission, the Emplayees
Compensation Commission, except those falling within the appellate jurisdiction
of the Supreme Court in accordance with the Constitution, the Labor Code of the
Philippines under Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, the provisions of this
Act, and of subparagraph (1) of the third paragraph and subparagraph (4) of the
fourth paragraph of Seciton 17 of the Judiciary Act of 1948,


"The Court of Appeals shall have the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive
evidence and perfarm uny and all acts necessary to resolve-factual issues raised in cases
falling within its original and appellate jurisdiction, including the power to grant and
conduct new trials or further proceedings. Irials or hearings in the Court of Appeals
must be continuous and must be completed wuhm three (3) months, unless extended by
the Chief Justice.”

Section 2. Any decision, order or ruling of the Civit Service Commission may be brought to the
Supreme Court through a specia! civil action on certiorari under the Revised Rules of Court by
the aggrieved party in accordance with the Constitution,

Section 3, All provisions of laws and rules inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or amended accordingly

Section 4. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in a
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,