HANNAH SERANA vs.

SANDIGANBAYAN
G.R. No. 162059             January 22, 2008

1) Section 4(A)(1)(g) of P.D. No. 1606 provides that the SB has jurisdiction over
“presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of government-owned or controlled corporations,
state universities or educational institutions or foundations”. Although she is not a public officer
with salary of at least 27, by express provision of P. D. No. 1606, accused Serana, a U. P. student
regent, is included among those the SB exercises jurisdiction.

2) The SB has jurisdiction over the crime of estafa if there are specific allegations of facts
in the information showing that the accused public officer committed the crime in relation to his
office. The following allegations in the information is considered sufficient to vest jurisdiction on
the SB over the crime, to wit: "while in the performance of her official functions, committing the
offense in relation to her office and taking advantage of her position.”

3) A U. P. Student Regent was considered a public officer based on the following definition
of a public office, to wit:

"A public office is the right, authority and duty, created and conferred by law, by
which, for a given period, either fixed by law or enduring at the pleasure of the creating
power, an individual is invested with some portion of the sovereign functions of the
government, to be exercised by him for the benefit of the public. The individual so invested
is a public officer."

The fact that accused was not receiving salary as student regent is of no moment because
salary is not an essential element of public office.

4) Presented here is a brief legislative history of the statute creating the Sandiganbayan. The
Sandiganbayan was created by P.D. No. 1486, promulgated by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos
on June 11, 1978. It was promulgated to attain the highest norms of official conduct required of
public officers and employees, based on the concept that public officers and employees shall serve
with the highest degree of responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency and shall remain at all
times accountable to the people.

P.D. No. 1486 was amended by P.D. No. 1606 which was promulgated on December 10,
1978. P.D. No. 1606 expanded the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

P.D. No. 1606 was later amended by P.D. No. 1861 on March 23, 1983, further altering the
Sandiganbayan jurisdiction. R.A. No. 7975 approved on March 30, 1995 made succeeding
amendments to P.D. No. 1606, which was again amended on February 5, 1997 by R.A. No. 8249.
Section 4 of R.A. No. 8249 further modified the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.