Expansion of Sandiganbayan Jurisdiction

Authority and court structure

The Sandiganbayan is created as a special court “of the same level as the Court of Appeals” possessing “all the inherent powers of a court of justice,” composed of a presiding justice and fourteen associate justices (Section 1).
The presiding justice and associate justices are appointed by the President (Section 1).
The Sandiganbayan has its principal office in the Metro Manila area and holds sessions there for the trial and determination of cases filed with it (Section 2).

Place of sessions and venue flexibility

Cases originating from the principal geographical regions—Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao—are heard in their respective regions of origin (Section 2).
A case originating from one geographical region may be heard in another geographical region when the greater convenience of the accused and of the witnesses, or other compelling considerations, require the contrary (Section 2).
The presiding justice authorizes any division or divisions to hold sessions outside Metro Manila and, where the interest of justice requires, outside the territorial boundaries of the Philippines (Section 2).
The Sandiganbayan may require services of personnel and use of facilities of courts or other government offices where divisions hold sessions, and such personnel remain subject to Sandiganbayan orders (Section 2).

Jurisdiction: exclusive original matters

The Sandiganbayan exercises exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases involving violations of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Republic Act No. 1379, and Chapter II, Section 2, Title VII, Book II of the Revised Penal Code, when one or more accused are officials in specified positions at the time of the offense (Section 4(a)).
The applicable officials include regional director and higher executive branch positions—Grade “27” and higher—under Republic Act No. 6758 (Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989), including specifically enumerated officials such as provincial governors, vice-governors, sangguniang panlalawigan members, provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers, provincial department heads; city mayors, vice-mayors, sangguniang panlungsod members, city treasurers, assessors, engineers, city department heads; and other categories expressly listed (Section 4(a)(1)).
The enumerated executive and public officials also include: (i) diplomatic service officials at consul and higher; (ii) Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and higher-ranked officers; (iii) Philippine National Police officers at provincial director and those with rank senior superintendent or higher; (iv) city and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor; (v) presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities or educational institutions or foundations (Section 4(a)(1)).
The Sandiganbayan’s exclusive original jurisdiction also covers: (i) Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as Grade “27” and up under Republic Act No. 6758; (ii) members of the judiciary without prejudice to constitutional provisions; (iii) chairmen and members of Constitutional Commissions without prejudice to constitutional provisions; and (iv) all other national and local officials classified as Grade “27” and higher under Republic Act No. 6758 (Section 4(a)(2)–(5)).
The Sandiganbayan also has exclusive original jurisdiction over “other offenses or felonies” (simple or committed with other crimes) committed by the public officials and employees in relation to their office (Section 4(b)).
The Sandiganbayan has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986 (Section 4(c)).

Jurisdiction where officials are below Grade 27

Where none of the accused occupy positions corresponding to Salary Grade “27” or higher under Republic Act No. 6758, or where the accused are not within the military and PNP officers mentioned, exclusive original jurisdiction vests in the proper trial courts as provided in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended (Section 4).

Appellate and special writ jurisdiction

The Sandiganbayan has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over final judgments, resolutions, or orders of regional trial courts in the exercise of their own original jurisdiction or appellate jurisdiction under the Act (Section 4).
The Sandiganbayan has exclusive original jurisdiction over petitions for the issuance of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, injunctions, and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction (Section 4).
The Sandiganbayan also has exclusive original jurisdiction over petitions of similar nature, including quo warranto, arising or that may arise in cases filed or which may be filed under Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A issued in 1986 (Section 4).
Jurisdiction over the petitions for writs and similar proceedings is not exclusive of the Supreme Court (Section 4).

Procedure for review and representation of People

Appeals and petitions for review filed with the Sandiganbayan follow the procedure in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, and the implementing rules the Supreme Court has promulgated and may hereafter promulgate, regarding appeals/petitions for review to the Court of Appeals (Section 4).
In cases elevated to the Sandiganbayan and from the Sandiganbayan to the Supreme Court, the Office of the Ombudsman, through its special prosecutor, represents the People of the Philippines, except in cases filed pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A issued in 1986 (Section 4).

Co-accused private individuals and joint trial

When private individuals are charged as co-principals, accomplices or accessories with public officers or employees (including those employed in government-owned or -controlled corporations), they are tried jointly with the public officers and employees in the proper courts that have exclusive jurisdiction over them (Section 4).

Simultaneous criminal and civil actions

The criminal action and the corresponding civil action for recovery of civil liability are simultaneously instituted with and jointly determined in the same proceeding by the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate courts, and the filing of the criminal action necessarily includes the filing of the civil action (Section 4).
No right to reserve separate filing of the civil action from the criminal action is recognized (Section 4).
If the civil action was previously filed separately but judgment has not yet been rendered, and the criminal case is later filed with the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate court, the civil action is transferred for consolidation and joint determination; otherwise, the separate civil action is deemed abandoned (Section 4).

Decisions: contents, motions, appeals

Decisions and final orders on the merits must contain complete findings of fact and law on all issues properly raised and necessary to decide the case (Section 5(a)).
A petition for reconsideration of any final order or decision must be filed within fifteen (15) days from promulgation or notice (Section 5(a)).
The motion for reconsideration is decided within thirty (30) days from submission (Section 5(a)).
Decisions and final orders of the Sandiganbayan are appealable to the Supreme Court by petition for review on certiorari raising pure questions of law, following Rule 45 of the Rules of Court (Section 5(a)).
If the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment, or death, the decision is appealable to the Supreme Court in the manner prescribed in the Rules of Court (Section 5(a)).
Judgments and orders of the Sandiganbayan are executed and enforced in the manner provided by law (Section 5(a)).
Decisions and final orders of other courts in cases cognizable by those courts under the Act, and those rendered in appellate jurisdiction, are appealable or reviewable by the Sandiganbayan in the manner provided by Rule 122 of the Rules of Court (Section 5(a)).
If the imposed penalty by the Sandiganbayan or the proper regional trial court is death, review by the Supreme Court is automatic, whether or not the accused files an appeal (Section 5(a)).

Appropriations and transitory application

The amount necessary for initial implementation of the Act is charged against the current fiscal year appropriations of the Sandiganbayan (Section 6(a)).
Funds needed for continued implementation are included in the annual General Appropriations Act (Section 6(a)).
The Act applies to all cases pending in any court over which trial has not begun as of approval of the Act (Section 7(a)).

Separability, repeals, and effectivity

If any provision of the Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or portions not affected remain in full force and effect (Section 8).
All acts, decrees, general orders and circulars, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the Act are repealed or modified accordingly (Section 9).
The Act’s effectivity is governed by the publication and timing rule under Section 10 (Section 10).