EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 
1181
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Introduced by Senator Richard 3. Gordon
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE MARSHAL SERVICE UNDER THE 
CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF 
THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
November 5, 2019, is another day of infamy for the Philippine Judiciary, when 
criminals managed to violently trounce justice, with the killing of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur 
Judge Mario Anacleto Bahez. Since 1999, there had been 31 of such infamous days 
when judges' lives were sacrificed to the altars of justice. Judge Banez was already 
the fifth judge to have died in active service during the Duterte administration alone. 
Of the 31 judges killed since 1999, ninety percent of the victims were regional trial 
court judges. Of these, only around 10 percent have been solved.
Killings of judges must be stopped. This bill is the undersigned's response to 
the call of Supreme Court Justice Diosdado M. Peralta for a legislative act that will 
create a battalion-size independent armed unit patterned after the United States 
Marshal Service to secure the judiciary and assist in the administration of justice, such 
as the enforcement of the Orders of the Court, the protection of witnesses, the security 
in the transportation of accused and or witnesses whose presence are needed for the 
completion of trial, and such other related functions the Supreme Court, the Chief 
Justice, or the Court Administrator may order, direct and instruct from time to time 
for the orderly administration of justice.
It is hoped that immediate passage of this bill will help protect the lives of the 
members of the judiciary, strengthen the resolve to render impartial judgment and 
assist in the expeditious resolution of cases before various C9jL*rt§l^he country from 
the lowest to the highest.
D J. GO
tSef«t!5r"


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
c ' i:-,{ g>( ; rtnrp
SENATE
S.B. No. 
1181
'19 
NOV 18 
P 6 ^ 1
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RtC-j
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon
AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE MARSHAL SERVICE UNDER THE 
CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF 
THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Creation o f the Philippine Marshal Service and its Functions. 
There is hereby created the Philippine Marshal Service under the Supreme Court, 
through the Office of the Court Administrator, which shall have the following functions:
(a) 
To protect, defend, safeguard, watch over, provide security and ensure 
the safety of justices, judges, court officials and personnel, and halls of 
justice, courthouses, and other court buildings and properties;
(b) 
To conduct threat assessments and undertake investigations of crimes 
and other offenses committed, including potential security threats, 
against justices, judges, court officials and personnel, and halls of 
justice, courthouses, and other court properties;
(c) 
To ensure that court trials and hearings, including judicial conferences, 
seminars and meetings, proceed orderly in accordance with existing 
rules, guidelines and practice;
(d) 
To conduct investigations concerning allegations of irregularities, 
including graft and corruption, committed by justices, judges, court 
officials and personnel;
(e) 
To assist in the execution and implementation of court orders;
(0  
To assist in the protection of witnesses and in the security in the 
tiaiispuiLdtiuri of accused or witnesses necessary for the continuation of 
court proceedings;
(g) 
To seize, freeze, manage and dispose of assets seized, frozen or 
forfeited by the Courts nationwide;
(h) 
To make arrests, searches and seizures in accordance with the 
Constitution, existing laws, jurisprudence and rules;
(i) 
To perform such other related functions as the Supreme Court, the Chief 
Justice, or the Court Administrator may order, direct and instruct from 
time to time.


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Sec. 2. Officials o f the Philippine Marshal Service and Their Assignments. The
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Philippine Marshal Service shall be headed by the Chief Marshal who shall have the
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same rank, privileges, and compensation of a Court of Appeals Associate Justice. The
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Chief Marshal shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Marshals who shall have the same
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rank, privileges, and compensation of a Regional Trial Court Judge, and be respectively
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assigned in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
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Sec. 3. Qualifications, Appointment and Tenure. The Chief Marshal and the
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Deputy Marshals must be a lawyer, must have a law enforcement experience of ten
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(10) years, or an Assistant Director of the National Bureau of Investigation, not in
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active service at the time of his appointment. They shall be appointed by the Supreme
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Court en Z?a/7cand shall serve until they reach the age of sixty-five (65), unless they
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become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office or are removed for just
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cause by a vote of not less than eight (8) justices of the Supreme Court.
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Sec. 4. Composition and Size o f Personnel o f the Philippine Marshal Service.
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The Philippine Marshal Service shall be divided into divisions as follows:
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a.) Communications Division- Communications Division shall 
liaise,
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communicate, coordinate and interact with Congress, local government, national
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government agencies, the media and the general public on the Philippine Marshals
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missions and successes.
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b .) Inspection Division- Inspection Division shall perform the following
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tasks:
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1. Ensure all complaints or allegations of misconduct are processed in
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compliance with the Department of Justice.
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2. Conduct periodic compliance reviews to ensure conformance with
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applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, while identifying
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weaknesses and making applicable recommendations.
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3. Provide advice and guidance on addressing matters of employee
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misconduct.
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4. Provide subject matter expertise to management related to misconduct
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offenses and proper resolution.
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c.) Judicial Security Division- Judicial Security Division shall perform the
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following tasks:
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1.Ensure the safe and secure conduct of judicial proceedings and protection
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of justices, judges, court officials and personnel of the judiciary.
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2. Anticipate and deter threats to the judiciary.
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3. Manage, collect, analyze and disseminate intelligence in the form of
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information bulletins, alert notices, protective intelligence briefs, threat
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assessments and foreign travel briefings.
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d.) Investigative Operations Division- Investigative Operations Division
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shall perform the following tasks:
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1. Provide support to law enforcement agencies to assist in the capture of 
fugitives.
2. Participate in task forces in connection with anti-drug, anti-kidnapping 
and such other task forces as the Supreme Court may warrant.
3. Process, review, and coordinate the pursuit and apprehension of 
international and foreign fugitives.
4. Manage the Philippine Marshal's 15 Most Wanted program.


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4. Manage the Philippine Marshal's 15 Most Wanted program.
5. Provide investigative and intelligence support in financial surveillance, 
criminal intelligence Branch, and other related investigative undertaking
e. 
) W itness Security Division- Witness Security Division shall perform the 
following tasks:
1. Ensure the safety of protected witnesses and their families by providing 
safe and secure housing and transportation of witnesses while in the 
program.
2. Provide 24-hour protection to all witnesses while they are in designated 
danger areas for the purposes of testimony and court related 
appearances.
f. ) Justice Prisoner & Alien Transportation Division- Justice Prisoner &
Alien Transportation System shall perform the following tasks:
1. Provide scheduling and safe transportation of prisoners and aliens in the 
care and custody of the PNP, Bureau of Immigration and other law 
enforcement agencies.
g . 
)Tactical Operations Division- Tactical Operations Division shall perform 
the following tasks:
1. Manage and respond to national emergencies and crises involving 
internal security.
2. Provide support to individuals affected by crisis or traumatic situations.
3. Provide technical protective support and wireless communications 
support to law enforcement agencies.
4. Direct, coordinate and manage their own 
Special Operations Group, 
Explosive Detection Canine Program and the 24-hour Communications 
Center.
h. 
) Prisoner Operations Division- Prisoner Operations Division shall 
perform the following tasks:
1. Manage and oversee all detention matters pertaining to individuals 
remanded to the custody of the Department of Justice.
2. Ensure the secure care and custody of these individuals through 
sustenance, secure lodging and transportation, evaluating conditions of 
confinement, providing medical care, and protecting their civil rights 
through the judicial process.
i. 
) Training Division- Tidiiiiiiy Division shdil perform the following tasks:
1. Provide high quality, state-of-the-art law enforcement training.
2. Provide 
guidelines 
concerning 
the 
development, 
review 
and 
implementation of Philippine 
Marshal training to include, 
basic, 
advanced, 
in-service 
and 
specialty 
disciplines.
j.  
) Human Resources Division- Human Resources Division shall perform the 
following tasks:


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1. Determine the human resource needs of the agency.
2. Manage the background investigation program.
3. Recruit and employ a culturally diverse workforce.
4. Provide for the health, safety, and well-being of the workforce.
5. Provide for the career advancement, continuing education and skills 
development of the workforce.
6. Promote union and employee participation in setting the goals, 
objectives, and business practices of the agency.
k. 
) Inform ation Technology Division- Information Technology Division 
shall perform the following tasks:
1. Provide for the development of information systems, networks, 
automated data processing technology applications and set standards 
therefor.
2. Provide network, computer, telephone and radio support services to the 
Philippine Marshal Service.
l. 
) Management Support Division- Management Support Division shall 
perform the following tasks:
1. Manage policy and records management.
2. Provide property management services, purchase and maintain vehicles 
and other equipment.
3. Provide 
printing, 
mail 
and 
multimedia 
services.
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) Financial Services Division- Financial Services Division shall perform 
the following tasks:
1. Monitor 
program 
plans 
and 
performance 
in 
coordination 
with 
Department of Justice.
2. Prepare annual agency budget requests and monitor the expenditure of 
funds.
3. Maintain the agency financial system and official financial records.
4. Prepare the agency's annual financial statements and oversee the annual 
audit.
5. 
Provide quality business solutions while supporting acquisition reform
ancl 
best 
practices.
n. 
) Asset Forfeiture Division- Asset Forfeiture Division shall perform the 
following tasks:
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1. Seize, manage, and dispose of assets seized and forfeited by courts 
nationwide.
The composition and size of personnel of the Philippine Marshal Service shall be 
determined by the Supreme Court, and for this purpose, the Supreme Court is 
authorized to adopt and implement the corresponding staffing patterns; Provided, 
however, that the positions, titles, and salaries of its officials and personnel shall be 
in accordance with the position classifications and salary grades in the Judiciary, the


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Civil Service Rules and the Salary Standardization Act; Provided further, however, that 
all officials and personnel appointed under this Republic Act shall belong to the 
classified service and shall be governed by the Civil Service Law, except those whose 
positions are highly technical or primarily confidential.
Sec. 5. 
Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities. 
The Supreme Court shall 
determine and define the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the officials and 
personnel of the Philippine Marshal Service which shall include, but not limited to, the 
following:
(a) 
To issue subpoenas for the appearance of any person for investigation, 
apply for search warrants before any court of law, and file complaints 
before the Ombudsman, City Prosecutor or the Department of Justice;
(b) 
To take and require sworn statements from any person so summoned, 
in relation to the cases under investigation, in accordance with the 
Constitution, existing laws, jurisprudence and rules;
(c) 
To administer the oath of any person in relation to the cases under 
investigation;
(d) 
To make arrests, searches and seizures, in relation to the functions of 
the Philippine Marshal Service, and in accordance with the Constitution, 
existing laws, jurisprudence and rules;
(e) 
To have access over all public records under the custody of any 
government branch, institution, agency or instrumentality, and upon 
proper request made to private telecommunications companies, the 
records of any individual under investigation which shall be treated with 
utmost confidentiality and only for purposes of the case/s under 
investigation;
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To possess suitable and adequate firearms for their personal safety and 
protection in connection with their duties and responsibilities, and for 
the proper safety and protection of the justices, judges, court officials 
and personnel, and halls of justice, courthouses, and other court 
properties; Provided, that no prior special permit from any other 
government institution or agency for such possession shall be required.
(g) 
To seize, freeze, manage and dispose of assets seized, frozen or 
forfeited by the Courts nationwide;
Sec. 6. Initial Funding. For purposes of this Act, there is hereby appropriated 
from the National Treasury the initial sum of Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) for 
the salaries, wages and other expenses of personnel, the purchase of necessary 
supplies, materials and equipment, and for other purposes. The appropriations for 
the succeeding fiscal years shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 7. Repealing Cause. All laws, rules and regulations that may be 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly.
Sec. 8. Separability Cause. If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is 
adjudged invalid, all its other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and in 
force.
Sec. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines.


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Approved,