A content analysis of Supreme Court decisions on the common violations of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft Law

Abstract

Graft and corruption are problems that have plagued the Philippines for so long as our Government has been in existence. Time and time again news outlets and media report public officials, elected or not, to be involved in acts which constitute graft, corruption, or both. Even with the passage of Republic Act. No. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corruption Law, these problems are never solved. Arguably, it can be said that the law has minimized and suppressed graft and corruption, and the penal provisions thereof discourage public officials from committing the same. Nevertheless, these problems persist. This study was conducted to analyze selected Supreme Court rulings applying Republic Act No. 3019, specifically the most common acts committed in violation thereof, the defenses set up by the accused, and the ruling of the Supreme Court as can be generally derived from them. Content analysis was the research design used and a sample of the cases the Supreme Court decided on with respect to Republic Act No. 3019 was studied and analyzed. Of the decided cases, 40% of the cases was resolved in favor of the accused. The remaining 60% was resolved against them. The acts alleged against the several accused, the defenses they interposed, and the reason for the ruling of the Supreme Court for or against them varied widely and are discussed in detail in the respective portion of this study.