House OKs creation of 2 Sandiganbayan divisions

By: DJ Yap - 10 years ago

AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives has approved the creation of two more divisions of the Sandiganbayan to help the antigraft court resolve cases more quickly and efficiently.

The chamber last month endorsed to the Senate a proposed judicial reform law to “declog” the dockets of the Sandiganbayan through a number of measures, including the creation of the new divisions, which would raise the number to seven.

Under House Bill 5283, the Sandiganbayan will add two more to its five divisions, reduce the quorum requisite to two instead of three justices, and exclude from the court’s jurisdiction cases where there is no bribery charge, and the transactions are below P1 million.

The proposed law will transfer the jurisdiction of Sandiganbayan to the Regional Trial Court in cases where the information does not allege any damage or bribe; alleges damage or bribe that is not quantifiable, or alleges damage or bribe arising from transactions not exceeding P1 million.

Another provision states that “subject to the rules promulgated by the Supreme Court, the cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court … shall be tried in a Judicial Region other than where the official holds office.”

The measure also modifies the quorum requirement from three members to two members in a division, thus allowing the court to hear cases when a justice is absent.

It also provides that “all three members of a division shall deliberate on a case submitted for judgment or final order” and “the concurrence of two justices in a division shall be necessary to render judgment or final order.”

The measure was transmitted to the Senate for its deliberation on Dec. 17, 2014, just before Congress adjourned for the Christmas holidays.

The bill was a consolidation of five similar measures sponsored by the justice and appropriations committees chaired respectively by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab.