Coverage and jurisdictional grant
- The PCGG, with the assistance of the Office of the Solicitor General and other government agencies, is empowered to file and prosecute all cases investigated by it under Executive Order No. 1 and Executive Order No. 2 as warranted by its findings.
- The PCGG must file all such cases with the Sandiganbayan.
- The Sandiganbayan has exclusive and original jurisdiction over these cases.
- The cases covered include both civil and criminal cases investigated by the PCGG under Executive Order Nos. 1 and 2.
Civil actions and evidentiary standards
- Civil suits for restitution, reparation of damages, or indemnification for consequential damages, including forfeiture proceedings under Republic Act No. 1379, or other civil actions under the Civil Code or existing laws, may be filed in connection with Executive Order No. 1 and Executive Order No. 2.
- Civil actions may be filed separately from and may proceed independently of any criminal proceedings.
- Civil actions under this framework may be proved by a preponderance of evidence.
- The technical rules of procedure and evidence are not required to be strictly applied to the civil cases filed under this Executive Order.
Compelled testimony and use immunity
- No person may be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records on the ground that the required testimony or evidence may tend to incriminate the person.
- A person who, after claiming the privilege against self-incrimination, is compelled to testify or produce evidence is not prosecuted criminally for or on account of the transaction, matter, or thing covered by the compelled testimony or production.
- The immunity from criminal prosecution is subject to an exception: the person is not exempt from prosecution and conviction for perjury or false testimony committed in the compelled testimony.
- The person is also not exempt from administrative proceedings that are proper and necessary.
Criminal prosecution immunity authority
- The PCGG is authorized to grant immunity from criminal prosecution to any person who testifies to the unlawful manner in which any respondent, defendant, or accused has acquired or accumulated the property or properties in question.
- This immunity authority applies in cases where the testimony is necessary to prove violations of existing laws.
Filing and judgment time limits waived
- The time limitations in Sections 2 and 6 of Republic Act No. 1379 on the filing of cases and the rendition of judgments thereon do not apply to the cases filed under this Executive Order.
- This waiver covers the deadlines applicable to the cases prosecuted and filed under the jurisdictional scheme established for ill-gotten wealth cases involving Executive Order Nos. 1 and 2.
Supremacy and effectivity
- The provisions of Executive Order No. 14 prevail over any and all laws, or parts thereof, regarding the investigation, prosecution, and trial of cases for violations of laws involving the acquisition and accumulation of ill-gotten wealth mentioned in Executive Order Nos. 1 and 2.
- Executive Order No. 14 takes effect immediately.
- The Order is dated May 7, 1986, and is signed by CORAZON C. AQUINO with JOKER P. ARROYO as Executive Secretary.
Issuing authority and publication reference
- Executive Order No. 14 is issued by the President of the Philippines, Corazon C. Aquino.
- The Executive Order is formally designated “EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 14”.
- It is reported in 82 OG No. 19, 2113 (May 12, 1986).