THE SANDIGANBAYAN

WHAT IS SANDIGANBAYAN?

A Special Court that was established by P.D 1606 with the rank of Court of Appeals Basically, the anti-graft court of the Philippines

SEAL OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN

13 stars = 13 Judicial Regions Color Blue, Red and White = Philippine Color Stars on each corner of the triangle = Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao Bolo = 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. 1486 JUNE 11, 1978

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

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606

Elevated 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 provided by law. - Article 11, Section 4

EDSA REVOLUTION FEBRUARY 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. 8249 1995 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 ESTRADA
September 12, 2007 Ombudsman filed case, perjury and plunder Jose Velarde

Acquitted of Perjury but Guilty of Plunder

Reclusion perpetua Executive Clemency on October 26, 2007

PEOPLE VS DIONISIO
November 27, 2013

Former Board of Nursing official Anesia Dionisio

Allowed an unauthorized person access to the 2006 Nursing Board Examination Questions
Secretary typed the questions, without permission from the PRC Found guilty

Innocent of leaking the questions 6 years imprisonment and banned from holding any position ever again

GARCIA PLEA BARGAIN

Former AFP Comptroller Carlos Garcia accused of plunder

"Plea Bargain" deal in exchange of his guilty plea

Sandiganbayan affirmed the plea bargain, Garcia to return Php 135 million worth of assets.

JUN LOZADA
Lozada exposed the NBN-ZTE deal involving former President Gloria Arroyo, former COMELEC Commissioner Benjamin Abalos Connected to the National Broadband Network project Lozada, 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 CASES

Senator Drilon reports that there are around 2,600 pending graft cases in the Sandiganbayan Sandiganbayan resolves about 15% of cases filed per year Need of a presence of 3 justices before hearing a case usual cause of delay

STAFFING SUMMARY

BUDGET OF SANDIGANBAYAN

REFORM PROPOSALS

SB 470 (Drilon)
Allows one justice to hear a case and accept evidence instead of three

SB 472 (Guingona)
Increases the Sandiganbayan divisions from 5 to 15 Assigning 7 divisions in Luzon, 4 each in Visayas and Mindanao