| Sandiganbayan | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Sandiganbayan | |
 Flag of the Sandiganbayan | |
| Location | Centennial Building, Commonwealth Avenue, National Government Center, Diliman, Quezon City |
| Composition method | Presidential appointment from the shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council |
| Authorized by | Constitution of the Philippines |
| Appeals to | Supreme Court of the Philippines |
| Appeals from | Regional Trial Court |
| Number of positions | 21 |
| Annual budget | ₱1.37 billion (2020)[1] |
| Website | sb.judiciary.gov.ph |
| Presiding Justice | |
| Currently | Hon. Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang |
| Since | October 7, 2013 |
 |
|---|
 Philippines portal |
The Sandiganbayan (lit. 'Support of the nation'[2]) is a special appellate collegial court in the Philippines that has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and other offenses committed by public officers and employees, including those in government-owned and controlled corporations. The special court was established by Presidential Decree No. 1486. It was subsequently modified by Presidential Decree No. 1606 and by Republic Acts 7975, 8249 and 10660.[3][4][5][6][7] It is equal in rank to the Court of Appeals, and consists of fourteen Associate Justices and one Presiding Justice.[8] The Office of the Ombudsman owns exclusive authority to bring cases to the Sandiganbayan.[9]
The Sandiganbayan is housed in the Centennial Building, Commonwealth Avenue, National Government Center, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila.
History
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The Sandiganbayan was established under the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 11, 1978, by Presidential Decree No. 1486 in the 1973 Constitution. The court was equal in rank to the Regional Trial Courts (then known as the Courts of First Instance). On December 10, 1978, Presidential Decree No. 1606 elevated the ranking of the Sandiganbayan to match that of the Court of Appeals, the second-highest judicial court in the Philippines. The Sandiganbayan began operations on February 12, 1979.[10]
Amendments were introduced in Republic Acts No. 7975 and No. 8249, after the EDSA Revolution in 1986, which limited the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan to "cases involving public officials occupying positions classified as salary grade 27 and higher."[10]
The Sandiganbayan currently sits in seven divisions of three justices each, as per R.A. No. 10660, amending P.D. No. 1606.[11]
Martial law
When the Sandiganbayan began operations in 1979, it was composed of only one division (with Hon. Manuel R. Pamaran as Presiding Justice and two Associate Justices) and a 15-membered skeleton crew. In 1981, a second division was launched. A third division was formed on August 4, 1982.[10]
Aquino investigation
In the wake of the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. in August 1983, Ferdinand Marcos submitted the case for an immediate trial to the Sandiganbayan. Marcos' critics, who included business leaders and church leaders, claimed that the Sandiganbayan had no experience in trying a murder and demanded an appointment of an imperial prosecutor and independent judicial body instead.[12]
In 1984, the 26 people accused in the assassination of Aquino were acquitted by the Sandiganbayan in a 90-page verdict. The verdict disregarded all findings of the Agrava Commission, which was appointed to investigate the assassination.[13]
On June 13, 1985, the Sandiganbayan, with the aid of the commission, threw out the case against General Fabian Ver, the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, together with seven other military men. The Sandiganbayan voted for the exclusion of their testimonies in that they were self-incriminatory and inadmissible as evidence. The Supreme Court upheld this decision by a vote of 10–3 in August. Ver was soon reinstated as chief of staff by Marcos on December 2.[14]
Post-martial law
1987 Constitution
On February 2, 1987, a new constitution was ratified under President Corazon Aquino. The 1987 Constitution dictated the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances between the executive, legislature, and judiciary branches.[15]
The 1987 Constitution expanded the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan to include cases investigated by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) involving only on ill-gotten wealth, dictated by Executive Orders No. 14 and No. 14-A (main SB site & EO 14). In April 1994, Imelda Marcos and three former officials of the Ministry of Human Settlements (MHS) were indicted for the misappropriation of Php 97.9 million in MHS funds in 1985. At the same time, however, the Sandiganbayan dismissed charges against Imelda Marcos in connection with the sale of $125.9 million in Central Bank Treasury notes in the 1980s.[16]
Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the Office of the Ombudsman independently monitors all three branches of the government for political corruption.
Laws on graft and corruption in the Philippines
Laws on graft and corruption have been in effect as early as the 1950s, before the creation of the Sandiganbayan. Graft and corruption laws govern both public officers and natural persons.[17] The collection of these laws is overseen by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Republic Act Nos. 3019 and 1379
The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act is a law that stipulates that the Philippine Government shall repress certain acts of both public officers and the natural persons that may constitute graft or corruption. Acts that are subject under these laws include graft, divulging otherwise private information, negligence in warranted requests, undue injury by a public officer to any party – private or government – in the form of unwarranted benefits or disadvantages.[17]
In the case of unexplained accrual of wealth, R.A. No. 1379 states that a petition may be filed against any public officer who has acquired property unlawfully, be it through graft or any form of corruption. This petition should come from the Solicitor General of the Republic of the Philippines as per complaint by a taxpayer.
Republic Act No. 7080
Any public officer who amasses a certain amount of ill-gotten wealth (at least fifty-million pesos) through means of criminal acts – be it by himself or in connivance with other, shall be subject to reclusion perpetua, a form of imprisonment for life. Any accomplice shall be sentenced with the same.[18]
Republic Act. No. 9184
Under the Government Procurement Reform Act, public officers who commits any of the following who colludes with private individuals performs the following illegal acts in RA 9184 will suffer an imprisonment of not less than six years and one day, but not more than fifteen years.
Jurisdiction
To determine whether the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction, lawyers look into two criteria, namely: the nature of the offense and the salary grade of the public official.[20]
The Sandiganbayan shall have original exclusive jurisdiction over:
- Violation of Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Law (RA 3019)
- Forfeitures of Illegally Acquired Wealth (RA 1379)
- Crimes committed by public officers namely
- Direct, Indirect and Qualified Bribery
- Corruption of public officials
- Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes committed in relation to their office by public officials.
- Civil and Criminal Cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Orders 1, 2, 14 & 14-A issued in 1986
- Petitions for issuance of Writ of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, injunction and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction; Provided, jurisdiction is not exclusive of the Supreme Court.
- Petitions for Quo Warranto arising or that may arise in cases filed or that may be filed under EO 1, 2, 14 & 14- A
Provided that the accused belongs to a salary grade of 27 or higher, the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over:
- Violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards (RA 6713)
- Violation of the Plunder Law (RA 7080)
- Violation of The Heinous Crime Law (RA 7659)
- Violation of The Anti-Money Laundering Law when committed by a public officer (RA 9160)
- Presidential Decree 46 referred to as the gift-giving decree which makes it punishable for any official or employee to receive directly or indirectly and for the private person to give or offer to give any gift, present or other valuable thing on any occasion including Christmas, when such gift, present or valuable thing is given by reason of his official position, regardless of whether or not the same is for past favors or the giver hopes or expects to receive a favor or better treatment in the future from the public official or employee concerned in the discharge of his official functions.
- Included within the prohibition is the throwing of parties or entertainment in honor of the official or employee or his immediate relatives.
- Presidential Decree 749 which grants immunity from prosecution to any person who voluntarily gives information about any violation of Art.210, 211 or 212 of the RPC, RA 3019, Sec.345 of the NIRC, Sec. 3604 of the Customs and Tariff Code and other provisions of the said Codes penalizing abuse or dishonesty on the part of the public officials concerned and other laws, rules and regulations penalizing graft, corruption and other forms of official abuse and who willingly testifies against the public official or employee subject to certain conditions.
Private individuals can also be sued in cases before the Sandiganbayan if they are alleged to be in conspiracy with the public officer.[20]
The Sandiganbayan is vested with appellate jurisdiction over final judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Court whether in the exercise of their original or appellate jurisdiction over crimes and civil cases falling within the original exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan but which were committed by public officers below Salary Grade 27.[20]
Composition
The Sandiganbayan has a total of fifteen departments (two head offices, twelve divisions, and one Legal Research and Technical Staff) and a total of 385 authorized positions. 335 of 385 of these positions are filled.[21]
Electoral procedure
According to the Presidential Decree No. 1606, Section 1, the Presiding Justice and all Associate Justices shall be appointed by the president, as amended by Republic Act 8249.[22]
Appointment of the Court Officials and other employees, however, is not dependent on the president. According to Rule II, Section 7 of the Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan, "The Supreme Court shall appoint the Clerk of Court, the Division Clerks of Court and all other personnel of the Sandiganbayan upon recommendation of the Sandiganbayan en banc chosen from a list of qualified applicants prepared in accordance with the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations."[23]
Qualifications
Presidential Decree No. 1606 further states that "No person shall be appointed Presiding Justice or Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan; unless he is natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least 40 years of age and for at least ten years has been a judge of a court of record or been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines or has held office requiring admission to the bar as a pre-requisite for a like period.[22]
Justices
Division and roles
The Sandiganbayan originally had three divisions that assisted the Office of the Presiding Justice, according to the Article XIII of the 1973 Constitution. The number of divisions was raised to five divisions in 1995. In 2015, through the Republic Act 10660, under the Aquino Administration, the number of divisions was expanded to seven divisions.[24] Currently, the Sandiganbayan has Office of the Presiding Justice, Office of the Clerk of Court, Legal Research and Technical Staff, seven divisions (Office of the Deputy Clerk of Court), and five other divisions namely Judicial Records Division, Administrative Division, Budget and Finance Division, Management Information System Division, Security and Sheriff Services Division. The functions and roles of these offices and divisions are:[22][25]
- Office of the Presiding Justice – Enjoy precedence over the other members of the Sandiganbayan in all official functions; implements the policies, executes the resolutions and enforces the orders of the Court en banc; performs the functions specifically vested upon him by law, rules and regulations or those implied therefrom; performs all other functions and duties inherent in his position.
- Office of the Clerk of Court – The Clerk of Court is the administrative officer of the Sandiganbayan. He shall discharge his functions under the control and supervision of the Sandiganbayan en banc through the Presiding Justice. As administrative officer, he shall take direct charge of the administrative operations of the Sandiganbayan and exercise general supervision over its subordinate officials and employees except those belonging to the staff of the Presiding Justice and the Associate Justices. He shall assist the Presiding Justice in the formulation of programs and policies for consideration and action of the Sandiganbayan en banc. The Clerk of Court shall act as its secretariat and prepare its agenda, minutes of meetings and resolutions.
- Legal Research and Technical Staff – Provides legal and technical assistance to the Court by conducting legal research and studies; takes charge of all legal and related matters.
- Office of the Deputy Clerk of Court (seven divisions) – Assists the Clerk of Court in providing technical and administrative support and assistance to their particular Division of the Court; takes charge of the pre and post adjudicative matters relative to cases assigned to the First Division.
- Judicial Records Division – Takes charge of docketing of cases; plans, implements and evaluates programs for the systematic management of judicial records; and performs other related functions. Prepares entries of judgment; issues copies of decisions, resolutions and orders; maintains a systematic filing and records keeping; and handles the Court's information system, monitoring requests for statistical data.
- Administrative Division – Attends to the manpower development and service needs of the Court; and performs all functions relative to administrative and personnel matters. Attends to the procurement and maintenance of the properties, supplies and equipment of the Court, including the Court's physical plant Takes charge of the collection and disbursement of the Court.
- Budget and Finance Division – Prepares and executes the budget of the Court; initiates plans and formula for more effective utilization of funds allotted to the Court; fiscalizes the agency's financial interest including disclosure of deficiencies in control needing corrections. Keeps accounting records for the Court; prepares reports required by the Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Audit and other government agencies.
- Management Information System Division – Provides technical services related to the planning, development, implementation and maintenance of information systems; takes care of all information and communications technology requirements of the Court.
- Security and Sheriff Services Division – In charge of the formulation of plans, implements and evaluates program for the systematic management of security of the Sandiganbayan premises, property and personnel and performs other related functions; takes charge of the formulation of systems for the effective services of Court processes and enforcement of Writs issued by the various Divisions of the Court; serves as liaison office with the various law enforcement agencies and the media regarding all court orders and processes issued by the various divisions of the Court, and other court related matters; takes custody of all accused processing their bail for their temporary liberty and/or to turn-over accused who voluntarily surrenders to the authorized detention centers; oversee that all judicial and extrajudicial proceedings are accomplished; takes charge of the formulation of effective management and implementation of all kinds of court orders or processes and writs coming from the various divisions of the Court.
Cases
Procedures
The Sandiganbayan holds regular sessions in its principal office in Metro Manila. Sessions may be held outside of Metro Manila when authorized by the Presiding Justice. Cases are heard either en banc or more commonly, by divisions.[26]
Cases are distributed among the divisions through a raffle system. The assignment of a case to a division is permanent, regardless of changes in constitution. Justices may inhibit (i.e., recuse) themselves from a case if they served as Ponente, the Member to whom the Court, after its deliberation on the merits of a case, assigns the writing of its decision or resolution in the case[27]. in the appealed decision of the lower court, or if they or their family members are personally related with the case, or for any other compelling reason. In case of inhibition (recusal) or disqualification, the case will remain with the same division, but the recused justice will be replaced.[26]
Cases may reach the Sandiganbayan either through an appeal from a Regional Trial Court or by original petition filed with the Sandiganbayan.[26] After a case is raffled to a Division, the accused party must be arraigned within thirty days. A pre-trial conference is then held to reach an agreement and issue a pre-trial order. The case is then taken to trial.[28] Following the Speedy Trial Act of 1998, no trial may exceed six months from its starting date. However, the act also allows for certain delays that are excluded from the computed time of trial, including delays caused by other related proceedings involving the accused, absence of the accused or essential witness, and mental or physical incompetence of the accused to stand trial.[29]
Adjudication
Cases are deemed submitted for decision after the last brief, pleading, or memorandum is filed, or after the deadline for doing so has passed. All adjudicatory action is exercised through the divisions of the Sandiganbayan. The rendition of judgment or final order is based on the unanimous vote of the three Justices in the deciding division. When the Sandiganbayan sits en banc to resolve motions and other incidents, at least eight justices must vote in order to adopt a resolution.[26]
In a joint trial involving multiple cases, a joint or separate judgment may be rendered by the division. In cases involving multiple accused, the division may also render judgment for one or more of the accused by a unanimous vote.[26]
If a unanimous vote cannot be reached in any case, a special division of five will be formed to decide the case by majority vote. Promulgation is done by reading the judgment aloud with the accused present along with any Justice from the deciding division. Decisions are published in the Official Gazette or the official website of the Sandiganbayan.[26]
Appeals
In general, a party sentenced to any penalty lower than death, life imprisonment, or reclusion perpetua may appeal by filing a motion for reconsideration or a motion for new trial within fifteen days of promulgation of judgment. If a new trial is granted, the previous judgment will be overruled and the new judgment rendered. New trials must also not exceed six months in duration, albeit allowing for certain delays as specified in the Speedy Trial Act.[29] For civil cases, the accused party may file for a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court. If the party files an appeal to the Supreme Court, any motion of reconsideration filed to the Sandiganbayan will be deemed abandoned.[26]
If the accused party wishes to appeal from a sentence of life imprisonment or reclusion perpetua, a notice of appeal is filed with the Sandiganbayan and presented to the adverse party. In cases where the Sandiganbayan sentences the accused to death penalty, an automatic appeal follows where the Supreme Court will conduct a review of judgment before the final decision is rendered.[26]
Notable cases
Jinggoy Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan
In June 2014, plunder charges against former Philippine senator Jinggoy Estrada and several other members of Congress allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam run by Janet Lim-Napoles were filed by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan. Estrada was accused of plundering ₱183 million from the Priority Development Assistance Fund.[30]
Withdrawal of justices
In December 2014, all three justices of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division (Associate Justices Roland Jurado, Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Gómez-Estoesta) assigned to the case against Estrada recused themselves from the case for "personal reasons". This marked the first time in the court's history that an entire division withdrew from hearing a case. Though the justices refused to elaborate on their reasons for recusal, the withdrawal was said to have been due to "pressure" from the public to deny Estrada's petition for bail.[31]
Imelda Marcos vs. Sandiganbayan
In 1991, ten counts of graft were filed against former first lady Imelda Marcos before the Sandiganbayan. Marcos was accused of creating private Swiss foundations during her time as governor of Metro Manila, between 1978 and 1984. She was also accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act by holding financial interests in multiple private enterprises. The government has since uncovered Marcos Swiss deposits amounting to $658 million.[32]
Another corruption case against Marcos involving "unlawfully acquired" art collections amounting to $24 million has been brought to the Sandiganbayan by appeals from the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Office of the Solicitor General. The case is being handled by the Special First Division of the Sandiganbayan.[32]
Delays in court proceedings
The case against Imelda Marcos has been ongoing for over 26 years due to multiple causes of delay in court proceedings. In 2017, Marcos was absent from what was scheduled to be her last day of trial for the graft case. In the same year, the trial was reset by the Fifth Division due to the failure of the defense to present their last evidence in the case.[32]
Membership
Incumbent justices
The Sandiganbayan consists of a Presiding justice and twenty associate justices. Among the current members of the Court, Efren De la Cruz is the longest-serving justice, with a tenure of 7,393 days (20 years, 88 days) as of January 7, 2024; the most recent justice to enter the court is Juliet M. Manalo-San Gaspar, whose tenure began on September 26, 2023.
| Office | Justice (Date of Birth) |
Date Appointed Length of service[33] |
Appointed by | Date of Retirement (70 years old)[34] |
Replacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presiding Justice | Amparo Cabotaje-Tang November 8, 1954 |
October 7, 2013 | Aquino III | Nov 8, 2024 | Villaruz, Jr |
| Senior Associate Justice | Efren de la Cruz June 18, 1954 |
October 11, 2003 | Macapagal-Arroyo | June 18, 2024 | Badoy Jr. |
| Associate Justice | |||||
| Rafael Lagos December 22, 1954 |
May 17, 2013 | Aquino III | December 22, 2024 | Geraldez | |
| Oscar Herrera Jr. May 23, 1954 |
December 6, 2016 | May 23, 2024 | Sandoval | ||
| Maria Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta March 17, 1967 |
January 20, 2014 | March 17, 2037 | Cabotaje-Tang | ||
| Sarah Jane Fernandez May 14, 1969 |
May 5, 2015 | May 14, 2039 | Ong | ||
| Michael Frederick Musñgi Michael Frederick L. Musñgi April 14, 1965 |
January 20, 2016 | April 14, 2035 | New Seat | ||
| Maria Geraldine Faith Abtacia-Econg August 6, 1965 |
January 20, 2016 | August 6, 2035 | |||
| Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega December 18, 1965 |
January 20, 2016 | December 18, 2035 | |||
| Karl Miranda October 9, 1957 |
January 20, 2016 | October 9, 2027 | |||
| Zaldy Trespeses December 30, 1972 |
January 20, 2016 | December 30, 2042 | |||
| Bernelito Fernandez June 9, 1955 |
October 28, 2016 | Duterte | June 9, 2025 | Diaz-Baldos | |
| Lorifel Lacap-Pahimna February 10, 1961 |
Mar 1, 2017 | February 10, 2031 | Inoturan | ||
| Edgardo Caldona February 12, 1970 |
Mar 10, 2017 | February 12, 2040 | Hernandez | ||
| Bayani Jacinto April 30, 1969 |
May 29, 2017 | April 30, 2039 | Jurado | ||
| Kevin Narce Vivero January 2, 1960 |
November 28, 2017 | January 2, 2030 | Martires | ||
| Maryann Corpus-Mañalac July 27, 1966 |
December 8, 2017 | July 27, 2036 | Cornejo | ||
| Georgina Dumpit-Hidalgo April 14, 1964 |
January 18, 2018 | Apr 14, 2034 | Ponferrada | ||
| Ronald Moreno January 23, 1970 |
Jun 8, 2018 (5 years, 203 days) |
Jan 23, 2040 | Gesmundo | ||
| Arthur Malabagio January 10, 1965 |
Mar 4, 2022 | Jan 10, 2035 | Cruz | ||
| Juliet Manalo-San Gaspar July 2, 1971 |
September 26, 2023 | Marcos Jr. | July 2, 2041 | Quiroz |
Divisions
| First Division | Second Division | Third Division | Fourth Division | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairperson | E. Dela Cruz | Chairperson | O. Herrera, Jr. | Chairperson | A. Cabotaje-Tang | Chairperson | M. Musñgi |
| Members |
"" J. Manalo-San Gaspar |
Members |
|
Members |
|
Members |
|
| Fifth Division | Sixth Division | Seventh Division | |||||
| Chairperson | R. Lagos | Chairperson | M. Gomez-Estoesta | Chairperson | S. Fernandez | ||
| Members |
|
Members |
|
Members |
| ||
Demographics
By appointing President
| President | Total | Percentage | Justices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquino III | 10 | 47.62% |
|
| Duterte | 9 | 42.86% |
|
| Macapagal Arroyo | 1 | 4.76% | E. De la Cruz Senior Associate Justice |
| Bongbong Marcos | 1 | 4.76% | J. Manalo-San Gaspar |
By gender
| Gender | Total | Percentage | Justices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 11 | 57.14% |
|
| Female | 9 | 42.86% |
|
By tenure
| Year | Total Retiring | Justices |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 |
|
| 2025 | 1 | B. Fernandez |
| 2027 | 1 | K. Miranda |
| 2030 | 1 | K. Viviero |
| 2031 | 1 | L. Pahimna |
| 2034 | 1 | G. Hidalgo |
| 2035 | 3 |
|
| 2036 | 1 | M. Corpuz-Mañalac |
| 2037 | 3 |
|
| 2039 | 2 | B. Jacinto J. Manalo-San Gaspar |
| 2040 | 2 |
|
| 2041 | 1 |
|
| 2042 | 1 |
|
Roll of Sandignbayan Justices (1978–present)
| No. | Name of Sandiganbayan justices | Start of term | Position | Appointed by | Replacing | Presiding Justice(s) | End of term | Reason for Termination | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuel Pamaran | June 11, 1978[lower-roman 1] | Presiding Justice | Marcos, Sr. | New Seat | First Presiding Justice | March 31, 1986 | Resigned | |
| 1 | Bernardo Fernandez | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Pamaran | June 11, 1981 | Retired | |||
| 2 | Romeo Escareal | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Pamaran | March 5, 1996 | ||||
| 3 | Buenaventura Guerrero | December 8, 1980 | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Fernandez | Pamaran | May 16, 1986 | Resigned | |
| 4 | Conrado Molina | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | New Seat | Pamaran | July 18, 1992 | Retired | ||
| 5 | Moises Kallos | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Pamaran | December 15, 1983 | Retired | |||
| 6 | Ramon Jabson | November 20, 1981 | bAssociate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Pamaran | May 18, 1988 | Retired | ||
| 7 | Fidel Purisima | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Pamaran | March 10, 1984 | Resigned | |||
| 8 | Francisco Consolacion | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | ||||||
| 9 | Romulo Quimbo | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Pamaran | May 16, 1986 | Resigned | |||
| 10 | Augusto Amores | October 7, 1984 | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Kallos | Pamaran | July 5, 1995 | Retired | |
| 11 | Amante Alconcel | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Pamaran | May 16, 1986 | Resigned | |||
| 12 | Bienvenido Vera Cruz | Associate Justice | Marcos, Sr. | Pamaran | |||||
| 2 | Francis Garchitorena | April 18, 1986 | Presiding Justice | C. Aquino | Pamaran | Escareal (acting) | January 16, 2002 | Retired | |
| 13 | Regino C. Hermosisima Jr. | May 16, 1986 | Associate Justice | C. Aquino | Purisima | Garchitorena | July 18, 1995 | Appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice | |
| 14 | Luciano Joson | May 21, 1986 | Associate Justice | C. Aquino | Consolacion | Garchitorena | March 17, 1990 | Retired | |
| 15 | Cipriano del Rosario | May 22, 1986 | Associate Justice | C. Aquino | Guerrero | Garchitorena | March 15, 2001 | Retired | |
| 16 | Jose Balajadia | May 30, 1986 | Associate Justice | C. Aquino | Quimbo | Garchitorena | February 14, 1998 | Resigned | |
| 17 | Nathanael Grospe | December 2, 1988 | Associate Justice | C. Aquino | Jabson | Garchitorena | January 16, 1993 | Retired | |
| 18 | Sabino de Leon Jr. | March 13, 1990 | Associate Justice | C. Aquino | Alconel | Garchitorena | October 11, 1999 | Appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice | |
| 19 | Narciso Atienza | September 14, 1992 | Associate Justice | Ramos | Vera Cruz | Garchitorena | December 17, 1993 | Retirement | |
| 20 | Minita Chico-Nazario | May 10, 1993 | Associate Justice | Ramos | Joson | Garchitorena | February 28, 2003 | Appointed Presiding Justice | |
| 21 | Roberto Lagman | November 28, 1994 | Associate Justice | Ramos | Molina | Garchitorena | February 14, 1998 | Resigned | |
| 22 | Harriet Demetriou | August 28, 1995 | Associate Justice | Ramos | Grospe | Garchitorena | Resigned | ||
| 23 | Edilberto Sandoval | March 11, 1996[lower-roman 2] | Associate Justice | Ramos | Atienza | Garchitorena | September 17, 2010 | Appointed Presiding Justice | |
| 24 | Leonardo Cruz | Associate Justice | Ramos | Amores | Garchitorena | March 11, 1997 | Resigned | ||
| 25 | Teresita De Castro | September 8, 1997 | Associate Justice | Ramos | Hermosisima Jr. | Garchitorena | December 15, 2004 | Appointed Presiding Justice | |
| 26 | Narciso Nario Sr. | Associate Justice | Ramos | Escareal | Garchitorena | January 15, 2002 | Earl5 Retirement | ||
| 27 | Anaclet Badoy Jr. | Associate Justice | Ramos | L. Cruz | Garchitorena | March 11, 2002 | Retired | ||
| 28 | Catalino Castañeda Jr. | Associate Justice | Ramos | New Seat | Garchitorena | January 15, 2002 | Retired | ||
| 29 | German Lee Jr. | Associate Justice | Ramos | New Seat | Garchitorena | December 17, 1998 | Retired | ||
| 30 | Godofredo Legaspi | Associate Justice | Ramos | Garchitorena | September 8, 2006 | Retired | |||
| 31 | Alfredo Gustillo | October 5, 1998 [lower-alpha 1] | Associate Justice | Estrada | Ballajadia | Garchitorena | March 3, 1999 | Retired | |
| 32 | Gregory S. Ong | Associate Justice | Estrada | Lagman | Garchitorena | September 23, 2014 | Resigned | ||
| 33 | Ricardo Ilarde | October 7, 1998 | Associate Justice | Estrada | Demetriou | Garchitorena | March 3, 2001 | Retied | |
| 34 | Rodolfo Palattao | October 9, 1998 | Associate Justice | Estrada | New Seat | Garchitorena | March 3, 2003 | Retirement | |
| 35 | Maria Cristina Cortez-Estrada | October 19, 1998 | Associate Justice | Estrada | Lee, Jr. | Garchitorena | July 2, 2009 | Appointed Presiding Justice | |
| 36 | Raoul Victorino | January 31, 2000 | Associate Justice | Estrada | Gustillo | Garchitorena | February 15, 2005 | Retirement | |
| 37 | Nicodemo Ferrer | Associate Justice | Estrada | de León, Jr. | Garchitorena | February 15, 2002 | Early Retirement | ||
| 38 | Francisco Villaruz Jr. | October 2, 2001 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Ilarde | Garchitorena | October 5, 2011 | Retired | |
| 3 | Minita Chico-Nazario | February 26, 2003 acting since January 16, 2002 |
Presiding Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Garchitorena | Sandoval (acting) | February 10, 2004 | Appointed SC Associate Justice | |
| 39 | Diosdado Peralta | June 14, 2002 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | del Rosario | Chico-Nazario | March 28, 2008 | Appointed Presiding Justice | |
| 40 | Norberto Geraldez | January 21, 2003 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Nario, Sr. | Chico-Nazario | February 28, 2010 | ||
| 41 | Roland Jurado | October 3, 2003 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Castañeda, Jr. | Chico-Nazario | February 1, 2017 | Retirement | |
| 42 | Efren de la Cruz | October 10, 2003 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Chico-Nazario | Chico-Nazario | Incumbent | ||
| 43 | Teresita Diaz-Baldos | October 17, 2003 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Ferrer | Chico-Nazario | July 22, 2016 | Retirement | |
| 44 | Jose Hernandez | March 9, 2004 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Bádoy, Jr. | Chico-Nazario | November 22, 2016 | Retirement | |
| 45 | Rodolfo Ponferrada | August 23, 2004 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Palattao | Chico-Nazario | September 13, 2017 | Retirement | |
| 4 | Teresita de Castro | December 15, 2004 | Presiding Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Chico-Nazario | Sandoval (acting) | December 3, 2007 | Appointed SC Associate Justice | |
| 46 | Alexander Gesmundo | October 15, 2005 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Leonardo-de Castro | Leonardo-de Castro | August 14, 2017 | Appointed SC Associate Justice | |
| 47 | Samuel Martires | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Victorino | Leonardo-de Castro | March 2, 2017 | Appointed SC Associate Justice | ||
| 5 | Diosdado Peralta | March 28, 2008 | Presiding Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Leonardo-de Castro | Sandoval (acting) | January 14, 2009 | Appointed SC Associate Justice | |
| 48 | Napoleon Inoturan | April 4, 2008 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Legaspí | Peralta | August 1, 2016 | Retired | |
| 49 | Alex Quiroz | December 11, 2008 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Peralta | Peralta | July 28, 2022 | Early Retirement | |
| 6 | Maria Cristina Cortez-Estrada | July 2, 2009 | Presiding Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Peralta | Villaruz Jr. (acting) | November 30, 2009 | Retirement | |
| 7 | Norberto Geraldez | February 28, 2010 | Presiding Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Cortéz-Estrada | Villaruz Jr. (acting) | April 4, 2010 | Died in Office | |
| 8 | Edilberto Sandoval | September 17, 2010 | Presiding Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Geraldez | Villaruz Jr. (acting) | October 4, 2011 | Retired | |
| 50 | Maria Cristina Cornejo | May 1, 2010 | Associate Justice | Macapagal-Arroyo | Cortéz-Estrada | Sandoval | March 1, 2017 | Early Retirement | |
| 51 | Rafael Lagos | December 9, 2010 | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | Geraldez | Sandoval | Incumbent | ||
| 9 | Francisco Villaruz Jr. | October 5, 2011 | Presiding Justice | B. Aquino III | Sandoval | G. Ong (acting) | June 8, 2013 | Retirement | |
| 52 | Oscar Herrera Jr. | April 26, 2011 | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | Sandóval | Villaruz, Jr. | Incumbent | ||
| 53 | Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang | June 11, 2012 | B. Aquino III | Villaruz, Jr. | Villaruz, Jr. | October 7, 2013 | Appointed Presiding Justice | ||
| 10 | October 7, 2013 | Presiding Justice | B. Aquino III | Villaruz, Jr. | G. Ong (acting) | Incumbent | |||
| 54 | Maria Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta | June 20, 2014 | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | Cabotaje-Tang | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 55 | Sarah Jane Fernandez | May 5, 2015 | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | G. Ong | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 56 | Michael Frederick Musñgi | January 20, 2016 | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | New Seat | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 57 | Reynaldo Cruz | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | Cabotaje-Tang | February 21, 2020 | Died in Office | |||
| 58 | Geraldine Faith Econg | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||||
| 59 | Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||||
| 60 | Karl Miranda | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||||
| 61 | Zaldy Trespeses | Associate Justice | B. Aquino III | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||||
| 62 | Bernelito Fernandez | October 28, 2016 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Díaz-Baldos | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 63 | Lorifel Pahimna | March 1, 2017 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Inoturan | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 64 | Edgardo Caldona | March 10, 2017 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Hernández | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 65 | Bayani Jacinto | May 29, 2017 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Jurado | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 66 | Kevin Narce Vivero | November 28, 2017 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Martires | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 67 | Maryann Corpus-Mañalac | December 8, 2017 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Cornejo | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 68 | Georgina Hidalgo | January 18, 2018 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Ponferrada | Cabotaje-Tang | incumbent | ||
| '69 | Ronald Moreno | June 8, 2018 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Gesmundo | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 70 | Arthur Malabaguio | May 24, 2021 | Associate Justice | Duterte | Cruz | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent | ||
| 71 | Juliet Manalo-San Gaspar | September 26, 2023 | Associate Justice | Marcos, Jr. | Quiroz | Cabotaje-Tang | Incumbent |
The rule of seniority
The Associate Justices of the Court are usually ordered according to the date of their appointment. There are no official ramifications as to this ranking, although the order determines the seating arrangement on the bench and is duly considered in all matters of protocol. Within the discretion of the Court, the ranking may also factor into the composition of the divisions of the Court.
The incumbent Justice with the earliest date of appointment is deemed the Senior Associate Justice. The Senior Associate Justice has no constitutional or statutory duties, but usually acts as Acting Presiding Justice during the absence of the Presiding Justice. The Senior Associate Justice is not usually designated as the chairperson of the second division of the Court.
The following became Senior Associate Justices in their tenure in the Sandiganbayan:
| No. | Senior Associate Justice | Year Appointed | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernardo Fernandez | 1978 | 1978–1981 | |
| 2 | Romeo Escareal | 1978 | 1981–1996 | |
| 3 | Cipriano Del Rosario | 1986 | 1996–2001 | |
| 4 | Minita Chico-Nazario | 1993 | 2001-2002* | |
| 5 | Edilberto Sandoval | 1996 | 2002–2010 | |
| 6 | Gregory S. Ong | 1998 | 2010-2014[lower-roman 3] | |
| 7 | Efren de la Cruz | 2003 | 2014-incumbent | |
- ↑ Justice Escareal became the acting presiding Justice upon the retirement of Presiding Justice Pamaran on March 31, 1986 until April 18, 1986
- ↑ Justice Sandoval the acting Preising Justice from February 10, 2004 to December 15, 2004, from December 4, 2007 until March 27, 2008, from erbruart 27 to 28 2010 and from April 4–5, 2010
- ↑ resigned on September 23, 2014
See also
Notes
- ↑ Assoc. Justice Ong became acting PJ after the retirement of PJ Sandoval and PJ Villaruz's appointment and again between the retirement of PJ Villaruz and the Appointment of PJ Cabotaje-Tang
References
- ↑ Aika Rey (January 8, 2020). "Where will the money go?". Rappler. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ↑ "C. Sandiganbayan" (PDF). dbm.gov.ph. Department of Budget and Management. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ↑ "PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1486 : CREATING A SPECIAL COURT TO BE KNOWN AS "SANDIGANBAYAN" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES". lawphil.net. June 11, 1978.
- ↑ "P.D. No. 1606". www.lawphil.net.
- ↑ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7975 : AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE FUNCTIONAL AND STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN, AMENDING FOR THAT PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, AS AMENDED, March 30, 1995.
- ↑ Republic Act No. 8249 : AN ACT FURTHER DEFINING THE JURISDICTION OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES., February 5, 1997.
- ↑ "Republic Act No. 10660". lawphil.net. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ↑ "PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1606, as amended by R.A. NO. 7975* and R.A. NO. 8249*" (PDF).
- ↑ Stephenson, Matthew (July 2016). "Specialised anti-corruption courts: Philippines". U4 Brief. 3: 4 – via U4.
- 1 2 3 "Sandiganbayan". sb.judiciary.gov.ph. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ↑ Gutierrez, Natashya (April 21, 2015). "Aquino signs law expanding Sandiganbayan to 7 divisions". Rappler. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ↑ Malin, Herbert (February 1985). "The Philippines in 1984: Grappling with Crisis". Asian Survey. 25 (2): 198–205. doi:10.2307/2644303. JSTOR 2644303.
- ↑ Manning, Robert (Winter 1984). "The Philippines in Crisis". Foreign Affairs. 63 (2): 392–410. doi:10.2307/20042190. JSTOR 20042190.
- ↑ Villegas, Bernardo (February 1986). "The Philippines in 1985: Rolling with the Political Punches". Asian Survey. 26 (2): 127–140. doi:10.2307/2644448. JSTOR 2644448.
- ↑ Hernandez, Carolina (February 1988). "The Philippines in 1987: Challenges of Redemocratization". Asian Survey. 28 (2): 229–241. doi:10.2307/2644824. JSTOR 2644824.
- ↑ Reidinger, Jeffrey (February 1995). "The Philippines in 1994: Renewed Growth and Contested Reforms". Asian Survey. 35 (2): 209–216. doi:10.2307/2645032. JSTOR 2645032.
- 1 2 "[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1379] AN ACT DECLARING FORFEITURE IN FAVOR OF THE STATE ANY PROPERTY FOUND TO HAVE BEEN UNLAWFULLY ACQUIRED BY ANY PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE AND PROVIDING FOR THE PROCEEDINGS THEREFOR" (PDF). napolcom. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ↑ "AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF PLUNDER". The LawPhil Project. July 12, 1991. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Sandiganbayan" (PDF).
- 1 2 3 "JURISDICTION OF SANDIGANBAYAN". Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ↑ "The Judiciary : Sandiganbayan" (PDF).
- 1 2 3 "Presidential decree" (PDF). www.ombudsman.gov.ph. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ↑ "Internal rules" (PDF). www.ombudsman.gov.ph. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ↑ "Aquino signs law expanding Sandiganbayan to 7 divisions". April 21, 2015.
- ↑ "About".
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Supreme Court of the Philippines. "Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan." Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ↑ "Internal Rules of the Supreme Court".
- ↑ "Plunder and graft trials: How do cases proceed in the courts?". Rappler. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- 1 2 "Speedy Trial Act of 1998". February 12, 1998. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
- ↑ Merez, Arianne. "TIMELINE: Jinggoy Estrada's pork barrel scam case". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ↑ Ramos, Marlon. "3 Sandiganbayan justices quit cases vs Jinggoy Estrada". Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- 1 2 3 "Imelda Marcos snubs last day of trial for 1991 graft case". Rappler. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ↑ "SANDIGANBAYAN INCUMBENT JUSTICES". sb.judiciary.gov.ph. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ↑ "Article VIII, Sec. 11 of the Constitution of the Philippines". Retrieved August 6, 2021.
Sources
External links
Media related to Sandiganbayan at Wikimedia Commons- Sandiganbayan – Official Website
- Sandiganbayan – Chan Robles Virtual Law Library – Information on the Sandiganbayan