FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. No: 
259 
INTRODUCED BY THE HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to streamline the operations of the Sandiganbayan by allowing its 
justices to sit individually and by narrowing down its jurisdiction. Specifically, it intends to 
allow individual justices of the Sandiganbayan to hear and receive evidence on an individual 
basis criminal and civil cases cognizable by the said court where (1) the information does not 
allege any damages or bribes, or alleges damages or bribes that are either unquantifiable or 
not quantified therein, or alleges quantified damages or bribes that amount to less than five 
(5) million pesos, and, (2) no official classified as Grade “30 or higher under the 
Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989 is involved. 
It also seeks to narrow down its jurisdiction by transferring cases to the regional trial 
courts where (1) none of the accused are occupying positions corresponding to salary grade 
“ 2 9  as prescribed in the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989, and, (2) 
where the information does not allege any damages or bribes, or alleges damages or bribes 
that are either unquantifiable or not quantified therein, or alleges quantified damages or 
bribes that amount to one (1) million pesos only or less. 
National Statistical Coordination Board data show that in 2005, the ratio of 
Sandiganbayan cases decidedresolved to the cases filed was at 0.97, indicating an increasing 
backlog. Prior to this, the ratio was at a more manageable 3.08 and 1.98, in 2003 and 2004, 
respectively. 
Aside from increasing the number of justices, which would entail funding 
requirements, a logical alternative therefore would be to rationalize the present jurisdiction 
of the Sandiganbayan and take full advantage of the expertise of its individual justices. 
It is essential for the Sandiganbayan to conduct expeditious trials and speedy 
disposition of cases to impress upon the public its degree of responsibility, integrity, and 
accountability at all times. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this measure is earnestly 
requested. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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INTRODUCED BY THE HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
AN ACT 
STREAMLINING THE JURISDICTION OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, 
AS AMENDED BY R.A. NO. 7975 AND R.A. NO. 8249, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the PhiIippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. 
Section 4, paragraphs A and B, of the same decree is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 4. Jurisdiction. - THE SANDIGMBAYYAN SHALL EXERCISE 
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION IN ALL CASES INVOLVING 
"A. 
Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, 
otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic 
Act No. 1379, and Chapter 11, Section 2, Title VII, Book I1 of the 
Revised Penal Code, where one or more of the accused are officials 
occupying the following positions in the government, whether in a 
permanent, acting or interim capacity, at the time of the commission of 
the offense: 
"(1) SUBJECT TO THE PROVISO IN PARAGRAPH (5) 
HEREOF, [O] officials of the executive branch occupying the 
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positions of regional director and higher, otherwise classified as 


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Grade ‘27’ and higher, of the Compensation and Position 
Classification Act of 1989 (Republic Act No. 6758), specifically 
including: 
“(a) 
Provincial 
governors, 
vice-governors, 
members of 
the sangguniang panlalawigan, 
and 
provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other city 
department heads; 
“(b) City mayor, 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 consul and higher; 
“(d) Philippine army and air force 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 or 
higher; 
‘‘(Q City and provincial prosecutors and their 
assistants, and officials and prosecutors in the Office of 
the Ombudsman and Special Prosecutor; 
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“(g) Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers 
of government-owned or controlled corporations, state 
universities or educational institutions or foundations. 


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“(2) Members of Congress and officials thereof classified 
as Grade ‘27’ and up under the Compensation and Position 
Classification Act of 1989; 
“(3) Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the 
provisions of the Constitution; 
“(4) Chairmen 
and 
members 
of 
Constitutional 
Commission, without prejudice to the provisions of the 
Constitution; and 
“(5) All other national and local officials classified as 
Grade ‘27’ and higher under the Compensation and Position 
Classification Act of 1989 - PROWDED, THAT, WHERE 
NONE OF THE ACCUSED ARE OCCUPYING POSITIONS 
CORRESPONDING 
TO 
SALARY 
GRADE 
“ 2 9  
AS 
PRESCRIBED IN THE SAME COMPENSATION AND 
POSITION CLASSIFICATION ACT OF 1989, AND, THE 
INFORMATION FILED DOES NOT ALLEGE ANY DAMAGB 
OR BRIBES; OR ALLEGES DAMAGES OR BRIBES THAT ARE 
LJNQUANTIFIABLE OR NOT QUANTIFIED THEREIN OR 
ALLEGES QUANTIFIED DAMAGES OR BRIBES THAT 
AMOUNT TO ONE (1) MILLION PESOS ONLY OR LESS, 
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION THEREOF SHALL BE 
VESTED IN THE PROPER REGIONAL TRIAL COURT; 
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT ANY CASE INVOLVING 
OFFICIALS CLASSIFIED AS GRADE “27” OR “28, OVER 
WHICH THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT HAS EXCLUSIVE 


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ORIGINAL 
JURISDICTION 
BY 
VIRTUE 
OF 
THIS 
PARAGRAPH, SHALL BE TRIED, SUBJECT TO RULES 
PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, IN THE TRIAL 
COURT OF A DIFFERENT REGION FROM W E R E  THE 
OFFICIAL IS STATIONED.” 
“B. Other offenses or felonies 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. 
“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 or 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 respective jurisdiction as provided in 
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended. 
“The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction over 
final judgments, resolutions or orders or regional trial courts whether in the 
exercise of their own original jurisdiction or of their appellate jurisdiction as 
herein provided. 
“The Sandiganbayan shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over 
petitions for the issuance of the writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, 
habeas corpus, injunctions, and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of its 
appellate jurisdiction and over petitions of similar nature, including quo 


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warranto, arising or that may arise in cases filed or which may be filed under 
Executive Order Nos. 1,2,14 and 14-A, issued in 1986: Provided, That the 
jurisdiction over these petitions shalf not be exclusive of the Supreme Court. 
"The procedure prescribed in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as well as the 
implementing rules that the Supreme Court has promulgated and may 
hereafter promulgate, relative to appeaWpetitions for review to the Court of 
Appeals, shall apply to appeals and petitions for review filed with the 
Sandiganbayan. In all cases elevated to the Sandiganbayan and from the 
Sandiganbayan to the Supreme Court, the Office of the Ombudsman, through 
its special prosecutor, shall represent the People of the Philippines, except in 
cases filed pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 1,2,14 and 14-A. issued in 1986. 
"In case private individuals are charged as co-principals, accomplices or 
accessories with the public officers or employees, including those employed in 
government-owned or controlled corporations, they shall be tried jointly with 
said public officers and employees in the proper courts which shall exercise 
exclusive jurisdiction over them. 
"Any provisions of law or Rules of Court to the contrary 
notwithstanding, the criminal action and the corresponding civil action for the 
recovery of civil liability shall at all times be simultaneously instituted with, 
and jointly determined in, the same proceeding by the Sandiganbayan or the 
appropriate courts, the filing of the criminal action being deemed to 
necessarily carry with it the filing of the civil action, and no right to reserve 
the filing of such civil action separately from the criminal action shall be 
recognized: Provided, however, That where the civil action had therefore 
been filed separately but judgment therein has not yet been rendered, and the 


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criminal case is hereafter filed with the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate 
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court, said civil action shall be transferred to the Sandiganbayan or the 
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appropriate court, as the case may be, for consolidation and joint 
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determination with the criminal action, otherwise the separate civil action 
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shall be deemed abandoned." 
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SEC. 2. Section 5 of the same decree is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
SEC. 5. Proceedings, how conduct.=& votes required. - (A) THE 
SANDIGANBAYAN SHALL DESIGNATE A JUSTICE TO HEAR THE CASE 
AND RECEIVE EVIDENCE IN CASES WHEREIN 
A) THE INFORMATION FILED - 
I. 
11. 
ALLEGES 
DAMAGES 
OR 
BRIBES 
THAT 
ARE 
EITHER 
DOES NOT ALLEGE ANY DAMAGES OR BRIBES; OR 
UNQUANTIFIABLE OR NOT QUANTIFIED THEREIN OR 
ALLEGES QUANTIFIED DAMAGES OR BRIBES THAT AMOUNT TO 
LESS THAN FIVE (5) MILLION PESOS; AND 
111. 
B) NO OFFICIAL CLASSIFIED AS GRADE 30 OR HIGHER UNDER THE 
COMPENSATION AND POSITION CLASSIFICATION ACT OF 1989 IS 
INVOLVED. 
THE JUSTICE ASSIGNED SHALL IMMEDIATELY SUBMIT TO THE 
DIVISION HIS FINDINGS, REPORTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN FIVE 
(5) DAYS FROM THE COMPLETION OF SUCH SUBMISSION OF EVIDENCE. THE 


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DIVISION SHALL RENDER ITS DECISION WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS FROM 
RECEIPT THEREOF. 
(B) ALL OTHER CASES SHALL BE HEARD AND DECIDED BY THE 
DIVISION. 
(c) The unanimous vote of the three justices in a division shall be 
necessary for the pronouncement of a judgment. In the event that the 
three justices do not reach a unanimous vote, the Presiding Judge shall 
designate two other justices from among the members of the Court to 
sit temporarily with them, forming a division of five justices, and the 
concurrence of a majority of such division shall be necessary for 
rendering judgment. 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If for any reason any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, such parts or portions not affected thereby shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All acts, decrees, general orders and circulars, or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
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SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,