CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B.No.A..LO 
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JUL -4 
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill is being filed to further enhance the disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan, a 
specialized court created by law to effectively and swiftly deal with corruption cases against 
en'ing government officials and employees. At present, the Sandiganbayan is divided into five 
(5) divisions of three (3)justices each. 
Undeniably, the an'angement that 3 justices sit as a panel and act as trial judges to hear the 
evidence of the patties and decide each case worked when the number of cases that reached the 
Sandiganbayan was small. However, over the years, the government expanded and its 
transactions multiplied. The capacity of this Court to decide cases promptly has been strained 
beyond its limits. Consequently, graft cases are heard and decided on the average of 5 to eight 
(8) years. 
This delay is intolerable if the war against corruption is to be won. Inevitably, something needs 
to be urgently done to increase the Sandiganbayan's capacity to hear and decide cases with the 
least possible cost. This bill proposes that Section 3 of Presidential Decree 1606, as amended, be 
fUlther amended to allow individual justices of this Court to sit and receive evidence, for and in 
behalf of his Division. This arrangement, if approved, shall significantly expedite the resolution 
of cases in the Sandiganbayan. 
Foregoing considered, the passage of this Bill is earnestly requested. 


CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B.No.~O 
'13 
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
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JUL -4 AlO :32 
AN ACT FURTHER AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1606, as amended, is hereby further 
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amended to read as follows: 
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"SEC. 3 - Divisions of the Coutts; Quorum. The Sandiganbayan shall sit in five (5) 
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divisions of three justices each. [The five (5) may sit at the same time. 
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Tl)ree Justices shall constitute a quorum for sessions in divisions: Provided, That when 
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the required quorum for the particular division cannot be had due to the legal qualification or] IN 
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CASE OF temporary disability of a Justice or [of] a vacancy [occurring therein], the Presiding 
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Justice may designate [an Associate] ANOTHER Justice of the Court, to be determined by strict 
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rotation on the basis of the reverse order of precedence, to sit as a special member of said 
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division with all the rights and prerogatives of a regular member of said division in the trial and 
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determination of a case or cases assigned thereto[, unless the operation of the court will be 
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prejudiced thereby, in which case, the President shall, upon the recommendation of the Presiding 
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Justice, designate any Justice or Justices of the Court of Appeals to sit temporarily therein]. 
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EVERY CASE FILED WITH THE SANDIGANBAVAN SHALL BE RAFFLED 
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FOR ASSIGNMENT TO A JUSTICE-IN-CHARGE, WHO SHALL MONITOR AND 
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" 
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REPORT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE TO THE MEMBERS OF HIS 
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DIVISION, THE JUSTICE-IN-CHARGE SHALL HEAR AND RECEIVE EVIDENCE 
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FOR THE DIVISION TO WHICH HE BELONGS AND RESOLVE EVERY INCIDENT 
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THAT ARISES IN THE COURSE OF THE PROCEEDING IN THAT CASK 
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AFTER THE CASE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR DECISION, THE JUSTICE-
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IN-CHARGE SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE DIVISION, WHICH REPORT 
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SHALL CONTAIN A SUMMARY OF THE CONFLICTING CLAIMS OF THE 
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PARTIES, THE ISSUE OR ISSUES INVOLVED, THE ARGUMENTS OF THE 
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CONTEr4DING SIDES, AND THE LAWS AND JURISPRUDENCE THAT CAN AID 
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THE DIVIS ON IN DECIDING OR RESOLVING THE CASE. 
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IN CONSULTATION, THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE DIVISION SHALL 
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AGREE ON Tf!:E CONCLUSION OR CONCLUSIONS IN THE CASE AND ASSIGN A 
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MEMBER TO WRITE THE DECISION FOR THE DIVISION. IF THE UNANIMOUS 
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VOTE OF ALL ITS MEMBERS CANNOT BE HAD, THE PRESIDING JUSTICE 
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SHALL DESIGNATE BY RAFFLE TWO SPECIAL MEMBERS FOR THE DIVISION 
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TO CONSTITUTE IT INTO A DIVISION OF FIVE JUSTICES. THE VOTE OF THE 
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MAJORITY OF SUCH DIVISION SHALL PREVAIL. 
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SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the 
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Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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