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Contents:

IntroductionThe Supreme CourtThe Chief Justice

INTRODUCTIONJudicial power rests with the Supreme Court and the lower courts, as established by law (Art. VIII, sec. 1 of the 1987 Constitution).Its duty is to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable (Art. VIII Sec. 1 (2)).

The judiciary enjoys scal autonomy. Its appropriation may not be reduced by the Legislature below the appropriated amount theprevious year (Art. VIII, Sec. 3).

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RULES AND PROCEDURESThe Rules of Court of the Philippines, as amended and the rules and regulations issued by the Supreme Court, dene the rules andprocedures of the judiciary. These rules and regulations are in the form of administrative matters, administrative orders, circulars,memorandum circulars, memorandum orders, and OCA circulars. The Supreme Court disseminates these rules and regulations toall courts, publishes important ones in newspapers of general circulation, prints them in book or pamphlet form, and uploads themto the Supreme Court website (http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/) and the Supreme Court E-Library website(http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/).

On June 21, 1988, the Supreme Court promulgated the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession. The draft wasprepared by the Committee on Responsibility, Discipline and Disbarment of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

APPOINTMENTS TO THE JUDICIARYBy virtue of Article VIII, Section 8, appointments to the judiciary are made by the President of the Philippines based on a listsubmitted by the Judicial and Bar Council which is under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Its principal function is to screenprospective appointees to any judicial post. It is composed of the chief justice as ex-ofcio chairman, the Secretary of Justice andrepresentatives of Congress as ex-ofcio members, and a representative of the Integrated Bar, a professor of law, a retired memberof the Supreme Court and a representative of the private sector as members.

PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL ACADEMYThe Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) is the training school for justices, judge, court personnel, lawyers and aspirants tojudicial posts. It was originally created by the Supreme Court on March 16, 1996 by virtue of Administrative Order No. 35-96, andwas institutionalized on February 26, 1998 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8557. No appointee to the bench may commence thedischarge his adjudicative function without completing the prescribed court training in the academy. Its organizational structureand administrative setup are provided for by the Supreme Court in its en banc resolution (Revised A.M. No. 01-1-04-sc-PHILJA).

PHILIPPINE MEDIATION CENTER

The Philippine Mediation Center was organized pursuant to the en banc Supreme Court Resolution A.M. No. 01-10-5-SC-PHILJA,dated October 16, 2001, and in line with the objectives of the Action Program for Judicial Reforms (APJR) to decongest courtdockets, among others, the court prescribed guidelines in institutionalizing and implementing the mediation program in thePhilippines. The same resolution designated the Philippine Judicial Academy as the component unit of the Supreme Court forCourt-Annexed Mediation and other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, and established the Philippine MediationCenter (PMC).

Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Ofce was organized to implement the rules on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education formembers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (B.M. No. 850 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)). It holds ofcein the Integrated Bar of the Philippines main ofce.

KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAYPresidential Decree No. 1508 (http://www.gov.ph/1978/06/11/presidential-decree-no-1508-s-1978/), or the KatarungangPambarangay Law, took effect on December 11, 1978, and established a system of amicably settling disputes at the barangaylevel. This decree and the Local Government Code (http://www.gov.ph/1991/10/10/republic-act-no-7160/) provided rules andprocedures, Title I, Chapter 7, Sections 339-422. This system of amicable settlement of dispute aims to promote the speedyadministration of justice by easing the congestion of court dockets. The court does not take cognizance of cases led if they arenot led rst with the Katarungang Pambarangay.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) SYSTEMRepublic Act No. 9285 institutionalized the use of an alternative dispute resolution system, which serves to promote the speedyand impartial administration of justice and unclog the court dockets. This act shall be without prejudice to the adoption of theSupreme Court of any ADR system such as mediation, conciliation, arbitration or any combination thereof.

THE SUPREME COURT

(HTTP://WWW.GOV.PH/IMAGES/UPLOADS/SUPREME-COURT-SEAL.PNG)HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURTRoyal audencia

The royal audencia was established on May 5, 1583, composed of a president, four oidores (justices) and a scal. The audenciaexercised both administrative and judicial functions. Its functions and structure were modied in 1815 when a chief justicereplaced its president and the number of justices was increased. It came to be known as the Audencia Territorial de Manila withtwo branches, civil and criminal. A royal decree issued on July 24, 1861 converted it to a purely judicial body with its decisionsappealable to the Court of Spain in Madrid. A territorial audencia in Cebu, and audencia for criminal cases in Vigan were organizedon February 26, 1898.

Philippine Revolution and First Republic

In the three phases of the revolution: 1896-1897; 1898; 1899-1901, the exigencies of war prevented the thorough organization ofthe administration of justice. Katipunan councils, then the provisional governments of Tejeros, Biak-na-Bato, and the RevolutionaryRepublic proclaimed in Kawit, essentially had General Emilio Aguinaldo exercising decree-making powers instituting ad hoc courtsand reviewing any appeals concerning their decisions.

In 1899, when the Malolos Constitution was ratied, it provided for a Supreme Court of Justice. President Aguinaldo proposed theappointment of Apolinario Mabini as Chief Justice, but the appointment and the convening of the Supreme Court of Justice nevermaterialized because of the Philippine-American War.

American military rule

During the Philippine-American War, General Wesley Merrit suspended the audencias when a military government was establishedafter Manila fell to American forces in August, 1898. Major General Elwell S. Otis re-established the Audencia on May 29, 1899 byvirtue of General Order No. 20, which provided for six Filipino members of the audencia.

Establishment of the Supreme Court

With the establishment of civil government, Act No. 136 of the Philippine Commission abolished the audencia and established thepresent Supreme Court on June 11, 1901, with Cayetano Arellano as the rst chief justice together with associate justicesthemajority of whom were Americans.

Commonwealth: Filipinization of the Supreme Court

With the ratication of the 1935 Constitution, the membership was increased to 11 with two divisions of ve members each. TheSupreme Court was Filipinized upon the inauguration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines on November 15, 1935. Thecomposition of the court was reduced by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 3. It provided for a Supreme Court, headed by a chiefjustice with six associate justices.

World War II and the Third Republic

During World War II, the National Assembly passed legislation granting emergency powers to President Manuel L. Quezon; ChiefJustice Jose Abad Santos was made concurrent Secretary of Justice and acting President of the Philippines in unoccupied areas.After his capture and execution at the hands of the Japanese, the Commonwealth government-in-exile had no system of courts.

Meanwhile, the Japanese organized the Philippine Executive Commission in occupied areas on January 8, 1942, which gave way tothe Second Republic in October 14, 1943. By the end of World War II, the regular function of the courts had been restored,beginning with the appointment of a new Supreme Court on June 6, 1945. On September 17, 1945, the laws of the Second Republicwere declared null and void; a Supreme Court decision on Co Kim Cham v. Eusebio Valdez Tan Keh and Arsenio P. Dizonrecognized this.

Martial law

The Supreme Court was retained during the martial law years under rules similar to the 1935 Constitution, but with the exceptionfew key factors, e.g.:

1. The 1973 Constitution further increased the membership of the Supreme Court to 15, with two divisions;2. The process by which a chief justice and associate justices are appointed was changed under to grant the president (Ferdinand

Marcos during this time) the sole authority to appoint members of the Supreme Court. There were five chief justices that wereappointed under this provision.

PRESENT-DAY SUPREME COURTPursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Constitution, the Supreme Court is composed of a chief Justice and 14 associate justiceswho serve until the age of 70. The court may sit en banc or in one of its three divisions composed of ve members each. The chiefjustice and associate justices are appointed by the President of the Philippines, chosen from a shortlist submitted by the Judicialand Bar Council (http://www.gov.ph/briefer-jbc/). The president must ll up a vacancy within 90 days of occurrence.

Article VIII, Section 4 (2) of the constitution explicitly provides for the cases that must be heard en banc, and Section 4 (3) forcases that may be heard by divisions.

The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 transferred the administrative supervision of all courts and their personnel from theDepartment of Justice to the Supreme Court. This was afrmed by Article VIII, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution. To effectivelydischarge this constitutional mandate, the Ofce of the Court Administrator (OCA) was created under Presidential Decree No. 828,as amended by Presidential Decree No. 842 (and its functions further strengthened by a resolution of the Supreme Court en bancdated October 24, 1996). Its principal function is the supervision and administration of the lower courts throughout the Philippinesand all their personnel. It reports and recommends to the Supreme Court all actions that affect the lower court management. TheOCA is headed by the court administrator, three deputy court administrators, and three assistant court administrators.

According to the 1987 Constitution, Article VIII, Section 5, the Supreme Court exercises the following powers:

1. Exercise jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and over petitions for certiorari,prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus.

2. Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm, on appeal or certiorari, as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, finaljudgments and orders of the lower courts in:

All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive agreement, law, presidentialdecree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in question;All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any penalty imposed in relation thereto;All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue;All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher;All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved;

3. Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations as public interest may require. Such temporary assignmentsshall not exceed six months without the consent of the judge concerned.

4. Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

1. Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all

courts; the admission to the practice of law, the Integrated Bar; and legal assistance to the underprivileged. Such rules shallprovide a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts the samegrade, and shall not diminish, increase or modify substantive rights. Rules of procedure of special courts and quasi-judicialbodies shall remain effective unless disapproved by the Supreme Court.

2. Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil Service Law (Sec. 5 , id.).

The Supreme Court has adopted and promulgated the Rules of Court for the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleadings and practice and

procedure in all courts, and the admission in the practice of law. Amendments are promulgated through the Committee on Revision of Rules. The Court also

issues administrative rules and regulations in the form of court issuances posted on the Supreme Court E-Library website.

THE CHIEF JUSTICETHE INCUMBENT

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The incumbent Chief Justice, Ma. Lourdes P.A. Sereno, appointed byPresident Benigno S. Aquino III, took her oath of office on August 25,2012. She is the first woman to hold the position.

Ma. Lourdes P. A. SerenoTenure as Chief Justice: August 24, 2012 presentAppointed by: Benigno S. Aquino IIIAge at Appointment: 52

Read her biography from on website of the Supreme Court (http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/supremecourtjustices/chiefjustice/192)

Full roster of chief justices

The position of chief justice was created in 1901 by virtue of the establishment of the Philippine Supreme Court. At the time, thechief justice was appointed by the President of the United States: the court was composed mainly of American citizens with aFilipino chief justice.

There were six chief justices appointed by the President of the UnitedStates. In 1935, upon the inauguration of the Commonwealth of thePhilippines, the power to appoint the chief justice was transferred tothe President of the Philippines. According to the 1935 Constitution,the President of the Philippines shall make appointments withconcurrence of the National Assembly. There have been six ChiefJustices who were appointed under the 1935 Constitution. The onlychief justice that was not appointed by a president was Chief JusticeJose Yulo, who was in ofce during the Japanese occupation, from1942 until the liberation of the Philippines in 1945. During this time,the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was appointed by thePhilippine Executive Committee headed by Jorge B. Vargas.

The 1943 Constitution provided for the members of the Supreme Court and the chief justice to be appointed by the president withthe concurrence of his cabinet. Upon the declaration of martial law and the subsequent establishment of the 1973 Constitution,the process of selection of the Chief Justice of the Philippines was changed. The power of Congress to veto an appointment by thepresident to the ofce of the chief justice was removed. According to the 1973 Constitution, The Members of the Supreme Courtand judges of inferior courts shall be appointed by the President. There were ve chief justices that were appointed under thisprovision.

After the revolution of 1986, a new constitution was enacted and a new process of selecting a chief magistrate was created.Former chief justice and 1986 Constitutional Commission delegate Roberto V. Concepcion introduced the concept of the Judicialand Bar Council. The aim of the Council is to de-politicize the judiciary by lessening the appointing power of the president. To readmore about the appointment of chief justices, members of the judiciary, and the Ofce of the Ombudsman, please click here(http://www.gov.ph/briefer-jbc/).

To date, there have been nine chief justices appointed under the conditions of the 1986 Constitution.

CHIEF JUSTICES LISTED ACCORDING TO APPOINTING PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINESOf the 15 Presidents of the Philippines, only eight have been able to appoint an individual to the highest judicial post in the land.The following is the list of presidents who appointed chief Jjstices and their appointees.

1. Manuel L. QuezonJose Abad Santos

2. Sergio OsmeaManuel V. Moran

3. Elpidio QuirinoRicardo M. Paras

4. Carlos P. GarciaCesar Bengzon

5. Ferdinand E. Marcos

Roberto V. ConcepcionQuerube MakalintalFred Ruiz CastroEnrique M. FernandoFelix V. MakasiarRamon C. Aquino

6. Corazon C. AquinoClaudio TeehankeePedro L. YapMarcelo B. FernanAndres R. Narvasa

7. Joseph Ejercito EstradaHilario G. Davide

8. Gloria Macapagal ArroyoArtemio PanganibanReynato PunoRenato C. Corona

9. Benigno S. Aquino IIIMaria Lourdes P.A. Sereno

Notable chief justices

Of the list of chief justices, there are a few individuals that stand out for having gone above and beyond their duty and tenure aschief justice.

1. Cayetano Arellano: Cayetano Arellano was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was appointed in 1901 when theSupreme Court was created through Act No. 136, along with three American justices and one Filipino justice.

2. Ramon Avancea: Appointed in 1925 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, he is known for ushering in an all-Filipino SupremeCourt in 1935. Upon the establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935, American justices were no longer allowed to

sit in the Philippine Supreme Courtthus, new justices were appointed, all of whom were of Filipino citizenship.3. Jose Abad Santos: As a wartime chief justice, Abad Santos took on two different roles; he was the chief justice and

concurrently the Secretary of Justice. When President Quezon left the Philippines to evade capture by the Japanese, AbadSantos chose to stay in the country as a caretaker of the government. On May 2, 1942, the Japanese military caught AbadSantos in Cebu and invited him to become one of the members of their puppet government. Abad Santos refused tocollaborate. He died at the hands of the Japanese on May 2, 1942. His last words to his son were, Do not cry, Pepito, show tothese people that you are brave. It is an honor to die for ones country. Not everybody has that chance.

4. Manuel V. Moran: Appointed in 1945 by President Sergio Osmea, Manuel V. Moran would serve as Chief Justice of theSupreme Court for six years. Upon his retirement in 1951, Moran was appointed as Philippine Ambassador to Spain andconcurrently to the Holy See. During President Quirinos administration, Moran was once again offered a position in theSupreme Court in 1953, at the twilight of Quirinos presidency. Moran, however, refused the midnight appointment.

5. Roberto V. Concepcion: He went into early retirement for refusing to grant absolute power to Ferdinand Marcos, the presidentwho appointed him. In the resolution of Javellana v. Executive Secretary, Concepcion argued against the validity of the 1973Constitution and its questionable aspects. Accordingly, he dissented, along with Justices Teehankee, Zaldivar, and Fernando,from implementing the 1973 Constitution. Due to the courts decision, Concepcion would enter early retirement, 50 days beforehis originally scheduled retirement date.

6. Claudio Teehankee: Claudio Teehankee was known for his firm anti-martial law stance during his tenure in the Supreme Court.Teehankee resisted multiple attempts by the Marcos administration to garner absolute power by issuing questionable decrees.In 1973, he was part of the bloc that dissented from the implementation of the 1973 Constitution. In 1980, he dissented fromthe proposed judicial reorganization act of President Marcos. In 1986, after the EDSA Revolution, he administered the Oath ofOffice of President Corazon C. Aquino in Club Filipino. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1986 byPresident Corazon C. Aquino

7. Hilario G. Davide: Appointed by President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in 1998, Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide was known as thepresiding judge of the first impeachment proceedings in Asia. During the impeachment of President Estrada, he conductedproceedings with impartiality. Following EDSA II uprising, which deposed President Estrada, Davide swore in Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the 14th President of the Philippines.

8. Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno: Appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III in 2012, Chief Justice Sereno is the first womanappointed to the position.

Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals is the second highest tribunal in the country, which was established on February 1, 1936 by virtue ofCommonwealth Act No. 3. The current form of the Court of Appeals was constituted through Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, asamended by Executive Order No. 33, s. 1986 (http://www.gov.ph/1986/07/28/executive-order-no-33-s-1986/), Republic Act No.7902, and Republic Act No. 8246.

The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals are as follows:

1. Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, and quo warranto, and auxiliary writs orprocesses, whether or not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;

2. Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgements of Regional Trial Courts; and3. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgements, resolutions, orders or awards of Regional Trial Courts and quasi-

judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or commission.

The Court of Appeals shall also have the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence and perform acts necessary toresolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its original and appellate jurisdiction, including the power to grant and conductnew trials or proceedings.

The Court of Appeals is composed of one presiding justice and 68 associate justices, all of which are appointed by the Presidentfrom a shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. The associate justices shall have precedence according to the dates (ororder, in case of similar appointment dates) of their respective appointments. The qualications for the justices of the SupremeCourt also apply to members of the Court of Appeals.

The current presiding justice of the Court of Appeals is Andres Reyes Jr., who is set to retire on May 11, 2020.

Court of Tax Appeals

The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), which is of the same level as the Court of Appeals, was created by virtue of Republic Act No.1125, which was signed into law on June 16, 1954. Its present-day form was constituted through RA 1125, as amended byRepublic Act No. 9282 and Republic Act No. 9503. (http://www.gov.ph/2008/06/12/republic-act-no-9503/)

The CTA exercises jurisdiction in the following:

1. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal, as herein provided:1. Decisions of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in cases involving disputed assessments, refunds of internal revenue

taxes, fees or other charges, penalties in relation thereto, or other matters arising under the National Internal Revenue orother laws administered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue;

2. Inaction by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in cases involving disputed assessments, refunds of internal revenuetaxes, fees or other charges, penalties in relations thereto, or other matters arising under the National Internal Revenue Code(http://www.gov.ph/1939/06/15/commonwealth-act-no-466/) or other laws administered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue,where the National Internal Revenue Code provides a specific period of action, in which case the inaction shall be deemed adenial;

3. Decisions, orders or resolutions of the Regional Trial Courts in local tax cases originally decided or resolved by them in theexercise of their original or appellate jurisdiction;

4. Decisions of the Commissioner of Customs in cases involving liability for customs duties, fees or other money charges,seizure, detention or release of property affected, fines, forfeitures or other penalties in relation thereto, or other mattersarising under the Customs Law or other laws administered by the Bureau of Customs;

5. Decisions of the Central Board of Assessment Appeals in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction over cases involving theassessment and taxation of real property originally decided by the provincial or city board of assessment appeals;

6. Decisions of the Secretary of Finance on customs cases elevated to him automatically for review from decisions of theCommissioner of Customs which are adverse to the Government under Section 2315 of the Tariff and Customs Code(http://www.gov.ph/1957/06/22/republic-act-no-1937/);

7. Decisions of the Secretary of Trade and Industry, in the case of non-agricultural product, commodity or article, and theSecretary of Agriculture in the case of agricultural product, commodity or article, involving dumping and countervailing dutiesunder Section 301 and 302, respectively, of the Tariff and Customs Code, and safeguard measures under Republic Act No.8800, where either party may appeal the decision to impose or not to impose said duties.

2. Jurisdiction over cases involving criminal offenses as herein provided:1. Exclusive original jurisdiction over all criminal offenses arising from violations of the National Internal Revenue Code or

Tariff and Customs Code and other laws administered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue or the Bureau of Customs:Provided, however, that offenses or felonies mentioned in this paragraph where the principal amount of taxes and fees,exclusive of charges and penalties, claimed is less than P1 million or where there is no specified amount claimed shall betried by the regular courts and the jurisdiction of the CTA shall be appellate.

2. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in criminal offenses:1. Over appeals from the judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Courts in tax cases originally decided by

them, in their respective territorial jurisdiction.2. Over petitions for review of the judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Courts in the exercise of their

appellate jurisdiction over tax cases originally decided by the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts andMunicipal Circuit Trial Courts in their respective jurisdiction.

3. Jurisdiction over tax collection cases as herein provided:1. Exclusive original jurisdiction in tax collection cases involving final and executory assessments for taxes, fees, charges

and penalties: Provided, however, that collection cases where the principal amount of taxes and fees, exclusive ofcharges and penalties, claimed is less than P1 million shall be tried by the proper Municipal Trial Court, MetropolitanTrial Court and Regional Trial Court.

2. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in tax collection cases:1. Over appeals from the judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Courts in tax collection cases originally

decided by them, in their respective territorial jurisdiction.2. Over petitions for review of the judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Courts in the Exercise of their

appellate jurisdiction over tax collection cases originally decided by the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal TrialCourts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, in their respective jurisdiction.

The CTA is composed of one presiding justice and 8 associate justices, all of which are appointed by the President from a shortlistsubmitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. The associate justices shall have precedence according to the dates (or order, in case ofsimilar appointment dates) of their respective appointments. The qualications for the justices of the Court of Appeals also applyto members of the CTA.

The current presiding justice of the CTA is Roman del Rosario, who is set to retire on October 6, 2025.

Sandiganbayan

To attain the highest norms of ofcial conduct among ofcials and employees in the government, the creation of a special graftcourt to be known as the Sandiganbayan was provided for in Article XIII, Section 5 of the 1973 Constitution. This court wasformally established through Presidential Decree No. 1606 (http://www.gov.ph/1978/12/10/presidential-decree-no-1606-s-1978/),which was signed into law on December 10, 1978.

Through Article XI (Accountability of Public Ofcers), Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, the Sandiganbayan was carried over tothe post-EDSA Revolution republic. The current form of the Sandiganbayan was constituted through PD 1606, s. 1978, as amendedby Republic Act No. 7975 and Republic Act No. 8245.

The Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over the following:

1. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as amended, and Chapter II, Section 2, Title VII,Book II of the Revised Penal Code (http://www.gov.ph/1930/12/08/act-no-3815-s-1930/), where one or more of the accusedare officials occupying the following positions in the government whether in a permanent, acting or interim capacity, at the timeof the commission of the offense:1. Officials of the executive branch occupying the positions of regional director and higher, otherwise classified as grade 27

and higher, of the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989 (Republic Act No. 6758(http://www.gov.ph/1989/08/21/republic-act-no-6758/)), specifically including:1. Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the sangguniang panlalawigan and provincial treasurers, assessors,

engineers and other provincial department heads;2. City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurers, assessors engineers and other city

department heads;3. Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul and higher;4. Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all officers of higher rank;5. Officers of the Philippine National Police while occupying the position of provincial director and those holding the rank of

senior superintendent or higher;6. City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and

special prosecutor;7. Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities or

educational institutions or foundations;2. Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as grade 27 and up under the Compensation and Position

Classification Act of 1989;3. Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the provisions of the constitution;4. Chairmen and members of constitutional commissions, without prejudice to the provisions of the constitution; and5. All other national and local officials classified as Grade 27 and higher under the Compensation and Position Classification

Act of 1989.2. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes committed by the public officials and employees

mentioned in subsection a of this section in relation to their office.3. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Order Nos. 1

(http://www.gov.ph/1986/02/28/executive-order-no-1-s-1986/), 2, 14 (http://www.gov.ph/1986/05/07/executive-order-no-14-s-1986-2/) and 14-A (http://www.gov.ph/1986/08/18/executive-order-no-14-a-s-1986/), s. 1986.

In addition, the Sandiganbayan exercises exclusive appellate jurisdiction over nal judgments, resolutions or orders or regional trialcourts whether in the exercise of their own original jurisdiction or of their appellate jurisdiction as herein provided.

The Sandiganbayan also has exclusive original jurisdiction over petitions for the issuance of the writs of mandamus, prohibition,certiorari, habeas corpus, injunctions, and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction and over petitionsof similar nature, including quo warranto, arising or that may arise in cases led or which may be led under Executive Order Nos.1,2,14 and 14-A issued in 1986.

In case private individuals are charged as co-principals, accomplices or accessories with the public ofcers or employees,including those employed in govemment-owned or controlled corporations, they shall be tried jointly with said public ofcers andemployees in the proper courts which shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over them.

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The Sandiganbayan comprises of one presiding justice and 14 associate justices, all of which are appointed by the President froma shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. The associate justices shall have precedence according to the dates (ororder, in case of similar appointment dates) of their respective appointments.

The qualications to become a member of the Sandiganbayan are as follows:

1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;2. at least 40 years of age3. has been a judge of a court for at least ten years, or been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines or has held office

requiring admission to the bar as a prerequisite for at least ten years.

The current presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan is Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, who is set to retire on November 8, 2024.

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