Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8249)
The Sandiganbayan is a special court of the same level as the Court of Appeals, possessing all inherent powers of a court of justice, composed of a presiding justice and fourteen associate justices appointed by the President.
The principal office of the Sandiganbayan is located in the Metro Manila area, where it holds sessions for the trial and determination of cases filed with it.
Yes. The Sandiganbayan can hold sessions in the principal geographical regions of Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao for cases originating from those regions, or elsewhere if greater convenience for the accused and witnesses or other compelling reasons exist, including outside the territorial boundaries of the Philippines, upon authorization by the presiding justice.
The Sandiganbayan has exclusive original jurisdiction over cases involving violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), related laws and Revised Penal Code provisions involving certain government officials, other crimes committed by public officials related to their office, civil and criminal cases connected with Executive Orders Nos. 1, 2, 14, and 14-A issued in 1986, and petitions for ancillary writs in connection with these cases.
Officials occupying positions classified as Salary Grade 27 and above, including regional directors and higher executives, provincial and city officials (governors, mayors, members of legislative councils), members of Congress and officials thereof, judiciary members, constitutional commission chairmen and members, certain military and police officers, and presidents or managers of government-owned or controlled corporations and educational institutions.
The Sandiganbayan has exclusive original jurisdiction over petitions for writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, injunctions, and other ancillary writs in aid of its appellate jurisdiction and related cases arising from Executive Orders 1, 2, 14, and 14-A, but this jurisdiction is not exclusive of the Supreme Court.
Decisions and final orders of the Sandiganbayan are appealable to the Supreme Court by petition for review on certiorari raising pure questions of law under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. Where penalties such as reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment, or death are imposed, appeals to the Supreme Court follow the method prescribed in the Rules of Court.
The criminal action and the corresponding civil action for the recovery of civil liability must be simultaneously instituted and jointly determined in the same proceedings by the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate courts. Separate filing of civil actions apart from criminal actions is not recognized unless civil action was already filed separately but not decided; in such cases, civil action must be transferred for consolidation with the criminal case.
The provisions of RA 8249 apply to all pending cases in any court over which trial has not yet begun at the time of the Act's approval.
All laws, decrees, orders, or circulars inconsistent with RA 8249 are repealed or modified accordingly to conform to its provisions.