The Sandiganbayan, established under Presidential Decree No.

1606, is a special court in the

Philippines that has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases which involve graft and corrupt
practices and other offenses committed by public officers and employees in relation to their
office. Its rank is equivalent to the Court of Appeals. It consists of a Presiding Judge and 14
Associate Justices, and shall sit in five divisions of three justices each. The first three divisions
shall be stationed in Metro Manila, the fourth division shall be in Cebu City for cases coming
from the Visayas region, and the fifth division shall be in Cagayan de Oro City for cases coming
from the Mindanao region.

The Sandiganbayan Building is located at Centennial Building, Commonwealth Ave., Batasan

Road, Quezon City in Metro Manila.

Contents

 1 Seal of the Sandiganbayan

 2 History
 3 Jurisdiction
o 3.1 Original exclusive jurisdiction
o 3.2 Public officials
o 3.3 Other offenses
 4 List of current Sandigandayan justices
 5 See also
 6 External links
 7 References
 8 Citation

Seal of the Sandiganbayan

The Seal of the Sandiganbayan consists of two concentric circles as its margins with the
inscription “Sandiganbayan” on the upper margin and “Republika ng Pilipinas” on the lower
margin, and 13 stars along the outer edge of the inner circle representing the 13 existing judicial
regions of the Philippines. At the center, a triangle with the words “KATAPATAN” on the left
side, “KAPANAGUTAN” on the right side, and “KARANGALAN” on the base; with a star in each
corner representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The center of triangle is composed of the
national colors of white on its upper part, blue on the left and red on the right, and a balance
superimposed on a Bolo.

History

The creation of the Sandiganbayan was originally provided for by Section 5, Article XIII of the
1973 Constitution of the Philippines which states that: "The National Assembly shall create a
special court, to be known as Sandiganbayan, which shall have jurisdiction over criminal and
civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and such other offenses committed by public
officers and employees, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, in
relation to their office as may be determined by law."

On June 11, 1978, President Ferdinand Marcos, exercising emergency legislative powers
vested in him by the 1976 Amendments to the Constitution, issued Presidential Decree No.
1486 creating the Sandiganbayan and placing it on the same level as the Courts of First
Instance, now called the Regional Trial Courts. On December 10, 1978, the Sandiganbayan
was elevated to the level of the Court of Appeals by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1606.

At the start of its operation on February 12, 1979, the Sandiganbayan had only one Division,
composed of Presiding Justice Manuel R. Pamaran, and two Associate Justices: Hon. Bernardo
P. Fernandez and Hon. Romeo M. Escareal, and a skeleton force of fifteen. The start of the
third year of the Court's operation in 1981 was marked by the activation of the Second Division.
The appointment of three more Justices of the Third Division in August 4, 1982 completed the
full membership of the Court.

The 1986 People Power Revolution signaled the beginning of a new dispensation and caused
substantial changes in the entire government machinery, including the judiciary. However, both
the “Freedom Constitution” and the new Constitution of the Philippines have seen fit to maintain
the Sandiganbayan as one of the principal instruments of public accountability. In furtherance of
this, its jurisdiction has been broadened to include the so-called “ill-gotten wealth” cases
investigated by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) through Executive
Orders No. 14 and No. 14-A. In the reorganization program of the new government, the
resignation of some of the members of the Court was accepted leading to the appointment of a
new Presiding Justice in the person of Hon. Francis E. Garchitorena.

To further strengthen the functional and structural organization of the Sandiganbayan, several
amendments have been introduced to the original law that created it. The latest of these are
Republic Act Nos. 7975 and 8249. Under these new laws, the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan
is now confined to cases involving public officials occupying positions classified as salary grade
27 and higher. As restructured, the Sandiganbayan is presently composed of a Presiding
Justice and fourteen Associate Justices who sit in five Divisions of three Justices each in the
trial and determination of cases.

Jurisdiction

Before the implementation of Republic Act No. 8249, Sandiganbayan's jurisdiction was
determined on the basis of the penalty imposable on the offense or offenses charged on the
accused. Then it was amended such that regardless of the penalty, so long as the offense
charged was committed by a public officer, the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction on the said case.

Original exclusive jurisdiction

Under Section 4 of RA 8249, the Sandiganbayan shall have original exclusive jurisdiction over:

1. Violations of RA 3019 (Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Law)

2. RA 1379 (Forfeiture of Illegally Acquired Wealth)
3. Crimes committed by public officers or employees punished under the Revised Penal
Code, namely:
1. Direct Bribery under Art. 210 as amended by BP 871, May 29, 1985
2. Indirect Bribery under Art. 211 as amended by BP 871, May 29, 1985
 3. Qualified Bribery under Art. 211-A as amended by RA 7659, Dec. 13, 1993
4. Corruption of public officials under Art. 212

Public officials

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:

1. Officials of the Executive branch occupying the positions of regional director and higher
of the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989 (RA 6758) specifically
including:
1. Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan, provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers and other provincial
department heads;
2. City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, city
treasurers, assessors, engineers and other 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 PNP 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; officials and the prosecutors
in the Office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;
7. President, 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 Classification Act of 1989;
3. Members of the Judiciary without prejudice to the provision of the Constitution;
4. Chairmen and members of Constitutional Commissions, without prejudice to the
provision of the Constitution;
5. All other national and local officials classified as Grade 27 and higher under the
Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989.

Other offenses

1. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes committed in
relation to their office by the public officials and employees mentioned above;
2. Civil and Criminal Cases filed pursuant to and in connection with EO 1, 2, 14 & 14-A
issued in 1986;
3. 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;
4. Petitions for Quo Warranto arising or that may arise in cases filed or that may be filed
under EO 1, 2, 14 & 14- A
5. Other offenses punishable under the:
1. Violation of RA 6713 - Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards
2. Violation of RA 7080 - The Plunder Law
3. Violation of RA 7659 - The Heinous Crime Law
4. RA 9160 - Violation of The Anti-Money Laundering Law when committed by a
public officer
5. PD 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.
6. PD 749 which grants immunity from prosecution to any person who voluntarily
gives information about any violation of Art.210, 211 or 212 of the Revised Penal
Code, RA 3019; Sec.345 of the National Internal Revenue Code; 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.
 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.

Section 1. Sec. 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1606, as amended by

Executive Order No. 184, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 3. Division of the Court; Quorum. - The Sandiganbayan shall sit

in five (5) divisions of three justices each. The five (5) may sit at the
same time.

"The first three divisions shall be stationed in the Metro Manila

area, the fourth division shall be in Cebu City for cases coming from
the Visayas region, and the fifth division shall be in Cagayan de Oro
City for cases coming from the Mindanao region.

"Three Justices shall constitute a quorum for sessions in divisions:

Provided, That when the required quorum for the particular division
cannot be had due to the legal disqualification or temporary
disability of a Justice or of a vacancy occurring therein, the
Presiding Justice may designate an Associate Justice of the Court,
to be determined by strict rotation on the basis of the reverse order
of precedence, to sit as a special member of said division with all
the rights and prerogatives of a regular member of said division in
the trial and determination of a case or cases assigned thereto,
unless the operation of the court will be prejudiced thereby, in
which case, the President shall, upon the recommendation of the
Presiding Justice, designate any Justice or Justices of the Court of
Appeals to sit temporarily therein."

Sec. 2. Section 4 of the same Decree is hereby further amended to read as

follows:
cralaw

"Sec. 4. Jurisdiction. The Sandiganbayan shall exercise original

jurisdiction in all cases involving:
"a. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, otherwise
known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act No.
1379, and Chapter II, Section 2, Title VII of the Revised Penal Code,
where one or more of the principal accused are officials occupying
the following positions in the government, whether in permanent,
acting or interim capacity, at the time of 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), specifically
including:

"(a) Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the

sangguniang panlalawigan, and provincial treasurers,
assessors, engineers, and other provincial department
heads;

"(b) City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the

sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurers, assessors,
engineers, and other city department heads;

"(c) Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the

position of consul and higher;

"(d) Philippine army and air force colonels, naval

captains, and all officers of higher rank;

"(e) PNP chief superintendent and PNP officers of higher

rank;

"(f) City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants,

and officials and prosecutors in the Office of the
Ombudsman and special prosecutor;

"(g) 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; and
"(5) All other national and local officials classified as Grade "27" and
higher under the Compensation and Position Classification Act of
1989;

"b. Other offenses or felonies committed by the public officials and

employees mentioned in subsection (a) of this section in relation to
their office.

"c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with
Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A.

"In cases where none of the principal accused are occupying

positions corresponding to salary grade "27" or higher, as prescribed
in the said Republic Act No. 6758, or PNP officers occupying the
rank of superintendent or higher, or their equivalent, exclusive
jurisdiction thereof shall be vested in the proper Regional Trial
Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, and
Municipal Circuit Trial Court, as the case may be, pursuant to their
respective jurisdictions as provided in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129.

"The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction

on appeals from the final judgments, resolutions or orders of regular
courts where all the accused are occupying positions lower than
salary grade "27", or not otherwise covered by the preceding
enumeration.

"The Sandiganbayan shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over

petitions for the issuance of the writs of mandamus, prohibition,
certiorari, habeas corpus, injunction, and other ancillary writs and
processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction: Provided, That the
jurisdiction over these petitions shall not be exclusive of the
Supreme Court.

"The procedure prescribed in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as well as

the implementing rules that the Supreme Court has promulgated
and may hereafter promulgate, relative to appeals/petitions for
review to the Court of Appeals shall apply to appeals and petitions
for review filed with the Sandiganbayan. In all cases elevated to the
Sandiganbayan and from the Sandiganbayan to the Supreme Court,
the office of the Ombudsman, through its special prosecutor, shall
represent the people of the Philippines except in cases filed
pursuant to Executive Orders Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A.

"In case private individuals are charged as co-principals,

accomplices or accessories with the public officers or employees,
including those employed in government-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.

"Any provision of law or Rules of Court to the contrary

notwithstanding, the criminal action and the corresponding civil
action for the recovery of civil liability arising from the offense
charged shall at all times be simultaneously instituted with, and
jointly determined in, the same proceeding by the Sandiganbayan or
the appropriate courts, the filing of the criminal action being
deemed to necessarily carry with it the filing of the civil action, and
no right to reserve the filing of such civil action separately from the
criminal action shall be recognized: Provided, however, That where
the civil action had heretofore been filed separately but judgment
therein has not yet been rendered, and the criminal case is
hereafter filed with the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate court,
said civil action shall be transferred to the Sandiganbayan or the
appropriate court as the case may be, for consolidation and joint
determination with the criminal action, otherwise the separate civil
action shall be deemed abandoned."

Sec. 3. Section 7 of the same decree is hereby amended to read as

follows:
cralaw

"Sec. 7. Form, Finality and Enforcement of Decisions. - All

decisions and final orders determining the merits of a case or finally
disposing of the action or proceedings of the Sandiganbayan shall
contain complete findings of the facts and the law on which they are
based, on all issues properly raised before it and necessary in
deciding the case.

"A petition for reconsideration of any final order or decision may be

filed within fifteen (15) days from promulgation or notice of the final
order or judgment, and such motion for reconsideration shall be
decided within thirty (30) days from submission thereon.

"Decisions and final orders of the Sandiganbayan shall be appealable

to the Supreme Court by petition for review on certiorari raising
pure questions of law in accordance with Rule 45 of the Rules of
Court. Whenever, in any case decided by the Sandiganbayan, the
penalty of reclusion perpetua or higher is imposed, the decision
shall be appealable to the Supreme Court in the manner prescribed
in the Rules of Court. In case the penalty imposed is death, review
by the Supreme Court shall be automatic, whether or not the
accused filed an appeal.
 "Judgments and orders of the Sandiganbayan shall be executed and
enforced in the manner provided by law.

"Decisions and final orders of other courts, in cases cognizable by

said courts under this Act shall be appealable to the Sandiganbayan
within fifteen (15) days from promulgation or notice to the parties."

Sec. 4. Section 9 of the same Decree is hereby amended to read as

follows:
cralaw

"Sec. 9. Rules of Procedure. - The Rules of Court promulgated by the

Supreme Court shall apply to all cases and proceedings filed with
the Sandiganbayan. The Sandiganbayan shall have no power to
promulgate its own rules of procedure, except to adopt internal
rules governing the allotment of cases among the divisions, the
rotation of justices among them, and other matters relating to the
internal operations of the court which shall be inforced until
repealed or modified by the Supreme Court."
Sec. 5. Section 10 of the same Decree is hereby repealed.

Sec. 6. Presidential Decrees Nos. 1486, 1606 and 1861, Executive Orders
Nos. 101 and 184 and all other laws, decrees, orders and rules of which
are inconsistent therewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Upon the effectivity of this Act, all criminal cases in which trial
has not begun in the Sandiganbayan shall be referred to the proper courts.

Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.
 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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of epresentatives of the

Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. The first paragraph of Sec. 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1606,

as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 1. Sandiganbayan; Composition, Qualifications; Tenure; Removal

and Compensation. - A special court, of the same level as the Court of
Appeals and possessing all the inherent powers of a court ofjustice, to be
known as the Sandiganbayan is hereby created composed of a presiding
justice and fourteen associate justices who shall be appointed by the
President."

Sec. 2. Sec. 2 of the same decree is hereby further amended to read as

follows:

"Sec. 2. Official Station; Place of Holding Sessions. - The Sandiganbayan

shall have its principal office in the Metro Manila area and shall hold
sessions thereat for the trial and determination of cases filed with it:
Provided, however, That cases originating from the principal
geographical regions of the country, that is, from Luzon, Visayas or
Mindanao, shall be heard in their respective regions of origin except only
when the greater convenience of the accused and of the witnesses, or
other compelling considerations require the contrary, in which instance
a case originating from one geographical region may be heard in
another geographical region: Provided, further, That for this purpose the
presiding justice shall authorize any divisions of the court to hold
sessions at any time and place outside Metro Manila and, where the
interest of justice so requires, outside the territorial boundaries of the
Philippines. The Sandiganbayan may require the services of the
personnel and the use of facilities of the courts or other government
offices where any of the divisions is holding sessions and the personnel
of such courts or offices shall be subject to the orders of the
Sandiganbayan."

Sec. 3. The second paragraph of Sec. 3 of the same decree is hereby

deleted.

Sec. 4. Sec. 4 of the same decree is hereby further amended to read as

follows:

"a. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, otherwise known as

the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act No. 1379, and
Chapter II, Sec. 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:

"(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), specifically including:

"(a) Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the sangguniang

panlalawigan and provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers and other
provincial department heads;

"(b) City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the sangguniang panlungsod,

city treasurers, assessors engineers and other city department heads;

"(c) Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul

and higher;

"(d) Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all
officers of higher rank;

"(e) Officers of the Philippine National Police while occupying the

position of provincial director and those holding the rank of senior
superintendent or higher;

"(f) City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials
and prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;

"(g) 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; and

"(5) All other national and local officials classified as Grade'27'and

higher under the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989.

"b. Other offenses orfelonies whether simple or complexed with other

crimes committed by the public officials and employees mentioned in
subSec. a of this Sec. in relation to their office.

"c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with
Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986.

"In cases where none of the accused are occupying positions

corresponding to salary grade '27' or higher, as prescribed in the said
Republic Act No. 6758, or military or PNP officers mentioned above,
exclusive original jurisdiction thereof shall be vested in the proper
regional trial court, metropolitan trial court, municipal trial court and
municipal circuit trial court ' as the case may be, pursuant to their
respective jurisdiction as provided in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as
amended.

"The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction over

final judgments, resolutions or orders or regional trial courts whether in
the exercise of their own original jurisdiction orof their appellate
jurisdiction as herein provided.

"The Sandiganbayan shall have 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 that may arise in
cases filed or which may be filed under Executive Order Nos. 1,2,14 and
14-A, issued in 1986: Provided, That the jurisdiction over these petitions
shall not be exclusive of the Supreme Court.

The procedure prescribed in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as well as the

implementing rules that the Supreme Court has promulgated and may
hereafter promulgate, relative to appeals/petitions for review to the
Court of Appeals, shall apply to appeals and petitions for review filed
with the Sandiganbayan. In all cases elevated to the Sandiganbayan
and from the Sandiganbayan to the Supreme Court, the Office of the
Ombudsman, through its special prosecutor, shall represent the People
of the Philippines, except in cases filed pursuant to 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.

"Any provisions of law or Rules of Court to the contrary notwithstanding,

the criminal action and the corresponding civil action for the recovery of
civil liability shall at all times be simultaneously instituted with, and
jointly determined in, the same proceeding by the Sandiganbayan or the
appropriate courts, the filing of the criminal action being deemed to
necessarily carry with it the filing of the civil action, and no right to
reserve the filing of such civil action separately from the criminal action
shall be recognized: Provided, however, That where the civil action had
therefore been filed separately but judgment therein has not yet been
rendered, and the criminal case is hereafter filed with the
Sandiganbayan or the appropriate court, said civil action shall be
transferred to the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate court, as the case
may be, for consolidation and joint determination with the criminal
action, otherwise the separate civil action shall be deemed abandoned."

Sec. 5. Sec. 7 of the same decree is hereby further amended to read as

follows:

"Sec. 7. Form, Finality and Enforcement of Decisions. - All decisions

and final orders determining the merits of a case or finally
disposing of the action or proceedings of the Sandijanbayan shall
contain complete findings of the facts and the law on which they
are based, on all issues properly raised before it and necessary in
deciding the case.

"A petition for reconsideration of any final order or decision may be

filed within fifteen (15) days from promulgation or notice of the
final order on judgment, and such motion for reconsideration shall
be decided within thirty (30) days from submission thereon.

"Decisions and final orders ofthe Sandiganbyan shall be appealable

to the Supreme Court by petition for review on certiorari raising
pure questions of law in accordance with Rule 45 of the Rules of
Court. Whenever, in any case decided by the Sandiganbayan, the
penalty of reclusion perpetua, life imprisonment or death is
 imposed, the decision shall be appealable to the Supreme Court in
the manner prescribed in the Rules of Court.

"Judgments and orders of the Sandiganbayan shall be executed and

enforced in the manner provided by law.

"Decisions and final orders of other courts in cases cognizable by

said courts under this decree as well as those rendered by them in
the exercise of their appellate jurisdiction shall be appealable to, or
be reviewable by, the Sandiganbayan in the manner provided by
Rule 122 of the Rules of the Court.

"In case, however, the imposed penalty by the Sandiganbayan or the

regional trial court in the proper exercise of their respective
jurisdictions, is death, review by the Supreme Court shall be automatic,
whether or not accused files an appeal."
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current fiscal
year appropriations of the Sandiganbayan. Thereafter, such sums as
may be needed for its continued implementation shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 7. Transitory Provision. - This Act shall apply to all cases pending
in any court over which trial has not begun as of the approval hereof

Sec. 8. Separability of Provisions. - If for any reason any provision of this

Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts or portions not
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All acts, decrees, general orders and

circulars, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.