Supreme Court of the Philippines

The Supreme Court (Filipino: Kataas-taasang Hukuman; colloquially referred to as the Korte Suprema) is the highest court in the Philippines. The Supreme Court was established by the Second Philippine Commission on June 11, 1901 through the enactment of its Act No. 136,[2] an Act which abolished the Real Audiencia de Manila, the predecessor of the Supreme Court.[3][4][5]

Supreme Court
Kataas-taasang Hukuman
Korte Suprema
EstablishedJune 11, 1901 (1901-06-11)
LocationPadre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila
Coordinates14°34′47″N 120°59′04″E
MottoBatas at Bayan (Law and Nation)
Composition methodPresidential appointment from the shortlist of candidates submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council
Authorized byArt. VIII, 1987 Constitution of the Philippines
Judge term lengthNo fixed term; mandatory retirement upon reaching the age of 70
Number of positions15
Annual budget₱30.687 billion (2018)[1]
Websitesc.judiciary.gov.ph
Chief Justice of the Philippines
CurrentlyDiosdado Peralta
SinceOctober 23, 2019
Philippines
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The Supreme Court Complex, which was formerly a part of the University of the Philippines Manila campus,[6] occupies the corner of Padre Faura Street and Taft Avenue in Manila, with the main building directly in front of the Philippine General Hospital.

History

Pre-hispanic period

Prior to the conquest of Spain, the islands of the Philippines were composed of independent barangays, each of which is community composed of 30 to 100 families. Typically, a barangay is headed by a datu or a local chief who exercises all functions of government—executive, legislative and judicial; he is also the commander-in-chief in times of war. Each barangay has its own laws. Laws may be oral laws, which are the traditions and customs of the locality handed down from a generation to generation, or written laws as promulgated by the datu who is typically aided by a group of elders. In a confederation of barangays, the laws are promulgated by a superior datu with the aid of the inferior datus.[7]

In a resolution of dispute, the datu acts as a judge while a group of elders sits as a jury. If a dispute is between datus or between members of different barangays, the dispute is settled through arbitration with some other datus or elders, serving as arbiters or mediators, from other barangays. All trials are held public. When a datu is in doubt if who between the parties are guilty, the trial is resorted to trial by ordeal—a common practice in criminal cases. An accused who was innocent was always perceived to be always successful in such ordeals, because the deities or gods of these pre-Hispanic people made the said accused do so.[7]

Hispanic period

In the royal order of August 14, 1569, Miguel López de Legazpi was confirmed as the Governor and Captain-General of the Philippines. He was empowered to administer civil and criminal justice in the islands. Under the same order, Legazpi had original and appellate jurisdiction in all suits and constituted in his person all authority of a department of justice, with complete administrative and governmental control of all judicial offices. In subsequent cédulas and royal orders, it was made the duty of all officials to enforce all laws and ordinances issued for the benefits of the locals, but these were not made to have been done. In a 1583 letter written by Bishop Domingo de Salazar to King Philip II, Bishop Salazar noted the different acts of oppression and injustice committed against the native Filipinos and that the decrees of the King, which were designed to protect them, were generally disregarded by the Governor-General and his subordinates.[8]

As a result of these developments, the first real audiencia (which is the Real Audiencia of Manila) or high court was established in the Philippines through the royal decree of May 5, 1583. The decree stated that "the court is founded in the interests of good government and the administration of justice, with the same authority and preeminence as each of the royal audiencias in the town of Valladolid and the city of Granada.[8] The audiencia was composed of a president, three oidores or auditors, a fiscal or prosecuting attorney, and the necessary auxiliary officials, such as the court's secretaries and clerks.[7][8] The first president was Governor-Captain General Santiago de Vera.[8]

The Real Audiencia of Manila had a jurisdiction covering Luzon and the rest of the archipelago. It was given an appellate jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases decided by the governors, alcaldes mayores and other magistrates of the islands. The audiencia may only take cognizance of a civil case in its first instance when, on account of its importance, the amount involved and the dignity of the parties might be tried in a superior court; and of criminal cases which may arise in the place where the audiencia might meet. The decisions of the audiencia in both civil and criminal cases were to be executed without any appeal, except in civil cases were the amount was so large as to justify an appeal to the King; such appeal to the King must be made within one year. All cases were to be decided by a majority vote, and in case of a tie, an advocate was chosen for the determination of the case.[8]

The audiencia would later on be dissolved through the royal cédula of August 9, 1589. The audiencia would later on be reestablished through the royal decree of May 25, 1596, and on May 8, 1598, it had resumed its functions as a high court. By its reestablishment, the audiencia was composed of a president as represented by the governor, four associate justices, prosecuting attorney with the office of protector of the Indians, the assistant prosecuting officers, a reporter, clerk and other officials.[8] By a royal order of March 11, 1776, the audiencia was reorganized; it consisted of the president, a regent, the immediate head of the audiencia, five oidores or associate justices, two assistant prosecuting attorneys, five subordinate officials, and two reporters. It had also been allowed to perform the duties of a probate court in special cases. When the high court is acting as administrative or advisory body, the audiencia acted under the name of real acuerdo. Later on the governor-general was removed as the president of the audiencia and the real acuerdo was abolished by virtue of the royal decree of July 4, 1861.[8] The same royal decree converted the court to a pure judicial body, with its decisions appealable to the Supreme Court of Spain.[9] By the royal decree of October 24, 1870, the audiencia was branched into two chambers; these two branches were later renamed as sala de lo civil and sala de lo criminal by virtue of royal decree of May 23, 1879.[8]

On February 26, 1886, the territorial audiencia of Cebu was established through a royal decree, and covers the jurisdiction of the islands of Cebu, Negros, Panay, Samar, Paragua, Calamianes, Masbate, Ticao, Leyte, Jolo and Balabac, including the smaller and adjacent islands of aforementioned islands. By January 5, 1891, a royal decree had established the territorial audiencias of Manila and Cebu. By virtue of a royal decree, the territorial audiencia in Cebu continued until May 19, 1893 when it ceased to be territorial; its audiencia for criminal cases, however, was retained.[8] From the same royal decree, the audiencia in Vigan was established and covers criminal cases in Luzon and Batanes. These courts decisions are not considered final as they are still appealable to the Audiencia Territorial of Manila and those of the audiencia to the Supreme Court of Spain.[7] These audiencias would still continue to operate even until the outbreak of the Filipino rebellion in 1896.[8]

American period

From the start of the American occupation on August 13, 1898, the audiencias of Cebu and Vigan ceased to function as the judges fled for safety. The following day, Wesley Merritt, the first American Military Governor, ordered the suspension of the territorial jurisdiction of the colonial Real Audiencia of Manila, and of other minor courts in the Philippines. All trial of committed crimes and offenses were transferred to the jurisdiction of the court-martial or military commissions of the United States. On October 7, 1898, the civil courts throughout the islands that were constituted under Spanish laws prior to August 13 were permitted to resume their civil jurisdiction but subject to supervision of the American military government. Later on in January 1899, the civil jurisdiction of the audiencia in Manila was suspended but was restored in May 1899 after it was reestablished as the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands. The criminal jurisdiction was also restored to the newly reformed civil high court.[8]

On June 11, 1901, the current Supreme Court was officially established through enactment of Act No. 136, otherwise known as the Judiciary Law of the Second Philippine Commission.[10] The said law reorganized the judicial system and vested the judicial power to the Supreme Court, Courts of First Instance and Justice of the Peace courts. The said law also provided for the early composition of the said High Court, having one Chief Justice and six Associate Justices—all appointed by the Commission.[7][8] The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 and the Jones Act of 1916, both passed by the U.S. Congress, ratified the jurisdiction of the Courts vested by Act No. 136. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 further provides that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and its six Associate Justices shall be appointed by the President of the United States with the consent and advice of the U.S. Senate.[7]

The enactment of the Administrative Code of 1917 made the Supreme Court the highest tribunal. It also increased the total membership of the Supreme Court, having one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.[11]

Commonwealth period

With the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines through the ratification of the 1935 Constitution, the Supreme Court's composition was increased to eleven, with one Chief Justice and ten Associate Justices.[n] The 1935 Constitution provided for the independence of the judiciary, the security of tenure of its members, prohibition on diminution of compensation during their term of office, and the method of removal of the justices through impeachment. The Constitution also transferred the rule-making of the legislature to the Supreme Court on the power to promulgate rules concerning pleading, practice, court procedures, and admission to the practice of law.[7]

Japanese occupation
José Abad Santos, the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Within the brief Japanese occupation of the Philippines, the Court remained with no substantial changes in its organizational structure and jurisdiction. However, some acts and outlines of the Court were required to be approved first by the Military Governor of the Imperial Japanese Force.[7] In 1942, José Abad Santos—the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—was executed by Japanese troops after refusing to collaborate with the Japanese military government. He was captured on April 11, 1942 in the province of Cebu and was executed on May 7, 1942 in the town of Parang in Mindanao.[12]

Independence and postwar period

After the end of the Japanese occupation during World War II, Philippines was granted its independence on July 4, 1946 from the United States. The grant of independence was made through the Treaty of Manila of 1946. In the said treaty, it provides that:

ARTICLE V. – The Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America agree that all cases at law concerning the Government and people of the Philippines which, in accordance with section 7 (6) of the Independence Act of 1934, are pending before the Supreme Court of the United States of America at the date of the granting of the independence of the Republic of the Philippines shall continue to be subject to the review of the Supreme Court of the United States of America for such period of time after independence as may be necessary to effectuate the disposition of the cases at hand. The contracting parties also agree that following the disposition of such cases the Supreme Court of the United States of America will cease to have the right of review of cases originating in the Philippine Islands.[o]

In effect of the treaty, the United States Supreme Court ceased to have appellate power to review cases originating from the Philippines after its independence, with exception of those cases pending before the United States Supreme Court filed prior to the country's independence.

On June 17, 1948, the Judiciary Act of 1948 was enacted. The law grouped cases together over which the high court could exercise its exclusive jurisdiction to review on appeal, certiorari, or writ of error.[4]

In 1973, the 1935 Constitution was revised and was replaced by the 1973 Constitution. Under the said Constitution, the membership of the court was increased to its current number, which is fifteen.[p] All members are said to be appointed by the President alone, without consent, approval, or recommendation of a body or officials.[q] The 1973 Constitution also vested in the Supreme Court administrative supervision over all lower courts which heretofore was under the Department of Justice.[13]

The martial law period brought in many legal issues of transcendental importance and consequence: some of which were the legality of the ratification of the 1973 Constitution, the assumption of the totality of government authority by President Marcos, the power to review the factual basis for a declaration of Martial Law by the Chief Executive.[4]

Post–EDSA revolution and present

After the overthrow of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, President Corazon Aquino, using her emergency powers, promulgated a transitory charter known as the "Freedom Constitution" which did not affect the composition and powers of the Supreme Court. The Freedom Charter was replaced by the 1987 Constitution which is the fundamental charter in force in the Philippines at present. Under the current Constitution, it retained and carried the provision in the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions that "judicial power is vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be established by law." However, unlike the previous Constitutions, the current Constitution expanded the Supreme Court's judicial power by defining it in the second paragraph of Section 1, Article VIII as:

SECTION 1. — xxx Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government.[r]

The definition, in effect, diluted the political question doctrine, that it is best to submit specific questions or issues specific questions to the political wisdom of the people, and thus, as a result, are beyond the review of the courts.[4]

Furthermore, the present Constitution provided for safeguards to ensure the independence of the Judiciary. It also provided for the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutionally-created body that recommends appointees for vacancies that may arise in the composition of the Supreme Court and other lower courts.[4]

Overview

Qualifications

According to the Constitution, for a person to be appointed to the Supreme Court, he must be:

  1. a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
  2. at least forty years of age, and
  3. have been for fifteen years or more a judge of a lower court or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines.[d]

An additional constitutional requirement, though less precise in nature, is that a judge "must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence."[e]

Composition and manner of appointment

Pursuant to Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, the Court is composed of the Chief Justice and of the fourteen Associate Justices,[a] all of whom are appointed by the President from a list of nominees made by the Judicial and Bar Council.[b] An appointment to the Supreme Court needs no confirmation of the Commission on Appointments as the nomination is already vetted by the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutionally-created body which recommends appointments within the judiciary.[b][c]

Upon a vacancy in the Court, whether for the position of Chief Justice or Associate Justice, the President fills the vacancy by appointing a person from a list of at least 3 nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council.[b]

Retirement

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines provides that:

"SECTION 11. The Members of the Supreme Court xxx shall hold office during good behavior until they reached the age of seventy years or become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office."[g]

Supreme Court Justices are obliged to retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.[f] Some Justices have opted to retire before reaching the age of 70, such as Florentino Feliciano, who retired at 67 to accept appointment to the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization and Alicia Austria-Martinez who retired at 68 due to health reasons.[14][15]

Since 1901, only Associate Justice Austria-Martinez has so far resigned for health reasons. In September 2008, Austria-Martinez, citing health reasons, filed a letter to the Court through Chief Justice Reynato Puno, tendering her resignation effective April 30, 2009, or 15 months before her compulsory retirement on December 19, 2010.[16] This was followed by Justice Martin Villarama Jr., who resigned in January 2016 due to health reasons.[17]

Seat
The en banc session hall of the Supreme Court.
Old Supreme Court Building
Supreme Court Building, Baguio City

The Supreme Court currently meets at the New Supreme Court Building along Padre Faura Street, adjacent to the location of Department of Justice and within the area occupied by the University of the Philippines Manila.

The Supreme Court first met in 1901 at the Ayuntamiento de Manila in Plaza Roma, Intramuros with the Salas De Sessiones serving as the Session Hall. The Court eventually transferred to the Old Legislative Building together with Philippine Legislature in 1941 under Chief Justice José P. Laurel.

During World War II, the Court temporarily transferred to Mabini Hall of the Malacañang Palace due to the destruction of the Old Legislative Building and the Ayuntamiento.

In 1951, the Court transferred back to the Old Supreme Court Building, originally built as part of the Manila campus of the University of the Philippines. The façade of the Old Supreme Court Building displays the busts of the first nine Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the statues of Lady Justice and Moses at its entrance. The Court transferred to its current address in 1991, after the Department of Foreign Affairs, which previously occupied the area, transferred to Roxas Boulevard.

The current building of the Supreme Court was designed by the Filipino architect Antonio Toledo in accordance to the 1905 Burnham Plan of Manila. The four pillars of the façade of the Supreme Court represent the four levels of the hierarchy of the judiciary. The bronze statues of the seated figures of Chief Justices Cayetano Arellano and José Abad Santos are guarding each side of the entrance to the Court. Upon entering the Supreme Court Building, the main lobby, with the logo of the Court, will be found at its center. To the right is the Dignitaries' Lounge and to the left is the Division Hearing Room. The second floor of the building is where the gallery of the portraits of the chief justices and the en banc session hall is located.[18]

Since 1948, The Supreme Court has held its summer sessions in Baguio during the whole month of April.[19]

The Court will move to the Supreme Court Building Complex, Fort Bonifacio, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City upon its completion.

Language

Since the courts' creation, English had been used in court proceedings. But for the first time in Philippine judicial history on August 22, 2007, three Malolos City regional trial courts in Bulacan announced that will use only Filipino in court proceedings to promote the national language. Twelve stenographers from Branches 6, 80 and 81, as model courts, had undergone training at Marcelo H. del Pilar College of Law of Bulacan State University College of Law following a directive from the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Chief Justice Reynato Puno envisioned to implement the policy in other areas such as Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Rizal, and Metro Manila.[20]

Spanish has also been used in court proceedings, particularly in the years prior to Philippine independence, with a number of cases having decisions written in the language. Although Spanish is no longer used in the court system, the language has influenced existing Philippine legal terminology.

Session opening announcement

The wording of the session opening announcement, below, is similar to that used by the Supreme Court of the United States. Notable, however, is the use of the more familiar term "hear ye" over the archaic Law French term oyez.

The honorable, the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! All persons having business before the honorable Supreme Court of the Philippines shall give their attention, for the Court is now in session.[21]

After the announcement, the Chief Justice bangs the gavel, and typically, first calls the clerk of court, who describes the first case on the calendar and calls the attorneys who will be making oral arguments to speak.[21]

Powers and jurisdiction
The facade of the Supreme Court Building at Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila.
The flag of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Adjudicatory powers
See also: Judicial review in the Philippines

The powers of the Supreme Court are defined in Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution. These functions may be generally divided into two—judicial functions and administrative functions. The administrative functions of the Court pertain to the supervision and control over the Philippine judiciary and its employees, as well as over members of the Philippine bar. Pursuant to these functions, the Court is empowered to order a change of venue of trial in order to avoid a miscarriage of justice and to appoint all officials and employees of the judiciary.[h] The Court is further authorized to promulgate the rules for admission to the practice of law, for legal assistance to the underprivileged, and the procedural rules to be observed in all courts.[h]

The more prominent role of the Court is located in the exercise of its judicial functions. Section 1 of Article VIII contains definition of judicial power that had not been found in previous constitutions. The judicial power is vested in "one Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be established by law."[i] This judicial power is exercised through the judiciary's primary role of adjudication, which includes the "duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the government."[i]

The definition reaffirms the power of the Supreme Court to engage in judicial review, a power that had traditionally belonged to the Court even before this provision was enacted. Still, this new provision effectively dissuades from the easy resort to the political question doctrine as a means of declining to review a law or state action, as was often done by the Court during the rule of President Ferdinand Marcos.[22] As a result, the existence of "grave abuse of discretion" on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the government is sufficient basis to nullify state action.

Original jurisdiction

The other mode by which a case reaches the Supreme Court is through an original petition filed directly with the Supreme Court, in cases that the Constitution establishes "original jurisdiction" with the Supreme Court. Under Section 5(1), Article VIII of the Constitution, they are "cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus." Resort to certiorari, prohibition and mandamus may be availed of only if "there is no appeal, or any plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law."[j]

However, notwithstanding the grant of original jurisdiction, the Court has, through the years, assigned to lower courts such as the Court of Appeals the power to hear petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto and habeas corpus. As a result, the Court has considerable discretion to refuse to hear these petitions filed directly before it on the ground that such should have been filed instead with the Court of Appeals or the appropriate lower court. Nonetheless, cases that have attracted wide public interest or for which a speedy resolution is of the essence have been accepted for decision by the Supreme Court without hesitation.

In cases involving the original jurisdiction of the Court, there must be a finding of "grave abuse of discretion" on the part of the respondents to the suit to justify favorable action on the petition. The standard of "grave abuse of discretion", a markedly higher standard than "error of law", has been defined as "a capricious and whimsical exercise of judgment amounting to lack of jurisdiction."[k]

Appellate review

Far and away the most common mode by which a case reaches the Supreme Court is through an appeal from a decision rendered by a lower court. Appealed cases generally originate from lawsuits or criminal indictments filed and tried before the trial courts. These decisions of the trial courts may then be elevated on appeal to the Court of Appeals, or more rarely, directly to the Supreme Court if only “questions of law” are involved. Apart from decisions of the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court may also directly review on appeal decisions rendered by the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Tax Appeals. Decisions rendered by administrative agencies are not directly appealable to the Supreme Court, they must be first challenged before the Court of Appeals. However, decisions of the Commission on Elections may be elevated directly for review to the Supreme Court, although the procedure is not, strictly speaking, in the nature of an appeal.

Review on appeal is not as a matter of right, but "of sound judicial discretion and will be granted only when there are special and important reasons therefor".[l] In the exercise of appellate review, the Supreme Court may reverse the decision of lower courts upon a finding of an "error of law". The Court generally declines to engage in review the findings of fact made by the lower courts, although there are notable exceptions to this rule. The Court also refuses to entertain cases originally filed before it that should have been filed first with the trial courts.

Rule-making power

The Supreme Court has the exclusive power to 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. Any such rules shall provide a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts of 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. (Art. VIII, §54(5))

Writs of amparo and habeas data

The Supreme Court approved the Writ of Amparo on September 25, 2007.[23] The writ of amparo (Spanish for protection) strips the military of the defense of simple denial. Under the writ, families of victims have the right to access information on their cases—a constitutional right called the "habeas data" common in several Latin American countries. The rule is enforced retroactively. Chief Justice Puno stated that "If you have this right, it would be very, very difficult for State agents, State authorities to be able to escape from their culpability."[24][25]

The Resolution and the Rule on the Writ of Amparo gave legal birth to Puno's brainchild.[26][27][28] No filing or legal fees is required for Amparo which takes effect on October 24. Puno also stated that the court will soon issue rules on the writ of Habeas Data and the implementing guidelines for Habeas Corpus. The petition for the writ of amparo may be filed "on any day and at any time" with the Regional Trial Court, or with the Sandiganbayan, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. The interim reliefs under amparo are: temporary protection order (TPO), inspection order (IO), production order (PO), and witness protection order (WPO, RA 6981).[29]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has criticized the Writ of Amparo and Habeas Data for being insufficient, saying further action must be taken, including enacting laws for protection against torture, enforced disappearance, and laws to provide legal remedies to victims. AHRC said the writ failed to protect non-witnesses, even if they too face threats.[30]

On August 30, 2007, Puno vowed to institute the writ of habeas data as a new legal remedy to the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Puno explained that the writ of amparo denies to authorities defense of simple denial, and habeas data can find out what information is held by the officer, rectify or even the destroy erroneous data gathered.[31]

On January 22, 2008, the Supreme Court en banc approved the rules for the writ of Habeas Data ("to protect a person’s right to privacy and allow a person to control any information concerning them"), effective on February 2, the Philippines’ Constitution Day.[32]

Divisions

The Court is authorized to sit either en banc or in divisions of three, five or seven members. Since 1987, the Court has divided itself into 3 divisions with 5 members each. A majority of the cases are heard and decided by the divisions, rather than the Court en banc. However, the Constitution requires that the Court hear en banc "[a]ll cases involving the constitutionality of a treaty, international or executive agreement, as well as "those involving the constitutionality, application, or operation of presidential decrees, proclamations, orders, instructions, ordinances, and other regulations". The Court en banc also decides cases originally heard by a division when a majority vote cannot be reached within the division. The Court also has the discretion to hear a case en banc even if no constitutional issue is involved, as it typically does if the decision would reverse precedent or presents novel or important questions.

Formerly under the 1935, 1973 and the 1986 Freedom Constitutions, the Court is authorized only to sit either en banc or in divisions of two.

Membership

Current Justices

The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and fourteen associate justices. Among the current members of the Court, Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe is the longest-serving justice, with a tenure of 3,257 days (8 years, 335 days) as of August 16, 2020; the most recent justice to enter the court is Samuel H. Gaerlan, whose tenure began on January 8, 2020.

Justice
Birthdate and place		 Position Appointing President Tenure
Length of service		 Previous position or office
(Most recent prior to appointment)		 Replacing
Diosdado Peralta
born (1952-03-27) March 27, 1952
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte		 Chief Justice Duterte Oct 23, 2019–present
(299 days)

Jan 13, 2009–Oct 22, 2019
(11 years, 216 days)
Associate Justice

 Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
(2009–2019)		 Bersamin
Estela Perlas-Bernabe
born (1952-05-14) May 14, 1952
Plaridel, Bulacan		 Senior Associate Justice Aquino III Sep 16, 2011–present
(8 years, 335 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals of the Philippines
(2004–2011)		 Carpio–Morales
Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen
born (1962-12-29) December 29, 1962
Baguio		 Associate Justice Nov 12, 2012–present
(7 years, 278 days)		 Chief Peace Negotiator of the Republic with the MILF
(2010–2012)		 Sereno
Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa
born (1959-09-26) September 26, 1959		 Jan 22, 2016–present
(4 years, 207 days)		 Acting Secretary of Justice
(2015–2016)		 Villarama Jr.
Alexander Gesmundo
born (1956-11-06) November 6, 1956
San Pablo, Laguna		 Duterte Aug 14, 2017–present
(3 years, 2 days)		 Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan
(2005–2017)		 Mendoza
Jose Reyes Jr.
born (1950-09-18) September 18, 1950
Tacloban, Leyte		 Aug 10, 2018–present
(2 years, 6 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2003–2018)		 Velasco Jr.
Ramon Paul L. Hernando
born (1966-08-27) August 27, 1966
Tuguegarao, Cagayan		 Oct 10, 2018–present
(1 year, 311 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2010–2018)		 Martires
Rosmari Carandang
born (1952-01-09) January 9, 1952
Taal, Batangas		 Nov 26, 2018–present
(1 year, 264 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2003–2018)		 De Castro
Amy Lazaro-Javier
born (1956-11-16) November 16, 1956		 Mar 6, 2019–present
(1 year, 163 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2007–2019)		 Tijam
Henri Jean Paul Inting
born (1957-09-04) September 4, 1957
Bansalan, Davao del Sur		 May 27, 2019–present
(1 year, 81 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals

(2012–2019)

 Bersamin
Rodil Zalameda
born (1963-08-02) August 2, 1963
Caloocan		 Aug 5, 2019–present
(1 year, 11 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2008–2019)		 del Castillo
Mario V. Lopez
born (1955-06-04) June 4, 1955
La Union		 Dec 3, 2019–present
(257 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2006–2019)		 Jardeleza
Edgardo Delos Santos
born (1952-06-12) June 12, 1952
Palompon, Leyte		 Dec 3, 2019–present
(257 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2008–2019)		 Carpio
Samuel H. Gaerlan
born (1958-12-19) December 19, 1958
La Union		 Jan 8, 2020–present
(221 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2009–2020)[33]		 Peralta
Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla
born (1958-07-02) July 2, 1958
 Jul 16, 2020–present
(31 days)		 Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
(2006–2020)		 A. Reyes

Note: Updated daily according to UTC.

Divisions

On October 26, 2019, after the retirement of Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, the newly appointed Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta partially reorganised the Divisions of the Supreme Court by giving Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Associate Justice Marvic Leonen as Chair persons of the Second and Third Divisions respectively and to Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa as the working Chairman of the First Division.

First Division Second Division Third Division
Chairperson D. Peralta Chairperson E. Perlas-Bernabe Chairperson M. Leonen
Working Chairperson A. Caguioa
Members
    • R. Hernando
    • H. Inting
    • E. Delos Santos
 Members
    • A. Gesmundo
    • R. Carandang
    • R. Zalameda
    • S. Gaerlan
 Members
    • J. Reyes
    • A. Lazaro-Javier
    • M. Lopez
    • P. Baltazar-Padilla

Court demographics

By law school
Law School Total Percentage Justices
Ateneo School of Law 4 26.67% A. Caguioa
A. Gesmundo
E. Perlas-Bernabe
R. Zalameda
San Beda College of Law 4 26.67% R. Hernando
J. Reyes
M. Lopez
S. Gaerlan
University of the Philippines College of Law 2 13.33% R. Carandang
M. Leonen
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law 2 13.33% A. Lazaro-Javier
D. Peralta
Ateneo de Davao University College of Law 1 6.67% H. Inting
University of San Carlos School of Law and Governance 1 6.67% E. Delos Santos
Lyceum of the Philippines College of Law 1 6.67% P. Baltazar-Padilla

By appointing President
President Total Percentage Justices
Duterte 11 73.33% P. Baltazar-Padilla
R. Carandang
E. Delos Santos
S. Gaerlan
A. Gesmundo
R. Hernando
H. Inting
A. Lazaro-Javier
M. Lopez
J. Reyes
R. Zalameda
Aquino III 3 20% A. Caguioa
M. Leonen
E. Perlas-Bernabe
Macapagal–Arroyo 1 6.67% D. Peralta

By gender
Gender Total Percentage Justices
Male 11 73.33% A. Caguioa
A. Gesmundo
R. Hernando
H. Inting
M. Leonen
D. Peralta
J. Reyes
R. Zalameda
M. Lopez
E. Delos Santos
S. Gaerlan
Female 4 26.67% P. Baltazar-Padilla
R. Carandang
A. Lazaro-Javier
E. Perlas-Bernabe

Public perception

Judicial corruption

On January 25, 2005, and on December 10, 2006, Philippines Social Weather Stations released the results of its two surveys on corruption in the judiciary; it published that: a) like 1995, 1/4 of lawyers said many/very many judges are corrupt. But (49%) stated that judges received bribes, just 8% of lawyers admitted they reported the bribery, because they could not prove it. [Tables 8–9]; judges, however, said, just 7% call many/very many judges as corrupt[Tables 10–11];b) "Judges see some corruption; proportions who said – many/very many corrupt judges or justices: 17% in reference to RTC judges, 14% to MTC judges, 12% to Court of Appeals justices, 4% i to Shari'a Court judges, 4% to Sandiganbayan justices and 2% in reference to Supreme Court justices [Table 15].[34][35]

The September 14, 2008, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) survey, ranked the Philippines 6th (6.10) among corrupt Asian judicial systems. PERC stated that "despite India and the Philippines being democracies, expatriates did not look favourably on their judicial systems because of corruption." PERC reported Hong Kong and Singapore have the best judicial systems in Asia, with Indonesia and Vietnam the worst: Hong Kong's judicial system scored 1.45 on the scale (zero representing the best performance and 10 the worst); Singapore with a grade of 1.92, followed by Japan (3.50), South Korea (4.62), Taiwan (4.93), the Philippines (6.10), Malaysia (6.47), India (6.50), Thailand (7.00), China (7.25), Vietnam's (8.10) and Indonesia (8.26).[36]<[37]

In 2014, Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (global survey ranking countries in terms of perceived corruption), the Philippines ranked 85th out of 175 countries surveyed, an improvement from placing 94th in 2013. It scored 38 on a scale of 1 to 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).[38]

The Philippines jumped nine places in the recently published World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2015, making it one of the most improved countries in terms of global rankings. It ranked 51st out of 102 countries on the ROLI, a significant jump from last year when the country ranked 60th out of 99 countries. This makes the Philippines the most improved among ASEAN member nations. "Results showed that the country ranked high in terms of constraints on government powers (39th); absence of corruption (47th), and open government (50th)."

"The Philippines, however, fell to the bottom half of the global rankings in terms of regulatory enforcement (52nd); order and security (58th); criminal justice (66th); fundamental rights (67th), and civil justice (75th)."[39]

Bantay Korte Suprema

"Watch the Supreme Court" coalition was launched at the Training Center, Ground Floor, Supreme Court Centennial Bldg on November 17, 2008, "to ensure the fair and honest selection of the 7 Associate Justices of the Supreme Court on 2009." Members of “Bantay Korte Suprema” include retired Philippine presidents, retired Supreme Court justices, legislators, legal practitioners, the academe, the business community and the media. former Senate President Jovito Salonga, UP Law Dean Marvic Leonen, Senate Majority Leader and Judicial and Bar Council member Kiko Pangilinan, the Philippine Bar Association, Artemio Panganiban, and Rodolfo Urbiztondo, of the 48,000-strong Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and the chambers of commerce, witnessed the landmark event. BKS will neither select nor endorse a candidate, “but if it receive information that makes a candidate incompetent, it will divulge this to the public and inform the JBC." At the BKS launching, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the public monitoring of the selection of justices to the SC was signed.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Appointments Watch (SCAW) coalition of law groups and civil society to monitor the appointment of persons to judicial positions was also re-launched. The SCAW consortium, composed of the Alternative Law Groups, Libertas, Philippine Association of law Schools and the Transparency and Accountability Network, together with the online news magazine Newsbreak, reactivated itself for the JBC selection process of candidates.[40][41][42][43]

Landmark decisions

The following are select landmark decisions decided by the Supreme Court since 1901:

  • Falcis III v. Civil Registrar-General (2019), petition to recognize same-sex marriage in the Philippines
  • Republic v. Sereno (2018), removal of an impeachable official via quo warranto petition.
  • Lagman et al. v. Senate President Pimentel et. al. (2017), validity of second extension of the proclamation of martial law in the entire Mindanao for one year.
  • Knights of Rizal v. DMCI (2017), suspension of the construction, and ultimate demolition of the condominium building for violating National Cultural Heritage Act.
  • Saturnino C. Ocampo, et al. v. Rear Admiral Ernesto C. Enriquez, et al (2016), Constitutional validity of interment of the remains of President Ferdinand Marcos to the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
  • David v. Poe (2015), eligibility of a foundling for public office.
  • Disini v. Secretary of Justice (2012), validity of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
  • League of Cities of the Philippines v. COMELEC (2011), validity of the cityhood laws of sixteen municipalities.
  • Biraogo v. Philippine Truth Commission (2010), validity of the creation of the Truth Commission.
  • Quinto v. COMELEC (2009), incumbent appointive executive officials to stay in office after filing their certificates of candidacy for election to an elective officials.
  • Sema v. COMELEC and Dilangalen (2008), power of the autonomous region to create provinces and cities.
  • Neri v. Senate (2008), validity of extension of executive privilege to cabinet officials.
  • Re: Letter of Presiding Justice Conrado M. Vasquez Jr. on CA-G.R. SP NO. 103692 (2008), Irregularities and improprieties committed by the C.A. Justices in connection with the MERALCO case.
  • Oposa v. Factoran (1993), doctrine of intergenerational responsibility on the environment in the Philippine legal system.
  • Javellana v. Executive Secretary (1974), ratification of the 1973 Constitution.
  • People v. Hernandez (1956), rebellion is charged as a single offense rather than complex crime.
  • Krivenko v. Register of Deeds (1947), prohibition of foreign acquisition of private or public agricultural lands, including residential lands.

Notes
a. ^ Art. VIII of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines.
b. ^ §9, supra.
c. ^ §8(5), supra.
d. ^ §7(1), supra.
e. ^ §7(3), supra.
f. ^ This was changed to 65 from 1973 to 1978, but since restored to 70.
g. ^ §11, supra.
h. ^ §5(4) & (5), supra.
i. ^ §1, supra.
j. ^ §1, 2 and 3, Rule 65 of the Rules of Civil Procedure of the Rules of Court.
k. ^ Toh v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 140274 (November 15, 2000).
l. ^ §6, Rule 45 of the Rules of Civil Procedure of the Rules of Court.
n. ^ §4, Art. VIII of the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines.
o. ^ Art. V of the Treaty of General Relations and Protocol (also known as the Treaty of Manila of 1946).
p. ^ §2(1), Art. X of the 1973 Constitution of the Philippines.
q. ^ §4, supra.
r. ^ Second paragraph of §1, Art. VIII of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines.
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References
  1. "XXX. The Judiciary of the General Appropriations Act F.Y. 2018-Volume IB" (PDF). Department of Budget and Management. December 29, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  2. "An act providing for the organization of courts in the Philippine Islands". Chapter 2, Section No. 38–39 of Act No. 136 of 11 June 1901. Second Philippine Commission.
  3. "The Supreme Court | History of the Supreme Court". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  4. "A Constitutional History of the Supreme Court of the Philippines". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  5. Brion, J. Art. D. (June 13, 2017). "The Supreme Court at center stage". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  6. Boncan, Celestina P. (February 6, 2013). "Beginnings: University of the Philippines Manila". University of the Philippines. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  7. Pangalangan, Raul C. (December 20, 2016). "I. Overview of the Philippine Judicial System". Institute of Developing Economies (in Japanese). Institute of Developing Economies–Japan External Trade Organization. pp. 1–5. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  8. Census of the Philippine Islands: Taken Under the Direction of the Philippine Commission in the Year 1903, in Four Volumes. U.S. Government Printing Office. United States Census Bureau. 1905. pp. 389–410. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  9. "The Judicial Branch". Official Gazette. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  10. "Act No. 136, (1901-06-11)". Lawyerly. June 11, 1901. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  11. Han Dong-Man (June 10, 2018). "Supreme Court Day". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  12. "The execution of José Abad Santos". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  13. Davide, Hilario Jr. (November 22, 2004). "The Philippine Judiciary: Its Independence and Transformation". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. Torres-Tupas, Tetch (December 16, 2015). "Justice Florentino Feliciano passes away at 87". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  15. "A Chief Justice Sereno is win-win for P-Noy". Balita. August 14, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  16. Rufo, Aries (September 30, 2008). "Exclusive: SC Justice Alicia Martinez to retire early". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  17. Merueñas, Mark (November 4, 2015). "SC Justice Villarama seeks early retirement due to deteriorating health". GMA News. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  18. Benchmark Volume 1, June 2018
  19. Why Supreme Court Justices go to Baguio every April
  20. Inquirer.net, 3 Bulacan courts to use Filipino in judicial proceedings Archived May 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  21. Oral argument in Disini v. Secretary of Justice:
  22. Bernas, Joaquin G. (1996). The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines: A Commentary. Rex Book Store. p. 831. ISBN 9789712320132.
  23. Inquirer.net, SC approves use of writ of amparo Archived October 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  24. Inquiret.net, Military can’t shrug off killings—Chief Justice
  25. ABS-CBN Interactive, SC ready with writ of amparo by Sept – Puno
  26. Supremecourt.gov.ph, A.M. No. 07-9-12-SC, THE RULE ON THE WRIT OF AMPARO
  27. S.C. Resolution, A.M. No. 07-9-12-SC, THE RULE ON THE WRIT OF AMPARO Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  28. Supremecourt.gov.ph, SC Approves Rule on Writ of Amparo Archived December 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  29. GMA NEWS.TV, SC approves rule on writ of amparo vs extralegal killings
  30. GMA NEWS.TV, Writ of amparo not enough – Hong Kong rights group
  31. Inquirer.net, Habeas data: SC’s new remedy vs killings, disappearances
  32. newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews, Supreme Court okays rules of ‘habeas data’
  33. https://fdocuments.in/document/court-of-appeals-judicial-and-bar-16-hon-ricardo-r-rosario-july-22-2005.html
  34. www.sws.org.ph, New Diagnostic Study Sets Guideposts for Systematic Development of the Judiciary Archived May 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  35. www.sws.org.ph, New SWS Study of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession Sees Some Improvements, But Also Recurring Problems Archived May 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  36. afp.google.com/article, Hong Kong has best judicial system in Asia: business survey Archived May 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  37. www.abs-cbnnews.com, Hong Kong has best judicial system in Asia: business survey
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  39. Inquirer.net PH is most improved in rule of law index
  40. "newsinfo.inquirer.net, SC watchdog launched". Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
  41. supremecourt.gov.ph, LAUNCHING OF BANTAY KORTE SUPREMA
  42. gmanews.tv/story, Group launches ‘Bantay Korte Suprema’ to guard selection of new SC justices
  43. balita.ph, Bantay Korte Suprema launched

See also
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