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· SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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'13 
JUL -4 
1\11 :19 
SENATE 
495 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "SONNY" F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
Article VIII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution articulates that a member of the Judiciary must 
be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence. Furthermore, Article II 
Section 27 of the same provides that the State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public 
service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption. However, recent 
surveys show the growing salience of members of the judiciary who circumvent the 
aforementioned law, thus, compromising the integrity and reputation of the country's judicial 
system. 
IAccording to Transparency International's Bribe Payers Index 2008, companies' confidence in 
the judicial system in the Philippines is low due to allegations of graft and corruption, as well as 
incompetence within the judiciary. The US Department of State in 2012 also shares the same 
'view, where many foreign investors cite the judicial system in the Philippines as insufficient and 
uncertain, due to corruption and understaffing, significantly hindering investment. l Further, 
bribery allegations reflected in different newspapers in the country in 2009 involving the so 
called "Alabang Boys" wherein P50 Million in bribes were allegedly paid to prosecutors and' 
officials in the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the release of the 3 drug suspects strengthens the 
above observations of corruption in the Judiciary. 
There is therefore an exigency for the government to swiftly pursue appropriate judicial reforms, 
and mete out appropriate penalties against erring magistrates. "A perception of corruption within 
the judiciary undermines its ability to enforce and maintain the legitimacy of the rule of law, 
which subsequently undermines the stability and effectiveness of the government and prevents 
economic development ofthe State,,2. 
In this light, this measure seeks to establish mechanisms for the detection and prevention of (1) 
inappropriate judicial conduct, (2) illegal activity, (3) actions that undermine the judicial 
machinery, and (4) violations of the Code of Ethics. This measure shall create an Office of the 
Inspector General and shall require the Office to: (I) conduct investigations of alleged 
misconduct in the Judicial branch; (2) conduct and supervise audits and investigations; and (3) 
prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse. The bill shall also provide for whistle-blower 
protection. It is hoped that this measure will finally put a halt to judicial abuses that prevent our 
legal machinery from working in its proper course. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this m_eas-x-ur~e_' ",ea-\-rn_eslJl--
J. ;lLANES IV 
Senator 
'Information retrieved from http:Uwww.business-anti-corruption.com/countrv-profiles/east-asia-the-
pacific/philippines!corruption-Ievels/judicial-system/ on 24-June-2013 
2 Barrett, Kathleen, "Corrupted Courts: A Cross-National Perceptual Analysis of Judicial Corruption" 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
ti!}ffl:r Itf t~1l ;;i"cnf.:rrg 
'13 
JUL -4 An:1 9 
I 
SENATE 
"" ''''f' 
495 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Antouio "SONNY" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND ETIDCS IN THE JUDICIARY BY 
ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL 
BRANCH, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House a/Representatives a/the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. • This Act shall be known as the "Judicial 
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Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act. /I 
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Sec. 2. Establishment. - There is established for the judicial branch of the 
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government the Office of Inspector General for the Judicial Branch (hereinafter 
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referred to as the "Office"). 
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SEC. 3. Appointment, Term, and Removal of Inspector General. -
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a. Appointment - The head of the Office shall be the Inspector General, who 
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shall be appointed by the Chief Justice. 
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b. Term - The Inspector General shall serve for a term of four (4) years and 
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may be reappointed by the Chief Justice for any number of additional terms. 
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c. Removal - The Inspector General may be removed from office by the Chief 
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Justice. The Chief Justice shall communicate tlie reasons for any such removal to both 
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Houses of Congress. 
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SEC. 4. Duties. - With respect to the judicial branch, the Office shall -
(1) conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in the judicial branch (other than the 
Supreme Court), that may require oversight or other action within the judicial branch or by 
Congress; 
(2) conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in the Supreme Court, that may require 
oversight or other action within the judicial branch or by Congress; 
(3) conduct and supervise audits and investigations; 
(4) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse; and 
(5) recommend changes in laws or regulations governing the judicial branch, 
SEC. 5. Powers and Limitations. -
(a) Powers- In carrying out the duties of the Office, the Inspector General shall have the 
powerto-
(1) make investigations and reports; 
(2) obtain information or assistance from any national or local governmental agency, 
or other entity, or unit thereof, including all information kept in the course of business by 
the Iudicial and Bar Council, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; 
(3) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such 
witnesses, and the production of such books, records, correspondence memoranda, 
papers, and documents, which subpoena, in the case of contumacy or refusal to obey, 
shall be eni'orceable by civil action; 
(4) administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit; 
(5) employ such officers and employees, governing appointments in the competitive 
service; 
(6) the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriations 
Acts, to enter into contracts and other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and 
other services with public agencies and with private persons, and to make such payments 
as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Office, 
(b) Limitations - The Inspector General shall not have the authority to -
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(1) investigate or review any matter that is directly related to the merits of a decision 
or procedural ruling by any judge, justice, or court; or 
(2) punish or discipline any judge, justice, or court. 
SEC. 6. Reports. -
(a) When to be Made - The Inspector General shall-
(1) make an annual report to the Chief Justice and to Congress relating to the 
activities of the Office; and 
(2) make prompt reports to the Chief Justice and to Congress on matters that may 
require action by the Chief Justice or Congress. 
(b) Sensitive Matter - If a report contains sensitive matter, the Inspector General may so 
indicate and Congress may receive that report in closed session. 
(c) Duty To Inform Attorney General - In carrying out the duties of the Office, the 
It)spector General shall report expeditiously to the Attorney General whenever the Inspector 
ckneral has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of Federal criminal law. 
SEC. 7. Whistleblower Protection. - (a) In General- No officer, employee, agent, 
contractor or subcontractor in the judicial branch may discharge, demote, threaten, suspend, 
harass or in any other manner discriminate against an employee in the terms and conditions of 
employment because of any lawful act done by the employee to provide information, cause 
information to be provided, or otherwise assist in an investigation regarding any possible 
violation of law or regulation, or misconduct, by a judge, justice, or any other employee in the 
judicial branch, which may assist the Inspector General in the performance of duties under this 
chapter. 
(b) Civil Action- An employee injured by a violation of subsection (a) may, in a civil 
action, obtain appropriate relief. 
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SEC. 8. Separability Gause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsi'sting. 
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SEC. 9. Repealing Gause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the 
provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 10. Effectivity Gause. - This 'Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete pubiication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved, 
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