1997 Rules on Civil Procedure 2001 Edition <draft copy. pls.

check for errors>

Rule 56 PROCEDURE IN THE SUPREME COURT

Rule 56 Procedure in the Supreme Court

This is an entirely new provision. In the SC, there are 2 types of cases ORIGI !" an# !$$%!"%&. The SC has 'oth the ori(inal an# appellate )uris#iction. *hat are the ori(inal cases co(ni+a'le 'y the SC, !.- ORI IN!" C!SES SECTION #. Original cases cognizable. $ O%ly pet&t&o%s for cert&orar&' proh&(&t&o%' )a%da)*s' +*o ,arra%to' ha(eas corp*s' d&sc&pl&%ary proceed&%-s a-a&%st )e)(ers of the .*d&c&ary a%d attor%eys' a%d cases affect&%- a)(assadors' other p*(l&c )&%&sters a%d co%s*ls )ay (e f&led or&-&%ally &% the S*pre)e Co*rt. /%0 .ou /now the0 no, Certiorari, prohi'ition, 0an#a0us, 1uo warranto, ha'eas corpus, cases affectin( a0'assa#ors other pu'lic 0inisters an# consuls nasa Constitution #in yan. This is only a repetition of !rticle 2III, Section 5 34- of the Constitution. !si#e fro0 that, the Rules of Court (ive the SC authority to hear #isciplinary procee#in(s a(ainst 0e0'ers of the )u#iciary, #is'ar0ent or re0oval of )u#(es. SC 0an yan 'a5 !n# they are (overne# specially for #is'ar0ent 'y Rule 46789 of the Rules of Court. SEC. 1. Rules applicable. $ The proced*re &% or&-&%al cases for cert&orar&' proh&(&t&o%' )a%da)*s' +*o ,arra%to a%d ha(eas corp*s shall (e &% accorda%ce ,&th the appl&ca(le pro2&s&o%s of the Co%st&t*t&o%' la,s' a%d R*les 34'35' 36' 7#' 71 a%d th&s R*le' s*(.ect to the follo,&%- pro2&s&o%s8 a.0 !ll refere%ces &% sa&d R*les to the Co*rt of !ppeals shall (e *%derstood to also apply to the S*pre)e Co*rt9 (.0 The port&o%s of sa&d R*les deal&%- str&ctly ,&th a%d spec&f&cally &%te%ded for appealed cases &% the Co*rt of !ppeals shall %ot (e appl&ca(le9 a%d c.0 E&-htee% /#50 clearly le-&(le cop&es of the pet&t&o% shall (e f&led' to-ether ,&th proof of ser2&ce o% all ad2erse part&es. The proceed&%-s for d&sc&pl&%ary act&o% a-a&%st )e)(ers of the .*d&c&ary shall (e -o2er%ed (y the la,s a%d R*les prescr&(ed therefor' a%d those a-a&%st attor%eys (y R*le #:6;<' as a)e%ded. /%0 a.) All references in said Rules to the Court of Appeals shall be understood to also apply to the Supreme Court !ctually, /ulan( ito eh. These procee#in(s are actually (overne# 0ore 'y Rule 65 an# 66. 9ut they are also covere# 'y Rule :6, :;, :7, 54 an# 52 3C!- an# it also applies to SC. b.) The portions of said Rules dealing strictly with and specifically intended for appealed cases in the Court of Appeals shall not be applicable; and This is 0ore of le(al an# )u#icial ethics. <= *hen you file a petition 'efore the SC for certiorari, prohi'ition or 0an#a0us, how 0any copies, != >irst filin( 4; copies 0ini0u0. *hy, 9ecause you #o not /now whether it will 'e consi#ere# as an en banc case or a #ivision case. The SC operates in 2 ways. It #eci#es cases either en banc or 'y #ivision. 4; copies is re1uire# 'ecause 45 na an( )ustices, only three 36- for the cler/.

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Rule 56 Procedure in the Supreme Court

<= ?ow a'out su'se1uent plea#in(s, ?ow 0any copies, != &epen#e. @un( en banc, all su'se1uent plea#in(s, still 4; copies. @apa( #ivision case, 7 na lan(. ow, there are three #ivisions in the SC the first, secon# an# thir# #ivisions. !n# every #ivision is co0pose# of five 35- 0e0'ers. The SC 0eets en banc twice a wee/ Tues#ay an# Thurs#ay unless they have chan(e# it. It is calle# an en banc session. Cases are raffle# for assi(n0ent 'y #ivision. Aon#ay an# *e#nes#ay, hiwa8hiwalay sila the 5 )ustices who 'elon( to the sa0e #ivision 0eet to(ether an# #iscuss cases which are raffle# to that #ivision. >ri#ay is a O S%SSIO 'ut a wor/in( #ay. That is when they stu#y, prepare their #ecisions an# resolutions. That is why we can also pre#ict when will the result of the 9ar 'e release# 'ecause that is an en banc session. Only the SC en banc can or#er the release of the results of the 9ar %Ba0. They have to pass a resolution. 9. !PPE!"ED C!SES SEC. :. ode of appeal. $ !% appeal to the S*pre)e Co*rt )ay (e take% o%ly (y a pet&t&o% for re2&e, o% cert&orar&' e=cept &% cr&)&%al cases ,here the pe%alty &)posed &s death' recl*s&o% perpet*a or l&fe &)pr&so%)e%t. /%0 There is only one way of appeal to the SC. The only 0o#e of appeal reco(ni+e# is $etition for Review 'y Certiorari un#er Rule :5, eBcept in cri0inal cases when the penalty i0pose# 'y the RTC is #eath penalty, reclusion perpatua or life i0prison0ent where only or#inary appeal 3un#er Rule :4- is re1uire#. Outsi#e of that, the only 0o#e of appeal to the SC is $etition for Review 'y Certiorari. $lease connect this with Rule :5, Section 7= R*le 37' Sec. 6. Rule applicable to both ci!il and criminal cases .; The )ode of appeal prescr&(ed &% th&s r*le shall (e appl&ca(le to (oth c&2&l a%d cr&)&%al cases e=cept &% cr&)&%al cases ,here the pe%alty &)posed &s death' recl*s&o%9 perpet*a or l&fe &)pr&so%)e%t. R*le 74' Sec. 3. "rocedure.; The appeal shall (e -o2er%ed (y a%d d&sposed of &% accorda%ce ,&th the appl&ca(le pro2&s&o%s of the Co%st&t*t&o%' la,s' R*les 37' 35' sect&o%s l'1' a%d 7 to ## of R*le 7#' 71 a%d th&s r*le. <= *hat are the (roun#s for #is0issal of an appeal 'efore the SC, != Section 5= Sect&o% 7. #rounds for dismissal of appeal.; The appeal )ay (e d&s)&ssed motu propio or o% )ot&o% of the respo%de%t o% the follo,&%- -ro*%ds8 a. >a&l*re to take the appeal ,&th&% the re-le)e%tary per&od9 (. "ack of )er&t &% the pet&t&o%9 c. >a&l*re to pay the re+*&s&te docket fee a%d other la,f*l fees or to )ake a depos&t for costs9 d. >a&l*re to co)ply ,&th the re+*&re)e%ts re-ard&%- ?proof of ser2&ce a%d co%te%ts of a%d the doc*)e%ts ,h&ch sho*ld acco)pa%y the pet&t&o%9 e. >a&l*re to co)ply ,&th a%y c&rc*lar' d&rect&2e or order of the S*pre)e Co*rt ,&tho*t .*st&f&a(le ca*se9 f. Error &% the cho&ce of )ode of appeal9 a%d -. The fact that the case &s %ot appeala(le to the S*pre)e Co*rt. Connect Rule 56, Section 5 with Rule :5, Section 5. The (roun#s are i#entical, to wit=

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Rule 56 Procedure in the Supreme Court

R*le 37' Sec. 7. $ismissal or denial of petition. The fa&l*re of the pet&t&o%er to co)ply ,&th a%y of the fore-o&%- re+*&re)e%t re-ard&%- the pay)e%t of the docket a%d other la,f*l fees' depos&t for costs' proof of ser2&ce of the pet&t&o%' a%d the co%te%ts of a%d the doc*)e%ts ,h&ch sho*ld acco)pa%y the pet&t&o% shall (e s*ff&c&e%t -ro*%d for the d&s)&ssal thereof. The S*pre)e Co*rt )ay o% &ts o,% &%&t&at&2e de%y the pet&t&o% o% the -ro*%d that the appeal &s ,&tho*t )er&t' or &s prosec*ted )a%&festly for delay or that the +*est&o%s ra&sed there&% are too *%s*(sta%t&al to re+*&re co%s&derat&o%. Sec. 4. $isposition of improper appeal % E=cept as pro2&ded &% sect&o% :' R*le #11 re-ard&%- appeals &% cr&)&%al cases ,here the pe%alty &)posed &s death' recl*s&o% perpet*a or l&fe &)pr&so%)e%t' a% appeal take% to the S*pre)e Co*rt (y %ot&ce of appeal9 shall (e d&s)&ssed. !% appeal (y cert&orar& take% to the S*pre)e co*rt fro) the Re-&o%al Tr&al Co*rt s*()&tt&%- &ss*es of fact )ay (e referred to the Co*rt of !ppeals for dec&s&o% or appropr&ate act&o%. The deter)&%at&o% of the S*pre)e Co*rt o% ,hether or %ot the &ss*es of fact are &%2ol2ed shall (e f&%al. This is alrea#y #iscusse# in Rule 5C, Section 2. ! wron( appeal is a (roun# for a #is0issal of such appeal. <= If the appeal is on pure 1uestion of law 3it shoul# 'e 'efore the SC- an# 'y 0ista/e the party appeale# to the C!, what will happen, != The appeal will 'e #is0isse# un#er Rule 5C. The C! will not en#orse the case to the SC. <= Suppose you will appeal 'y certiorari to the SC un#er Rule :5. Tapos, halo pala hin#i na0an pala 1uestion of law lahat 0ay /asa0an( 1uestion of fact. *hat will happen now in the appeal, != Dn#er Rule 56, Section 6, the SC 0ay or 0ay not #is0iss the appeal. It 0ay refer the 0atter to the C! 'ali/ta# noh, So it is not the sa0e as Rule 5C, Section 2. Sect&o% @. "rocedure if opinion is di!ided. Ahere the co*rt e% (a%c &s e+*ally d&2&ded &% op&%&o%' or the %ecessary )a.or&ty ca%%ot (e had' the case shall a-a&% (e del&(erated o%' a%d &f after s*ch del&(erat&o% %o dec&s&o% &s reached' the or&-&%al act&o% co))e%ced &% the co*rt shall (e d&s)&ssed9 &% appealed cases' the .*d-)e%t or order appealed fro) shall sta%d aff&r)ed9 a%d o% all &%c&de%tal )atters' the pet&t&o% or )ot&o% shall (e de%&ed. *hat happens if the )ustices of the SC are e1ually #ivi#e#, >or instance, there were : in atten#ance in a #ivision #ahil a'sent an( isa the result is 2=2. So, we will #eli'erate a(ain, 'ut still 2=2. If that is so, the #ecision appeale# fro0 is consi#ere# affir0e#. In other wor#s, the rulin( in the lower court is consi#ere# correct. The counterpart of this rule in Cri0inal $roce#ure is Rule 425, Section 6. If after #eli'eration, the )ustices are even, they will #eli'erate a(ain 'ut still even. The #ecision 0ust 'e ac1uittal. Since you cannot 'rea/ the tie, it 0ust 'e in favor of the accuse#. &' (A'C C!S%S ow, 'efore we leave this topic, of course we /now very well that when you appeal to the SC, there are two possi'ilities either it will 'e hear# 'y a #ivision 3there are 6 #ivisions there- or your case 0i(ht 'e #eci#e# 'y the entire SC en banc. <= *hat cases are hear# 'y the SC en banc, != There was a circular in 4776 issue# 'y the SC enu0eratin( en banc cases=

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Rule 56 Procedure in the Supreme Court

4.- Cases in which the constitutionality or vali#ity of any treaty, international or eBecutive a(ree0ent, law, eBecutive or#er, presi#ential #ecree, procla0ation, or#er, instruction, or#inance or re(ulations in 1uestion. >or eBa0ple, the recent Oil &ere(ulation "awE 2.- Cri0inal cases in which the appeale# #ecision i0poses #eath penaltyE Cri0inal cases where a chan(e of venue is re1uire# to avoi# 0iscarria(e of )ustice where SC has to 0a/e an or#er to chan(e the venueE $a( reclusion perpetua, hin#i 0an yan en banc 'a5 Only for #eath penalty. 6.- Cases raisin( novel 1uestions of lawE There is a point of law where there is no #eci#e# case yet. Aeanin(, such le(al issue is raise# for the first ti0e. :.- Cases affectin( a0'assa#ors, other pu'lic 0inisters or consulsE 5.- Cases involvin( #ecisions, resolutions, or#ers of the COA%"%C, CO!, or the Office of the OA9D&SA! , S! &IG! 9!.! in a#0inistrative #isciplinary casesE 6.- Cases in which the penalty involve# is a #is0issal of the )u#(e, officer or e0ployee of the )u#iciary, #is'ar0ent of a lawyer or even suspension of any of the0 for a perio# of 0ore than one 34- year of fine eBcee#in( $4C,CCC. Ti(nan 0o sa SCR!. $a( an( penalty is re0oval of a )u#(e or #is'ar0ent, en banc yan. !n# so0eti0es, you cannot even i#entify who is the ponente. !n( tawa( #iyan per curiae. The ponente is not i#entifie#. F.- Cases where a #octrine or principle of law lai# #own 'y the Court en banc or #ivision 0ay 'e 0o#ifie# or reverse#E ! #ecision 'y a #ivision can only 'e reverse# 'y the SC en banc. The sa0e is true in a #ecision previously #eci#e# en banc. Only SC en banc can chan(e its 0in# an# reverse its previous rulin(. ;.- Cases assi(ne# in a #ivision which in the opinion of at least three 36- 0e0'ers thereof, 0erit the attention of the Court en banc an# are accepta'le to the 0a)ority of the actual 0e0'ers of the court en bancE Aeanin(, it is a #ivision case 'ut at least three 0e0'ers of the #ivision are of the view that it shoul# 'e elevate# to the SC en banc. !n# the 0a)ority of the entire court also a(ree. %Ba0ple= ! case is assi(ne# to a #ivision. !fter #eli'eratin(, 0a)ority of the 5 hol# that the case is so i0portant that referral to the entire 0e0'ership is proper. Then when it is referre# en banc, 0a)ority accepts it, then it is to 'e #eci#e# en banc. Specific %Ba0ple= The case of $%O$"% vs. "DC!S in Cri0inal "aw. ISSD%= Is the penalty of reclusion perpetua #ivisi'le or in#ivisi'le, The ori(inal rulin( there 'y a #ivision is that it is a #ivisi'le penalty. 9ut upon 0otion for reconsi#eration 'y the Solicitor General, the first #ivision reali+e# that 0ara0in( i0plications ito. So at least 6 or : vote# na itapon natin to the SC en banc an# then the entire vote#. 9!R <D%STIO = ! lost in an appeale# #ecision. ?e file# a 0otion for reconsi#eration. ?e is insistin( that his 0otion 'e resolve# 'y the entire 0e0'ership of the SC. Can he insist that his 0otion for reconsi#eration 'e hear# 'y the entire 0e0'ership of the SC en banc when he lost in a #ivision, != O, 'ecause the SC en banc is not a separate court fro0 one of its #ivisions. .ou cannot say that a #ecision 'y a #ivision can 'e appeale# to the SC en banc 'ecause it is the sa0e court. The 'est that can happen to you is you convince the 0e0'ers of the sa0e #ivision to refer the 0atter to the entire court en banc an# try to convince the 0a)ority of the court en banc to accept it. That is the correct 0ove.

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Rule 56 Procedure in the Supreme Court

7.- !ll other cases as the court en 'anc, 'y the 0a)ority of its actual 0e0'ers, 0ay #ee0 of sufficient i0portance to 0erit its attention. These cases are those involvin( the welfare of the nation li/e "otto case, %2!T, Aanila ?otel case. This is also the (roun# invo/e# 'y I0el#a Aarcos where she tries to convince the court en banc to hear her 0otion for reconsi#eration. 8oOo8

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