CHAPTER VII.

THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

Objectives:
a) Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Philippine Senate and the
House of Representatives;
b) Explain the functions of Executive branch;
c)

ARTICLE VII

Executive Department

 The executive power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines.

 No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of
the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years
of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at
least ten years immediately preceding such election.

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  There shall be a Vice-President who shall have the same qualifications and
term of office and be elected with and in the same manner as the President.
He may be removed from office in the same manner as the President.
 The Vice-President may be appointed as a Member of the Cabinet. Such
appointment requires no confirmation.

The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people
for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following
the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date six years thereafter. The
President shall not be eligible for any reelection. No person who has succeeded as
President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election
to the same office at any time.

No Vice-President shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. Voluntary
renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption
in the continuity of the service for the full term for which he was elected.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the regular election for President and Vice-
President shall be held on the second Monday of May.

The returns of every election for President and Vice-President, duly certified by the
board of canvassers of each province or city, shall be transmitted to the Congress,
directed to the President of the Senate. Upon receipt of the certificates of canvass, the
President of the Senate shall, not later than thirty days after the day of the election, open
all certificates in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives in joint
public session, and the Congress, upon determination of the authenticity and due
execution thereof in the manner provided by law, canvass the votes.

The person having the highest number of votes shall be proclaimed elected, but in
case two or more shall have an equal and highest number of votes, one of them shall
forthwith be chosen by the vote of a majority of all the Members of both Houses of the
Congress, voting separately.
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 The Congress shall promulgate its rules for the canvassing of the certificates.

The Supreme Court, sitting en banc, shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the
election, returns, and qualifications of the President or Vice- President, and may
promulgate its rules for the purpose.

Before they enter on the execution of their office, the President, the Vice-President,
or the Acting President shall take the following oath or affirmation:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as
President (or Vice-President or Acting President) of the Philippines, preserve and defend
its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the
service of the Nation. So help me God.” (In case of affirmation, last sentence will be
omitted.)

In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the

President, the Vice-President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term. In
case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of both the
President and Vice-President, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall then act as President until the President
or Vice-President shall have been elected and qualified.

The Congress shall, by law, provide who shall serve as President in case of death,
permanent disability, or resignation of the Acting President. He shall serve until the
President or the Vice-President shall have been elected and qualified, and be subject to
the same restrictions of powers and disqualifications as the Acting President.

Whenever there is a vacancy in the Office of the Vice-President during the term
for which he was elected, the President shall nominate a Vice-President from among the
Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who shall assume office upon
confirmation by a majority vote of all the Members of both Houses of the Congress, voting
separately.

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The Congress shall, at ten o’clock in the morning of the third day after the vacancy in the
offices of the President and Vice-President occurs, convene in accordance with its rules
without need of a call and within seven days enact a law calling for a special election to
elect a President and a Vice-President to be held not earlier than forty-five days nor later
than sixty days from the time of such call. The bill calling such special election shall be
deemed certified under paragraph 2, Section 26, Article VI of this Constitution and shall
become law upon its approval on third reading by the Congress. Appropriations for the
special election shall be charged against any current appropriations and shall be exempt
from the requirements of paragraph 4, Section 25, Article VI of this Constitution. The
convening of the Congress cannot be suspended nor the special election postponed. No
special election shall be called if the vacancy occurs within eighteen months before the
date of the next presidential election.

Whenever a majority of all the Members of the Cabinet transmit to the President
of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration
that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice-
President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting
President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President of the Senate and to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists,
he shall reassume the powers and duties of his office. Meanwhile, should a majority of all
the Members of the Cabinet transmit within five days to the President of the Senate and
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President
is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Congress shall decide the
issue. For that purpose, the Congress shall convene, if it is not in session, within forty-
eight hours, in accordance with its rules and without need of call.

If the Congress, within ten days after receipt of the last written declaration, or, if not in
session, within twelve days after it is required to assemble, determines by a two-thirds
vote of both Houses, voting separately, that the President is unable to discharge the

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powers and duties of his office, the Vice-President shall act as the President; otherwise,
the President shall continue exercising the powers and duties of his office.

Two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end
of his term, a President or Acting President shall not make appointments, except
temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies therein will
prejudice public service or endanger public safety.

The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on
Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other
public ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or
naval captain, and other officers whose appointments are vested in him in this
Constitution. He shall also appoint all other officers of the Government whose
appointments are not otherwise provided for by law, and those whom he may be
authorized by law to appoint. The Congress may, by law, vest the appointment of other
officers lower in rank in the President alone, in the courts, or in the heads of departments,
agencies, commissions, or boards.

The President shall have the power to make appointments during the recess of the
Congress, whether voluntary or compulsory, but such appointments shall be effective only
until after disapproval by the Commission on Appointments or until the next adjournment
of the Congress.

The President shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and
offices. He shall ensure that the laws be faithfully executed.

The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the

Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to
prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In case of invasion or
rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days,
suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part
thereof under martial law. Within forty-eight hours from the proclamation of martial law or
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the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the President shall submit a
report in person or in writing to the Congress. The Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of
at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such
proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside by the President.
Upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such
proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion
or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.

The Congress, if not in session, shall, within twenty-four hours following such
proclamation or suspension, convene in accordance with its rules without any need of a
call.

The Supreme Court may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen,
the sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of
the privilege of the writ or the extension thereof, and must promulgate its decision thereon
within thirty days from its filing.

A state of martial law does not suspend the operation of the Constitution, nor supplant
the functioning of the civil courts or legislative assemblies, nor authorize the conferment
of jurisdiction on military courts and agencies over civilians where civil courts are able to
function, nor automatically suspend the privilege of the writ.

The suspension of the privilege of the writ shall apply only to persons judicially charged
for rebellion or offenses inherent in or directly connected with the invasion.

During the suspension of the privilege of the writ, any person thus arrested or
detained shall be judicially charged within three days, otherwise he shall be released.

Except in cases of impeachment, or as otherwise provided in this Constitution,

the President may grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, and remit fines and
forfeitures, after conviction by final judgment.

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 Article VII

Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects

Presidential appointments, and

has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the
Senate and House of

Representatives) and several agencies that provide support services to

Congress.

The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government

wherein power is equally divided among its three branches:
executive, legislative, and judicial.

One basic corollary in a presidential system of government is the

principle of separation of powers wherein legislation belongs to
Congress, execution to the Executive, and settlement of legal
controversies to the Judiciary.

The Legislative branch is authorized to make laws, alter, and repeal

them through the power vested in the Philippine Congress. This
institution is divided into the Senate and the House of
Representatives.

According to the 1987 Constitution, legislative power shall be vested in

the Congress of the Philippines, which shall consist of a Senate and
a House of Representatives.

The Senate shall be composed of twenty-four Senators who shall be

elected at large by the qualified voters of the Philippines, as may be
provided by law; the House of Representatives shall be composed
of not more than 250 (unless otherwise fixed by law), 20 percent of
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 whom must be Party-list representatives.

The Philippine Congress

The Philippine Congress is the country’s legislative department (Art. VI,

Sec. 1)

Congress is bicameral (1) Upper House: Senate (2) Lower House:

House of

Representatives

The qualifications to become a senator, as stipulated in the

constitution, are:

 a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;

 at least thirty-five years old;
 is able to read and write
 a registered voter; and
 a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years before
election day.
Meanwhile, the constitution provides for the following criteria to
become a member of

the House of Representatives:

 a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;

 at least twenty-five years old;
 is able to read and write; and
 except the party-list representatives, a registered voter and a
resident for at least one year in the district where s/he shall be
elected.

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Legislative process

Congress - is responsible for making enabling laws to make sure the

spirit of the constitution is upheld in the country and, at times, amend
or change the constitution itself. In order to craft laws, the legislative
body comes out with two main documents: bills and resolutions.

Resolutions - convey principles and sentiments of the Senate or the

House of Representatives. These resolutions can further be divided
into three different elements:

Joint resolutions — require the approval of both chambers of Congress

and the signature of the President, and have the force and effect of
a law if approved.

concurrent resolutions — used for matters affecting the operations of

both chambers of Congress and must be approved in the same form
by both houses, but are not transmitted to the President for his
signature and therefore have no force and effect of a law.
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 Simple resolutions — deal with matters entirely within the prerogative
of one chamber of Congress, are not referred to the President for his
signature, and therefore have no force and effect of a law.

Bills - are laws in the making. They pass into law when they are
approved by both houses and the President of the Philippines. A bill
may be vetoed by the President, but the House of Representatives
may overturn a presidential veto by garnering a 2/3rds vote. If the
President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress, it
will lapse into law after 30 days of receipt.

Article VIII

Judicial Department

The Judicial branch holds

the power to settle
controversies involving
rights that are legally
demandable and
enforceable. This branch
determines whether or not
there has been a grave
abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or
excess of jurisdiction on
the part and instrumentality of the government. It is made up of a Supreme Court and
lower courts.

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The Constitution expressly grants the Supreme Court the power of Judicial Review
as the power to declare a treaty, international or executive agreement, law,
presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance or regulation
unconstitutional.
Judicial 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 fiscal autonomy. Its appropriation may not be reduced by
the Legislature below the appropriated amount the previous year (Art. VIII, Sec. 3)

RULES AND PROCEDURES

The Rules of Court of the Philippines, as amended and the rules and regulations
issued by the Supreme Court, define the rules and procedures 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 to
all courts, publishes important ones in newspapers of general circulation, prints
them in book or pamphlet form, and uploads them to the Supreme Court website
and the Supreme Court E-Library website.

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

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 APPOINTMENTS TO THE JUDICIARY
By virtue of Article VIII, Section 8, appointments to the judiciary
are made by the President of the Philippines based on a list
submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council which is under the
supervision of the Supreme Court. Its principal function is to
screen prospective appointees to any judicial post. It is composed
of the chief justice as ex-officio chairman, the Secretary of Justice
and representatives of Congress as ex-officio members, and a
representative of the Integrated Bar, a professor of law, a retired
member of the Supreme Court and a representative of the private
sector as members.

HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURT

The royal audencia was established on May 5, 1583, composed of a president,

four oidores (justices) and a fiscal. The audencia exercised both administrative
and judicial functions. Its functions and structure were modified in 1815 when a
chief justice replaced its president and the number of justices was increased. It
came to be known as the Audencia Territorial de Manila with two branches, civil
and criminal. A royal decree issued on July 24, 1861 converted it to a purely
judicial body with its decisions appealable to the Court of Spain in Madrid. A
territorial audencia in Cebu, and audencia for criminal cases in Vigan were
organized on 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 of the administration of justice.
Katipunan councils, then the provisional governments of Tejeros, Biak-na-Bato,
and the Revolutionary Republic proclaimed in Kawit, essentially had General
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 Emilio Aguinaldo exercising decree-making powers instituting ad hoc courts and
reviewing any appeals concerning their decisions.

In 1899, when the Malolos Constitution was ratified, it provided for a Supreme
Court of Justice. President Aguinaldo proposed the appointment of Apolinario
Mabini as Chief Justice, but the appointment and the convening of the Supreme
Court of Justice never materialized because of the Philippine-American War.

Present Day Supreme Court

Pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Constitution, the Supreme Court is

composed of a chief Justice and 14 associate justices who serve until the age of
70. The court may site banc or in one of its three divisions composed of five
members each. The chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the
President of the Philippines, chosen from a shortlist submitted by the Judicial and
Bar Council. The president must fill 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) for cases that may be heard by divisions.
The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 transferred the administrative
supervision of all courts and their personnel from the Department of Justice to the
Supreme Court. This was affirmed by Article VIII, Section 6 of the 1987
Constitution. To effectively discharge this constitutional mandate, the Office 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 banc dated October 24, 1996). Its principal
function is the supervision and administration of the lower courts throughout the
Philippines and all their personnel. It reports and recommends to the Supreme
Court all actions that affect the lower court management. The OCA is headed by

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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:

 Exercise jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other

public ministers and consuls, and over petitions for certiorari,
prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus.
 Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm, on appeal or certiorari,
as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments and
orders of the lower courts in:
 All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty,
international or executive agreement, law, presidential decree,
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;
 Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations as
public interest may require. Such temporary assignments shall
not exceed six months without the consent of the judge
concerned.
 Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage
of justice.
 Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of
constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all

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 courts; the admission to the practice of law, the Integrated Bar;
and legal assistance to the underprivileged. Such rules shall
provide a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy
disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts the same
grade, and shall not diminish, increase or modify substantive
rights. Rules of procedure of special courts and quasi-judicial
bodies shall remain effective unless disapproved by the Supreme
Court.
 Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance
with the Civil Service Law (Sec. 5 , id.).
Court of Appeals

The Court of Appeals is the second highest tribunal in the country, which was
established on February 1, 1936 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 3. The current
form of the Court of Appeals was constituted through Batas Pambansa Blg. 129,
as amended by 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:

 Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition,

certiorari, habeas corpus, and quo warranto, and auxiliary writs
or processes, whether or not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;
 Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of
judgements of Regional Trial Courts; and
 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
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 to resolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its original
and appellate jurisdiction, including the power to grant and
conduct new trials or proceedings.

 The Court of Appeals is composed of one presiding justice and

68 associate justices, all of which are appointed by the President
from a shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. The
associate justices shall have precedence according to the dates
(or order, in case of similar appointment dates) of their respective
appointments. The qualifications for the justices of the Supreme
Court 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 by Republic Act No. 9282 and Republic Act No. 9503.

The CTA exercises jurisdiction in the following:

 Exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal, as herein

provided:
 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 or other laws
administered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue;

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 Inaction by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in cases
involving disputed assessments, refunds of internal revenue
taxes, fees or other charges, penalties in relations thereto, or
other matters arising under the National Internal Revenue Code
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 a
denial;
 Decisions, orders or resolutions of the Regional Trial Courts in
local tax cases originally decided or resolved by them in the
exercise of their original or appellate jurisdiction;
 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 matters arising under
the Customs Law or other laws administered by the Bureau of
Customs;
 Decisions of the Central Board of Assessment Appeals in the
exercise of its appellate jurisdiction over cases involving the
assessment and taxation of real property originally decided by the
provincial or city board of assessment appeals;
 Decisions of the Secretary of Finance on customs cases elevated
to him automatically for review from decisions of the
Commissioner of Customs which are adverse to the Government
under Section 2315 of the Tariff and Customs Code;
 Decisions of the Secretary of Trade and Industry, in the case of
non-agricultural product, commodity or article, and the Secretary
of Agriculture in the case of agricultural product, commodity or
article, involving dumping and countervailing duties under
Section 301 and 302, respectively, of the Tariff and Customs

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 Code, and safeguard measures under Republic Act No. 8800,
where either party may appeal the decision to impose or not to
impose said duties.
 Jurisdiction over cases involving criminal offenses as herein
provided:
 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 be tried by the regular
courts and the jurisdiction of the CTA shall be appellate.
 Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in criminal offenses:
 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.
 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 and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts in their respective jurisdiction.
 Jurisdiction over tax collection cases as herein provided:
 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 of charges and
penalties, claimed is less than P1 million shall be tried by the
proper Municipal Trial Court, Metropolitan Trial Court and

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 Regional Trial Court.
 Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in tax collection cases:
 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.
 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 Trial Courts 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 shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar
Council. The associate justices shall have precedence according to the dates (or
order, in case of similar appointment dates) of their respective appointments. The
qualifications for the justices of the Court of Appeals also apply to 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 official conduct among officials and employees in
the government, the creation of a special graft court to be known as the
Sandiganbayan was provided for in Article XIII, Section 5 of the 1973 Constitution.
This court was formally established through Presidential Decree No. 1606, which
was signed into law on December 10, 1978.

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

The Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over the following:

 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, where one or more of the
accused are officials occupying the following positions in the
government whether in a permanent, acting or interim capacity,
at the time of the commission of the offense:
 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), specifically including:
 Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the
sangguniang panlalawigan and provincial treasurers, assessors,
engineers and other provincial department heads;
 City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the sangguniang
panlungsod, city treasurers, assessors engineers and other city
department heads;
 Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul
and higher;
 Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all
officers of higher rank;
 Officers of the Philippine National Police while occupying the
position of provincial director and those holding the rank of senior
superintendent or higher;

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  City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials
and prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and special
prosecutor;
 Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of government-
owned or -controlled corporations, state universities or
educational institutions or foundations;
 Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as grade 27
and up under the Compensation and Position Classification Act
of 1989;
 Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the provisions of the
constitution;
 Chairmen and members of constitutional commissions, without
prejudice to the provisions of the constitution; and
 All other national and local officials classified as Grade 27 and
higher under the Compensation and Position Classification Act of
1989.
 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.
 Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with
Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, s. 1986.

In addition, the Sandiganbayan exercises exclusive appellate jurisdiction over final

judgments, resolutions or orders or regional trial courts 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 petitions of similar nature, including quo warranto, arising or

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 that may arise in cases filed or which may be filed 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 officers or employees, including those employed in
govemment-owned or controlled corporations, they shall be tried jointly with said
public officers and employees in the proper courts which shall exercise exclusive
jurisdiction over them.

The Sandiganbayan comprises of one presiding justice and 14 associate justices,

all of which are appointed by the President from a shortlist submitted by the Judicial
and Bar Council. The associate justices shall have precedence according to the
dates (or order, in case of similar appointment dates) of their respective
appointments.

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

a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;

at least 40 years of age
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.
Reference https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/about/go
v/judiciary/
Video Links Topics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyDn The Executive Department
uRltFc4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmjo The Legislative Branch Of Philippine
sgipKOs Government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfC ARTICLE 8 Judicial Branch of The
X_rtNPPo Philippines

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