SANCHEZ V.

SANDIGANBAYAN
7 Sept. 1999

Facts: Court martial proceedings were initiated against A and B for violation of RA 3019.
ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT The Ombudsman also filed a similar case
against A and B with the Sandiganbayan. A and B filed a motion to dismiss arguing that the
Sandiganbayan has no jurisdiction over their case.

Issue: Whether the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction

Held: No. In view of the enactment of RA 7975, approved on 30 March 1995, the
Sandiganbayan “lost” its jurisdiction over the case primarily because the public officials
charged here were officers of the Phil. Army below the rank of full colonel. The enactment of
RA 7975 was precisely to declog the Sandiganbayan’s docket of “small fry” cases.