Category Archives: Obiter/News

Balikbayan Boxes from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Importation Rules and Regulations: Customs Memorandum Order No. 27-2015 (Full Text)

[“Balikbayan Boxes,” according to the Bureau of Customs, “are packages of personal effects and/or “pasalubongs” sent by Filipinos residing or working abroad to their families or relatives in the Philippines to enhance Philippine tradition and culture for the promotion and preservation of strong family ties through love and caring expressed in gift-giving.” Under the new rules issued by the Bureau of Customs, balikbayan boxes sent by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to the Philippines shall not be subjected to random or arbitrary physical examination, but shall be subjected to mandatory x-ray scanning. The full text of the rules is reproduced below.]

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Ferdinand Marcos Burial Case: Supreme Court Decision in Ocampo et al. vs. Enriquez, G.R. Nos. 225973 (full text)

[The Supreme Court of the Philippines, voting 9-5, dismissed the petitions seeking to disallow the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. This is the full text of the Supreme Court’s majority decision in the Marcos burial case, Ocampo et al. vs. Enriquez, G.R. Nos. 225973, 225984, 226097, 226116, 226117, 226120, and 226294, 8 November 2016]. Continue reading

Regulation of Ride-Sharing Services, Transportation Network Vehicle Service

[Note: On 8 May 2015, Secretary Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) issued Department Order No. 2015-011, amending Department Order No. 97-1092 to promote mobility. Among the amendment is the provision of the Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS), which basically refers to existing “ride-sharing” or “app-based ride-hailing” services like Uber and GrabCar. The Philippines is the FIRST country in the world to regulate this service. There is, of course, an opposition from operators of taxis and Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), which are required to comply with certain requirements (e.g., franchise, insurance coverage). PUVs are common carriers and are issued the corresponding PUV license plates. The TNVS are private vehicles that can operate like PUVs and, for purposes of liability, will most likely be treated as a common carrier. PUVs must also secure prior approval from the LTFRB before they can raise fares, but TNVS, based on the D.O 2015-011, are not covered by the same requirement. On the other hand, ride-sharing private vehicles are not required to be registered with the LTFRB based on existing practice. This will change because the regulations now require the driver to be accredited with the LTFRB. There is a high likelihood that the driver will also be required to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) which, in turn, will also require the registration with the local government (Mayor’s Permit). What do you think of the new regulations? Express your thoughts through the comment section below. The pertinent portion of Department Order No. 2015-011 relating to TNVS is reproduced below.]

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No Registration, No Travel Policy (LTO Memorandum Circular AVT-2015-1927; full text)

[Reproduced below is the full text of LTO Memorandum Circular AVT-2015-1927 (No Registration, No Travel Policy). Incidentally, in an Advisory published in newspapers, the LTO announced that: “In line with the implementation of NO REGISTRATION-NO TRAVEL policy, starting April 1, 2015, please be advised that only LTO Law Enforcers and LTO Deputized Agents in complete uniform with valid ID and carrying LTO issued Temporary Operators Permit (TOP) are authorized to stop vehicles and apprehend those in violation of the same.”] Continue reading

2014 Bar Exam Results: Top 10 and Full List

Congratulations! The Supreme Court released the results of the 2014 bar examaminations on Thursday, 26 March 2015. Out of the 5,984 law school graduates that took the 2014 bar exam, only 1,126 passed (18.82% passing rate). The Top 10 bar passers and the full list of successful bar examinees are reproduced below: Continue reading

Face-to-Face Trial, Training Video (Rule 22 and Rule 24 of the Proposed Revised Rules of Civil Procedure)

In preparation for the pilot test of Rules 22 and 24 of the proposed Revised Rules of Civil Procedure, the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), The Asia Foundation, USAID and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), conducted pre-pilot seminar workshops in various parts of the country. Part of the seminar-workshop is a video for the face-to-face trial under the proposed rules. The video, entitled “A Pound of Flesh“, is definitely a helpful learning aid considering the “paradigm shift” in the proposed rules. Continue reading

Rule 22 and Rule 24 of the Proposed Revised Rules of Civil Procedure (full text)

[See also: Face-to-Face Trial, Training Video]

Office of the Chief Justice
Supreme Court
Manila

FROM THE DESK OF:

ATTY. MA. LOURDES E.B. OLIVEROS
Chief Justice Staff Head
Office of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno

11 August 2014

ATTY. ENRIQUETA ESGUERRA-VIDAL
Clerk of Court
En Banc

Dear Atty. Vidal:

Pursuant to the 18 March 2014 Resolution of the Court en banc in A.M. No. 14- 03-02-SC and the Memorandum of the Office of the Court Administrator dated 5 August 2014 providing a list of courts to pilot test Rules 22 and 24 of the proposed Revised Rules of Civil Procedure, we request for the “[p]ublication of Rules 22 and 24 of the proposed Revised Rules of Civil Procedure in a newspaper of general circulation at least 6 months before the start of their actual piloting in the selected stations,” as attached. Continue reading