A.M. No. 07-9-12-SC
THE RULE ON THE WRIT OF AMPARO

SECTION 1_ Petition.-The petition for a writ of am - paro is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty -and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity.

The writ shall cover extralegal killings and enforced disappearances or threats thereof.

SEC. 2. Who May File. The petition may be filed by t],_P aggrieved party or by any qualified person or entity in the following order:

(a) Any member of the immediate family, namely: the spouse, children and parents of the aggrieved party;

(b) Any ascendant, descendant or collateral relative of the aggrieved party within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, in default of those mentioned in the preceding paragraph: or

(c) Any concerned citizen, organization, association or institution, if there is no known member of the immediate family or relative of the aggrieved party.

The filing of a petition by the aggrieved party suspends the right of all other authorized parties to file similar petitions. Likewise, the filing of the petition by an authorized party on behalf of the aggrieved party suspends the right of all others, observing the order established herein.

SEC, 3. Whom to Ftle-Ttie petition may be filed on any clay and at piny nine with the Regional Trial Court of the place where time threat, act or omission was committed or any of its eleumeirts occurred, or with the Sandiganbayau, 11ie Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, or any justice of such courts. The writ shall be enforceable anywhere in the Pluilippines.

When issued by a Regional Trial Court or any judge thereof, the writ shall be returnable before such court- or judge.

W ien issued by the Saudiganba_yan or the Court of Appeals or any of their justices, it may be retm_u-nable before such court or any justice thereof, or to any Regional Trial Court of the place where the threat, act or omission was committed or any of its elements occurred.

When issued by the Supreme Court or any of its _justices, ii may be returnable before such Court or any justice thereof, or before the Sandiganbayan or the Courtt of Appeals or any of their justices, or to any Regional Trial Court of the place, where the threat, act or omission was committed or any of its elements occurred.

SEC. 4. No Docket Fees.- he petitioner shall be exempted from the payment of the docket and other lawful fees when filing the petition. The court, justice or judge shall docket the petition and act upon it immediately.

SEC;. 5. Contents of Petition. The petition shall be signed and verified and shall allege the following:

(a) The personal circumstances of the petitioner;

(b) The riaome and personal circumstances of the respondent responsible for the threat, act or omission, or, if the name is unknown or uncertain, the respondent may be described by aim assumed appellation;

(c) The right to life, liberty anti security of the aggrieved party violated or threatened with violation by an unlawfril act or omission of the respondent, and how such

threat or violation is committed with the attendant circunmstances detailed in supporting affidavits:

(d) The investigation conducted, if any, specifying the names, personal circumstances, and addresses of the investigating authority or individuals, as well as the manner and conduct of the investigation, together with any report;

(e) The actions and recourses taken by the petitioner to determine the fate or whereabouts of the aggrieved party and the identity of the person responsible for the threat, act or omission; anti

(f) The relief prayed for.

The petition may include a general prayer for other just and equitable reliefs.

SEC. 6. Issuiaimce of the Writ.-Upon the filing of the petition, the court, justice or judge shall immediately order the issuance of the writ if on its face it ought to issue. The clerk of court shall issue the writ under the seal of the court; or in case of urgent necessity, the justice or the judge may issue the writ under his or her own hand, and may deputize any officer or person to serve it.

The writ shall also set the date and time for summary hearing of the petition which shall not be later than seven (7) days from the date of its issuance.

SEC. 7. PenaltLy for Refusing to Issue Or Serve time Writ.-A clerk of court who refuses to issue the writ after its allowance, or a deputized person who refuses to serve the same, shall be punished by the court, justice or judge for contempt without prejudice to other disciplinary actions.

SEC, 8. Homy the Writ Is Served.-Tlie writ shall be served upon the respondent by a judicial officer or by a person deputized by the court, justice or judge who shall retain a copy on which to make a return of service. In case the writ cannot be served personally ou the respondent, the rules on substituted service shall apply.

SEC. 9. Rcirtrro; Contents.-Within seventy-tnvo (721 Hours after service of the writ, the respondent shall file a verified written return togeilier with supporting affidavits which shall, among other things, contain the following:

(a) The lawful defenses to show that the respondent did not violate or threaten with violation the right to life, liberty and security,, of the aggrieved party, through any act or omission;

(b) The steps or actions taken by the respondent to determine the fate or whereabouts of the aggrieved party and the person or persons responsible for the threat, act

or onl1SSlon;

(c) All relevant information in the possession of the respondent pertaining to the threat, act or omission against the aggrieved party; and

(d) If the respondent is a public official or employee, the return shall further state the actions that have been or will still be taken:

(i) to verily the identity of the aggrieved party;

(ii) to recover and preserve evidence related to the death or disappearance of the person identified in the petition which may aid in the prosecution of the person or persons responsible;

(iii) to identify witnesses and obtain statements from theirs concerning the death or disappearance;

(iv) to determine the cause. manner, location and time of death or disappearance as well as any pattern or practice that may have brought about the death or disappearance:

(v) to identify and apprehend the person or persons involved in the death or disappearance; and

(vi) to bring the suspected offenders before a competent court.

The return shall also state other matters relevant to

the investigation, its resolution and the prosecution of the case.

A general denial of the allegations in the petition shall not be allowed.

SEC. 1.0. Defenses no( Pleaded Deeined Waived.

All defenses shall be raised in the return, otherwise, they shall be deemed waived.

SEC. 11. Prohibited Pleadings and Motions.-The following pleadings and motions are prohibited:

(a) Motion to dismiss;

(b) Motion for extension of tithe to file return, opposition, affidavit, position paper and other pleading_ s;

(c) Dilatory motion for postponement;

(d) Motion for a bill of particulars; (e) Counterclaim or cross-claim: (f) Third-party complaint; (g) Reply:

(h) Motion to declare respondent in default; (i) Intervention;

(j) Memorandum;

(k) Motion for reconsideration of interlocutory orders or interim relief orders; and

(1) Petition for cerU01-ari, rntandanu1S or prohibition against any interlocutory order.

SEC. 12. E(feci of Failure to File Return.-In case the respondent fails to file a return, the court, justice or judge shall proceed to hear the petition ex party.

SEC. 13. Surnmard Hearing.-The hearing on the petition shall be summary. However, the court, justice or judge may call for a preliminary conference to simplify the

issues and determine the possibility of obtaining stipulations and admissions from the parties.

The hearing shall he from day to day until completed and given the same priority as petitions for habeas corpus.

SEC. 14. Interim Relie/s.-Upon filing of the petition or at anytirue before final judgment, the court, justice or judge may grant any of the following reliefs:

(a) Teiiiporanj Protection Order.-The court, justice or judge, upon motion or rnotit proprio, may order that the petitioner or the aggrieved party and any member of the immediate tamily be protected iii a government agency or by an accredited person or private institution capable of keeping and securing their safety. If the petitioner is an organization, association or institution referred to in Section 3(c) of this Riffle, the protection may be extended

to the officers involved.

"I"he Supreme Court shall accredit the persons and private institutions that shall extend temporary protection to the petitioner or the aggrieved party and any member of the immediate funily, in accordance with guidelines which

it shall issue.

The accredited persons and private institutions shall comply with the rules and conditions that may be imposed by the court, justice or judge.

(b) Iiispecliomi Order.-The court, justice or judge, upon verified motion and after due hearing, may order any person in possession or control of a designated land or other property, to permit entry for the purpose of inspecting, measuring, surveying, or photographing the property or any relevant object or operation thereon.

The motion shall state in detail the place or places to he inspected. It shall be supported by affidavits or testimonies of witnesses having personal knowledge of the enforced disappearance or whereabouts of the aggrieved

party.

If the motion is opposed on the ground of national security or of the privileged nature of the information, the court, justice or judge may conduct a hearing in chambers to determine the luei-it of the opposition.

The riovant must show that the inspection order is necessary to establish the right of the aggrieved party alleged to be threatened or violated.

The inspection order shall specify the person or persons authorized to make the inspection and the date, time, place and manner of making the inspection and may prescribe other conditions to, protect the constitutional rights of all parties. The order shall expire five (5) clays after the date of its issuance, unless extended for justifi

able reasons.

(c) Production Order.-The court, justice or judge, upon verified motion and after due hearing. may order ally person in possession, custody or control of any designated documents, papers, books, accounts, letters, photographs, objects or tangible things, or objects in digitized or electronic form, which constitute or contain evidence relevant to the petition or the return, to produce and permit their inspection, copying or photographing by or on behalf of

the rnbvant.

The motion may be opposed on the ground of national security or of the privileged nature of the information, in which case the court, justice or judge may conduct a hearing in chambers to cletermine the merit of the opposition.

The court, justice or judge shall prescribe other conditions to protect the constitutional rights of all the parties.

(d) Witness Protection Order.-The court, justice or judge, upon motion or nmtct prohrio, pray refer the witnesses to the Department of Justice for admission to the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program, pursuant to Republic Act No. 8981.

The court, justice of judge may also refer the witnesses to other government agencies, or to accredited persons or private institutions capable of keeping and

securing their safety.

SEC_ 15. Availubitfty o1 interim Reliejs to Responcler t-Upoir verified motion of the respondent and after drie hearing, (lie court, justice or judge may issue an inspection order or production order under paragraphs (b) and (c) of the preceding section.

A motion for inspection order under this section shall be supported by affidavits or testimonies of witnesses having personal knowledge of the defenses of the respondent.

SEC. 16. ConterrtfA.-The court, justice or judge may order the respondent who refuses to wake a return, or who makes a false return, or any person who otherwise disobeys or resists a lawful process or order of the court to be punished for contempt. The contemnor may be imprisorred or imposed a fine.

SEC. 17. Burden of Proof and Standard of Diligence Required. The parties shall establish their claims by substantial evidence.

The respondent who is a private individual or entity must prove that ordinary diligence as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations was observed in the performance of duty.

The respondent who is a public official or employee must prove that extraordinary diligence as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations was observed in the performance of dirty.

The respondent 1-)rrblic official or employee cannot invoke the presumption that official duty has been regularly performed to evade responsibility or liability.

SEC. 18. Judcfnrent.-The court shall render judgmerit within ten (10) days from the time the petition is submitted for decision. If the allegations in the petition are proven by substantial evidence, the court shall grant the privilege of the writ and such reliefs as may be proper and appropriate: otherwise, the privilege shall be denied.

SEC. 19. Appeal.-An _v party may appeal from the final judgment or order to the Supreme Court under Rule 45. The appeal may raise questions of fact or law or both.

The period of appeal shall be five (5) working days from the date of notice of the adverse judgment.

The appeal shall be given the same priority as in habea.s corpus cases.

SEC. 20. Archiving mid Rec+irra1 of Cases.-The court shall not dismiss the petition, but shall archive it, if upon its determination it cannot proceed for a valid cause such as the failure of petitioner or witnesses to appear due to threats on their lives.

A periodic review of the archived cases shall be made by the cunparo court that shall, mote proprio or upon c`notiori by` any party, order their revival when ready for further proceedings. The petition shall be dismissed with prejudice upon failure to prosecute the case after the lapse of two (2) years from notice to the petitioner of the order archiving the case.

The clerks of court shall submit to the Office of the Court Administrator a consolidated list of archived cases under this Rule not later titan the first week of January of every year.

SEC. 21. Institution of Separate Actions.--This Rule shall not preclude the filing of separate criminal, civil or administrative actions.

SEC. 22. Effect of Filing of a Criminal Action. When a criminal action has been commenced, no separate petition for the writ shall be filed. The reliefs under the writ shall be available by motion iii the criminal case.

The, procedure under this Rule shall govern the disposition of the reliefs available under the writ of anrparo.

SEC. 23. Cortsolidauion.-When a criminal action is filed subsequent to the filing of a petition for tine writ, the latter shall be consolidated with the criminal action.

When a criminal action and a separate civil action are filed subsequent to a petition for a writ of amporo, the latter shall be consolidated with the criminal action.

After consolidation, the procedure under this Rule shall continue to apply to the disposition of the reliefs in the petition.

SEC. 24. Substnntir'e Riplits. This Rule shall not

diminish, increase or modify substantive rights recognized and protected by the Constitution.

SEC. 25. Supplctory Applicattoit of the Rules of Court.-The Rules of Court shall apply suppletorily insofar as it is nor inconsistent with this Rule.

SEC. 26, Applicability to Pending Cases.-This Rule

shall govern cases involving extralegal killings and enforced disappearances or threats thereof pending in the trial and appellate courts.

SEC. 27. Effectiuitp.-This Rule shall take effect on October 24, 2007, following its publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulation.