Supreme Court turns Judicial Integrity Board into new office

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) said it has restructured the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) into the Judicial Integrity Office (JIO), which aims to improve the handling of administrative disciplinary cases within the Judiciary.

In a statement on Tuesday, August 26, the reorganization placed the new office under the direct supervision and control of the SC.

According to the high court, the creation of the JIO is part of the Judiciary's Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations.

Following an organizational assessment, a technical working group recommended replacing the five-member JIB with a single Judicial Integrity Officer.

This officer, appointed by the SC, will serve a four-year term and may be reappointed once.

To qualify for the position, the officer must be at least 45 years old, have a minimum of 15 years of legal practice and possess relevant experience in investigating administrative complaints.

Expanded powers and new procedures. Under its new structure, the JIO is now authorized to conduct fact-finding investigations and recommend penalties or clemency for a wide range of judicial personnel.

This includes justices of the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, and the Court of Tax Appeals; judges of first- and second-level courts; and officials and employees of all courts and offices under the SC's supervision.

It will also receive administrative complaints, with all other courts and offices instructed to immediately refer any complaints they receive to the new office.

The office may likewise initiate its own complaints or act on referrals from other government agencies. However, complaints against SC members will be handled by the SC Ethics Committee.

A mandatory grievance conference will be required for less serious offenses involving parties from the same office or court before a case is officially docketed.

It also holds the power to issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents and can recommend the preventive suspension of a respondent during an investigation.

Transition. During the transition, the current Acting JIB Chairperson will function as the Judicial Integrity Officer and the other members will serve as consultants until their terms end.

The high court said the current JIB personnel will be transferred to the JIO.

The resolution by the high court also clarified that the powers of the Corruption Prevention and Investigation Office have been assumed by the newly enacted Judiciary Marshals.

The SC, which has constitutional authority over all courts and their personnel, emphasized its commitment to purging its ranks of "undesirables."

The resolution will take effect 15 days after its publication on Aug. 20, 2025. A technical working group will then be formed to draft the JIO's internal rules.