FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

3286

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to Section 5 of the 1973 Constitution, which Section 4 of the
1987 Constitution affirmed, the Sandiganbayan shali have jurisdiction over
criminal and civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and such other
offenses committed by public officers and employees, including those in
government-owned or controlled corporations, in relation to their office as may
be determined by law.

It is therefore the duty of the Sandiganbayan to go after corrupt public
officials. Unfortunately, the present composition of the Sandiganbayan cannot
handle all the cases that are being filed. This is unfortunate not only because
the Sandiganbayan is over worked but also because this means that more
and more government officials are being accused of graft and corruption.

In order to address this problem, it is only proper to establish two more
divisions of the Sandiganbayan specially for the Visayas and Mindanao
Regions. The number of cases from these regions are increasing and it would
more efficient that there are additional divisions in these areas to handle these
cases

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
requested.

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

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MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES =)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 3286

AN ACT
CREATING TWO ADDITIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1606, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT 7875 AND REPUBLIC ACT 8249

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. The first paragraph of Section 1 of Presidential Decree 1606, as
amended by Republic Act 7975 and Republic Act 8249 is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

Section 1. Sandiganbayan; composition; qualifications;
tenure; removal; and compensation. — A special court, of
the same level as the Court of Appeals and possessing all
the inherent powers of a court of justice, to be known as the
Sandiganbayan is hereby created composed of a Presiding
Justice and [fourteen] TWENTY Associate Justices who
shall be appointed by the President.

SEC. 2. Section 3 of Presidential Decree 1606, as amended by Republic Act
7975 and Republic Act 8249 is hereby further amended to read as follows:

Section 3. Division of the Court; Quorum — The
Sandiganbayan shall sit in [five (5)] SEVEN (7) divisions of
three Justices each. The [five (5)] SEVEN (7) may sit at the
same time.

THE FIRST FIVE DIVISIONS SHALL BE STATIONED IN
THE METRO MANILA AREA, THE SIXTH DIVISION SHALL
BE IN STATIONED IN ILOILO CITY FOR CASES COMING
FROM THE VISAYAS REGION, AND THE SEVENTH
DIVISION SHALL BE STATIONED IN GENERAL SANTOS.
CITY FOR CASES COMING FROM THE MINDANAO
REGION.


Three Justices shall constitute a quorum for sessions in
divisions: Provided, That when the required quorum for the
particular division cannot be had due to the legal
qualification or temporary disability of a Justice or of a
vacancy occurring therein, the Presiding Justice may
designate an Associate Justice of the Court, to be
determined by strict rotation on the basis of the reverse
order of precedence, to sit as a special member of said
division with all the rights and prerogatives of a regular
member of said division the trial and determination of a case
or cases assigned thereto, unless the operation of the court
will be prejudice thereby, in which case the President shall,
upon the recommendation of the Presiding Justice,
designate any Justice or Justices of the Court of Appeals to
sit temporarily therein.

SEC. 3. Appropriations — The amount necessary to cary out the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current fiscal year
appropriations of the Sandiganbayan. Thereafter, such sums as may be
needed for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. Transitory Provision — This Act shall apply to all cases pending in any
court over which trial has not begun as of the approval hereof

SEC. 5, Separability of Provisions — 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. 6, 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.

SEC. 7. Effectivity— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.