THE SANDIGANBAYAN

WHAT IS SANDIGANBAYAN?A Special Court that was established by P.D 1606 with the rank of Court of AppealsBasically, the anti-graft court of the Philippines

SEAL OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN13 stars = 13 Judicial RegionsColor Blue, Red and White = Philippine ColorStars on each corner of the triangle = Luzon, Visayas, MindanaoBolo = Balance

Vision a judicial institution that the Filipino people can rely on for the attainment of the highest norms of official conduct required of public officers and employees.Mission to give life and meaning to the constitutional precept that a public office is a public trust to impress upon public officers and employees that they are at all times accountable to the people with their duty to serve with the highest degree of responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency.

Objective conducting expeditious trials of criminal and civil cases involving offenses committed by public officers and employees, including those employed in government-owned or controlled corporations.

MANDATE AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

PRESENT STRUCTURE

Composed of a Presiding Justice and fourteen (14) Associate Justices who sit in five (5) Divisions of three Justices each in the trial and determination of cases

HISTORY AND LEGAL BASIS

1973 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION

The Batasang Pambansa shall create a special court, to be known as Sandiganbayan, which shall have jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and such other offenses committed by public officers and employees, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, in relation to their office as may be determined by law. (Art. XIII), 1973 Constitution.

- Article 8, Sec. 5

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1486JUNE 11, 1978

Law creating the SandiganbayanThe same level as what were then known as Courts of First Instance (RTC now)

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606Elevated the Sandiganbayan to the Court of Appeals

1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION The present anti-graft court known as the Sandiganbayan shall continue to function and exercise its jurisdiction as now or hereafter may be providedby law.

- Article 11, Section 4

EDSA REVOLUTIONFEBRUARY 1986

Its jurisdiction broadened: Includes so-called 'ill-gotten wealth' cases investigated by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) through Executive Orders No. 14 and No. 14-A

RA NO. 7975 AND NO. 82491995 AND 1997

Jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan: Confined to cases involving public officials with positions classified as salary grade 27 and higher

NOTABLE CASES OF SANDIGANBAYAN

PEOPLE VS ESTRADASeptember 12, 2007Ombudsman filed case, perjury and plunderJose VelardeAcquitted of Perjury but Guilty of PlunderReclusion perpetuaExecutive Clemency on October 26, 2007

PEOPLE VS DIONISIONovember 27, 2013Former Board of Nursing official Anesia DionisioAllowed an unauthorized person access to the 2006 Nursing Board Examination QuestionsSecretary typed the questions, without permission from the PRCFound guiltyInnocent of leaking the questions6 years imprisonment and banned from holding any position ever again

GARCIA PLEA BARGAINFormer AFP Comptroller Carlos Garcia accused of plunder"Plea Bargain" deal in exchange of his guilty pleaSandiganbayan affirmed the plea bargain, Garcia to return Php 135 million worth of assets.

JUN LOZADALozada exposed the NBN-ZTE deal involving former President Gloria Arroyo, former COMELEC Commissioner Benjamin AbalosConnected to the National Broadband Network projectLozada, a former GOCC official, was arrested and put on trial in Sandiganbayan in February 2013 under two counts of graft on another graft charge.

ISSUES AND REFORM PROPOSALS

HIGH BACKLOG OF CASESSenator Drilon reports that there are around 2,600 pending graft cases in the SandiganbayanSandiganbayan resolves about 15% of cases filed per yearNeed of a presence of 3 justices before hearing a case usual cause of delay

STAFFING SUMMARY

Chart1

585858Key Positions

186186186Administratitve

113113113Support

282828Technical

319326326Permanently Filled

2011

2012

2013

Sheet1

Column12011201220132014

Key Positions585858

Administratitve186186186

Support113113113

Technical282828

Permanently Filled319326326

BUDGET OF SANDIGANBAYAN

Chart1

301403000

344513000

334333000

320414000

348121000

381238000

393410000

Appropriation

Sheet1

AppropriationColumn1Column2

2008301403000

2009344513000

2010334333000

2011320414000

2012348121000

2013381238000

2014393410000

REFORM PROPOSALS

SB 470 (Drilon)Allows one justice to hear a case and accept evidence instead of threeSB 472 (Guingona)Increases the Sandiganbayan divisions from 5 to 15Assigning 7 divisions in Luzon, 4 each in Visayas and Mindanao