Official Station and Sessions
- Principal office located in Metro Manila
- Holds sessions primarily in Metro Manila
- Cases originating from Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao to be heard in their respective regions
- Exceptions allowed for the convenience of accused/witnesses or other compelling reasons
- Presiding justice may authorize court divisions to hold sessions outside Metro Manila and even outside the Philippines when necessary
- May utilize personnel and facilities of other courts or government offices during sessions outside Metro Manila
Jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan
- Exclusive original jurisdiction over:
- Violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and related laws when involving certain government officials at or above Salary Grade 27
- Other offenses committed by public officials/employees relating to their office
- Civil and criminal cases pursuant to Executive Orders Nos. 1, 2, 14, and 14-A (1986)
- Defined categories of officials include:
- High-ranking executive officials (e.g., provincial governors, mayors, military officers, police officials, prosecutors, officers of government corporations, educational institutions)
- Members of Congress and certain high-ranking officials
- Members of the judiciary and Constitutional Commissions (subject to constitutional limitations)
- Other officials graded 27 or higher
- If accused do not hold specified positions, jurisdiction lies with regional or municipal trial courts
- Exercises exclusive appellate jurisdiction over final judgments of regional trial courts in related cases
- Exclusive original jurisdiction over certain writs and petitions in aid of appellate jurisdiction (e.g., mandamus, prohibition, certiorari), but not to the exclusion of the Supreme Court
- Procedures for appeals and petitions modeled after those applicable to Court of Appeals
- Office of the Ombudsman represents the People in cases elevated to or from the Sandiganbayan, except in specified EO cases
- Private individuals charged with public officials tried jointly in the same courts
- Criminal and civil actions for recovery of civil liability filed and heard simultaneously; separate civil actions without criminal counterparts are deemed abandoned unless consolidated
Form, Finality, and Enforcement of Decisions
- Decisions must contain thorough findings of fact and law on all issues
- Petitions for reconsideration must be filed within 15 days and decided within 30 days
- Decisions appealable to the Supreme Court via petition for review on certiorari on pure questions of law
- Cases imposing penalties of reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment, or death are appealable to the Supreme Court as prescribed
- Judgment enforcement follows applicable law
- Decisions of other courts in cognizable cases appealable or reviewable by the Sandiganbayan
- Death penalty cases require automatic review by the Supreme Court regardless of filing of appeal
Appropriations
- Initial implementation funded from current fiscal year appropriations of the Sandiganbayan
- Subsequent funding included in the annual General Appropriations Act
Application and Transition
- Applies to all pending cases where trial has not yet commenced as of the law's effectivity
Separability Clause
- If any provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, unaffected provisions remain in full effect
Repealing Clause
- All inconsistent laws, decrees, orders, or circulars are repealed or modified accordingly
Effectivity
- Law takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation