Summar yoft heJudi ci alAffidavi tRul e ( A. M.No .1 28 8 SC) Sc opeofa ppl i c at i on Th J e udi c i al Affidav i tRul e appl i est oal l ac t i ons ,pr oc eedi ngs ,andi nc i dent sr e qui r i ngt her ec ept i onof e vi denc ebef or e: ( 1)TheMet r opol i t anT r i al Cour t s ,t heMuni c i pal T r i al Cour t si nCi t i es ,t heMuni c i pal T r i al Cour t s ,t he Muni c i pal Ci r c ui tT r i al Cour t s ,andt heShar i ' aCi r c ui tCour t s ,buts hal l notappl yt os mal ma l c l ai ms c a s esu nd erA. M.0 88 7 SC; ( 2)TheRegi onal T r i al Cour t sandt heShar i ' aDi s t r i c tCour t s ; ( 3 )TheSand i g anba y an,t heCour tofT axAppeal s ,t heCo ur tofApp eal s ,an dt heShar i ' aApp el l at e Cour t s ; ( 4 )Thei n v es t i g at i ngoffic er sandbodi e saut ho r i z edbyt heSupr emeCour tt or e cei v eev i den ce, i nc l udi ngt heI nt egr at edBaroft hePhi l i ppi ne( I BP) ;and ( 5)Thes pec i al c our t sandquas i j udi c i al bodi es ,whos er ul esofpr oc edur ear es ubj ec tt odi s appr o val oft heSupr emeCour t ,i ns of arast hei rex i s t i ngr ul esofpr oc edur ec ont r av enet hepr o vi s i onsoft hi s Rul e.( Sec .1[ a] ,J udi c i al Affidav i tRul e) Comment :TheJ ud i c i al Affida v i tRul ei sapp l i c abl et oc as esf al l i ngu nde rt h e Rul eonSumm mmar y Pr o c ed ur e. Submi s si onofj udi c i a la ffida ffid vi t sande xhi bi t si nl i e uofdi r e ctt es t i moni e s Thepar t i esar er equi r edt ofi l ewi t ht hec our tands er v eont headv er s epar t y ,pe ,p r s ona l l y orb y l i c ens edc our i e rs er v i ce,notl at ert han5days b ef or epr e t r i alorpr e l i mi na r yc onf e r e nc eort eo he schedul edhear i ng wi t hr es pec tt omot i onsandi nc i dent s ,t hef ol l owi ng: ( 1)Thej udi c i al affidav i t soft hei rwi t nes ses ,whi c hs hal l t ak et hepl ac eofs uc hwi t nes ses ' di r ec t t es t i moni es ;and ( 2)Thepar t i es ' doc ument ar yorobj ec te vi denc e,i fan y ,whi c har ebeat t ac hedt ot hej udi c i al affida v i t sandmar k edasEx hi b i t sA,B,C,a ndsoo ni nt hec as eo ft hecompl ai nant / pl ai nt i ff ,an das Ex hi bi t s1,2,3,ands ooni nt hec as eoft her es pondent / def endant .( Sec .2[ a] ,J udi c i al Affida vi t Ru l e ) Co mmen mm t :Se r v i c eo na dv e r s epa r t yma ma ye i t h erb e:( a )p er s on al ,o r( b )b yl i c ens edc our i e rs er v i c e -andno tb yr egi s t er edmai l wi t hr et ur nc ar dwi t ht hePhi l i ppi nePos tOffic e.Meanwhi l e,ast he j udi c i al affidav i ti si nl i euofadi r ec tt es t i mony ( h enc e,i ti sat es t i moni al ev i denc e) ,i ti ss ubmi t t edt hat i tdoesno tnee dt obema mar k edal o ngwi t ho t herd oc ument ar yoro bj e cte vi denc e.No t wi t h st andi ng, andf orgo odmeas ur e ,t hej u di c i a laffida vi ti sma mar k edd ur i n gt hepr el i mi nar yc onf er en ceorwhen pr es ent edsubs equent l yi nhear i ngsf ormot i onsori nc i dent s . Or i gi nalDocumentorObj ectEvi dence
I fapar t y / wi t nes sdes i r est ok eept heor i gi nal doc umentorobj ec te vi denc ei npos ses si on,t hes ai d per s onma y ,af t ert hes amehasbeeni den t i fi ed,mar k eda se x hi bi t ,andau t h ent i c at ed,war r ant i nhi s j udi c i al affidav i tt hatt hec op yorr e pr oduc t i ona t t a che dt os uc ha ffida v i ti saf a i t hf ulc opyor r e pr oduc t i onoft ha tor i gi na l .( Par agr aph1,Sec .2[ a] ,J udi c i al Affida vi tRul e) Thepar t y / wi t nes si sr equi r edt obr i ngt heor i gi nal doc umentorobj ec te vi denc ef orc ompar i s ondur i ng t h epr wi t ht heat t ac hedc opy ,r epr oduc t i on,orpi c t ur es ,f e l i mi na r yc onf e r e nc e a i l i ngwhi c ht he l at t ershal lnotbeadmi t t ed.( I bi d. )Thi si swi t houtpr ej udi c et ot hei nt r oduc t i onofs ec ondar y ev i denc ei npl ac eoft heor i gi nal whenal l owedbyex i s t i ngr ul es .( Par agr aph2,Sec .2,J udi c i al Affid av i tRu l e ) Comment :Dur i ngpr el i mi nar yconf er en ce,t heor i gi nal doc umen torobj e cte vi denc ei sr equi r edt obe br oughtf orc ompar i s on.Nonc ompl i anc et her et or es ul t si nt hei ri nadmi ssi bi l i t y.Not wi t hs t andi ng, t her ul esoni nt r oduc t i onofs ec ondar yev i denc ema yappl yi fal l owedb ye xi s t i ngr ul es . Cont ent sofJudi ci alAffidavi t Aj udi c i al affida vi thast obepr epar edi nt hel anguagek no wnt ot hewi t nes s .I fno ti nEngl i s hor Fi l i pi no,t hes ai daffid av i tha st obea cc ompa ni edbya t i nEngl i s horFi l i pi no. r a nsl at i on Thej udi c i al affidav i thast oc ont ai nt hef ol l owi ng: ( a )T hen ame ,a ge ,r e s i d en ceo rb u si n es sad dr e ss ,a ndo c cu pa t i o no ft h ewi t n es s ; ( b )Th en amean da ddr e sso ft h el a wy e rwh oc o nd uc t so rs up er v i s est h ee x ami na t i o no ft h ewi t n es s andt hepl ac ewh er et heex ami na t i oni sbei nghel d; ( c )As t at ementt hatt hewi t nes si sans wer i ngt heques t i onsas k edofhi m,f ul l ycons c i oust hathe doessounderoat h,andt hathemayf ac ec r i mi nal l i abi l i t yf orf al s et es t i monyo p r er j ur y ; ( d )Qu es t i o nsas k e do ft h ewi t ne s sa ndh i sc or r e sp on di n ga ns we r s ,c on s ec ut i v e l ynu mb er e d,s ub j e c t t owh atma ybea s k eda sp r o v i d edb el o w( s c o peo fq ue s t i o ns ) ; ( e )Thes i g nat ur eoft hewi t n es sov erhi spr i nt edname;an d ( f ) j A ur at wi t ht hes i gn at ur eo ft heno t ar ypub l i cwhoadmi ni s t er st heoat ho ra no ffic erwhoi s aut hor i z edb yl a wt oadmi ni s t ert h es ame.( Sec .3,J ud i c i al Affida v i tRul e ) Comment :Fort r ans l at i onst oEngl i s horFi l i pi no,t he J udi c i al Affidav i tRul e doesno tpr es c r i bea st o whoma yt r ans l at e( i nc l udi ngqual i fi cat i ons )andwhet hert het r ans l at orandhi squal i fi c at i onsbe di s c l os ed,howt het r ans l at i onwi l l bedone,whet hert het r ans l at i onwi l l beonas epar at edoc ument , orwhatwi l l bet hef or m ort hec ont ent soft het r ans l at i oni ft hes amei sas epar at edoc ument . Cur r ent l y ,t hepr ac t i c ebei ngobs er v edi st hatt hej udi c i al affida vi t sdonothav eas epar at et r ans l at ed doc ument ;i ns t ead,t het r ans l at i oni mmedi at el yf ol l owst heques t i onorans werbei ngt r ans l at edi n par ent hes i s . Scopeofquest i ons
Th ewi t n es sma ybeas k e dq ue s t i o nst h at : ( 1 )Sho wt heci r c ums t a nc esun de rwh i c ht hewi t ne ssac qui r e dt h ef ac t sup onwh i c hhe / s het es t i fi es ; ( 2)El i c i tf r om hi m/ hert hos ef ac t swhi c har er el ev antt ot hei s suest hatt hec as epr es ent s ;and ( 3)I dent i f yt heat t ac heddoc ument ar yandobj ec tev i denc eandes t abl i s ht hei raut hent i c i t yi n ac cor danc ewi t ht heRul esofCour t .( Sec .3[ d] ,J udi c i al Affida vi tRul e) Comment :Ther u l esond i r ec te x ami nat i ona pp l yt ot h emann ero fques t i oni ngawi t n es s ,i nc l udi ng c ompe t enc eanda dmi s s i bi l i t yofe vi de nc e.Aswi l l bedi s c us s edb el o w,t headv e r s ep ar t yma yobj ec t : ( a)t odi squa l i f yt hewi t nes s,or( b)mo vet os t r i k eouthi s / he ra ffida vi tora nyoft heans we r s f oundi ni t o nt h eg r o un do fi nadmi ssi bi l i t y. Swor na t t e st a t i onoft hel a wy er Thej udi c i al affida vi thast oc ont ai naswor na t t e st a t i on a tt h een d,e x ec ut e db yt h el a wy e rwho c onduc t edors uper v i s edt hee xami nat i onoft hewi t nes s,t ot heeffec tt hat : ( 1 )He/ Shef ai t hf ul l yr e cor d edo rc aus edt ober ec or dedt heques t i onshe/ s heas k edandt h e c or r e sp on di n ga ns wer st h att h ewi t ne s sg av e ;a nd ( 2 )Nei t herhe/ s henora nyot herper s ont henpr es en to ra s s i s t i nghi mc oa chedt h ewi t nes sr eg ar di ng t hel at t er ' sans wer s .( Sec .4[ a] ,J udi c i al Affida vi tRul e) Af al s eat t es t at i ons hal l s ubj ec tt hel awy erment i onedt odi s ci pl i nar yac t i on,i nc l udi ngdi s bar ment . ( Sec .4[ b] ,J udi c i al Affidav i tRul e) Subpoena I ft hego v er nmen te mpl o y ee/ offic i a l / r eques t edwi t nes s ,whoi sne i t hert hewi t nes soft head ver s e par t ynorahos t i l ewi t nes s,unj us t i fia bl y dec l i nest oex ec ut eaj udi c i al affidav i torr ef us eswi t hout j us tc aus et omak et her el ev antbook s ,doc ument s ,orot hert hi ngsunderhi sc ont r ol av ai l abl ef or c opy i ng,aut hent i c at i on,andev ent ual pr oduc t i oni nc our t ,t her eques t i ngpar t ymayav ai l hi ms el fof t hei s s uanc eo fas u bp oe naa dt e s t i fi c a nd umord uc e st e c um u nderRul e21oft heRul e so fCou r t . Th er ul e sgo v er n i n gt h ei s s ua nc eo fas ub po en at ot h ewi t n es si nt h i sc as ear et h es a measwh en t ak i nghi sdepos i t i onex c eptt hatt het ak i ngofaj udi c i al affida vi tar eunder s t oodt obe e xpar t e.( Sec . 5,J udi c i al Affida vi tRul e) Offe ro fa ndobj e c t i onst ot e st i monyi nj udi c i a la ffida v i t Thepar t ypr es ent i ngt hej udi c i al affidav i tofhi swi t nes si npl ac eofdi r ec tt es t i mon yhast o st at et he pur pos eofs uc ht e st i monyatt hest a r toft hepr e se nt a t i onoft hewi t ne ss.( Sec .6,J udi c i al Affid av i tRu l e ) Theadver separ t ymaymovet odi ort os s qua l i f yt hewi t ne ss t r i k eouthi saffida vi tora nyoft he answer sf oundi ni t o nt h eg r o un do fi nadmi ssi bi l i t y.Thec our ts hal l pr ompt l yr ul eont hemo t i on and,i fgr ant ed,s hal l c aus et hemar k i ngofan ye xc l udedans werb ypl ac i ngi ti nb u nd ert h e r a c k e t s
,wi t houtpr ej udi c et oat i ni t i a l sofa na ut hor i z edc our tpe r s onne l e nde rofe x cl ude de v i de nc e u nd erSe ct i o n4 0o fRu l e1 32o ft h eRu l e so fCo ur t .(I bi d. ) Co mmen t :Re gar d l e s so fwhe t h ert h eo ffe ro ft e s t i mo nyha sb ee ni n co r p or a t eda l r e ad yo nt hej u di c i a l affida vi t ,t her ul esst i l l r equi r et hatt hes ai dofferbes t at edorannounc edatt hes t ar toft he pr es ent at i onoft hewi t nes s.Thepur pos ebei ngi st oal l owt headv er s epar t yt oc omment / obj ec ti f t her ei sagr ou ndt odos o. Ex a mi na t i onoft hewi t ne ssonhi sj udi c i a la ffida v i t Th ea dv e r s epa r t yha st h er i ghtt oc r o ss e x ami ne t hewi t nes sonhi s / herj udi c i al affida vi tandont he e x hi b i t sat t a ch edt ot h es ame .Thepa r t ywh op r e s en t st h ewi t n es sma yal s oex a mi n eh i m/ h era son r edi r ec t .I nev er ycas e,t hec our ts hal l t ak eac t i v epar ti nex ami ni ngt hewi t nes st odet er mi nehi s / her cr edi bi l i t y aswe l l ast het r ut hofhi s / hert est i mony andt oel i c i tt heanswer st ha ti tnee dsf or r e sol v i ngt hei s sue s.( Sec .7,J udi c i al Affida vi tRul e) Or a loffe ro fa ndobj e ct i onst oe xhi bi t s Upont er mi nat i onoft het es t i mon yofhi sl as twi t nes s,apar t yi st oi mmedi at el ymak ean or a loffe ro f evi dence ofhi sdoc ument ar yorobj ec te xhi bi t s ,pi e cebypi e ce,i nt hei rc hr onol ogi c al or der ,s t at i ng t hepur pos e/ sf orwhi c hhe/ s heoffer st hepar t i c ul are xhi bi t .( Sec .8[ a] ,J udi c i al Affidav i tRul e) Af t ereac hpi ec eofe xhi bi ti soffer ed,t headv er s epar t yhast os t at et he l e ga lgr oundf orhi s / he r obj ect i on,i fany ,t oi t sadmi s si on,andt hec our ts hal l i mmedi at el ymak ei t sr ul i ngr es pec t i ngt hat e x hi bi t .( Sec .8[ b] ,J udi c i al Affidav i tRul e) Si nc et hedoc ument ar yorobj ec te xhi bi t sf or m par toft hej udi c i al affida vi t st hatdes c r i beand aut hent i c at et hem,i ti ssuffic i entt hats uc hex hi bi t sar es i mpl yci t e dbyt he i rma r k i ngs dur i ngt he offer s ,t heobj ec t i ons ,andt her ul i ngs ,di s pens i ngwi t ht hedes cr i pt i onofeac hex hi bi t .( Sec .8[ c ] , J udi c i al Affida vi tRul e) Appl i c at i onofr ul et oc r i mi nalact i ons Th J e udi c i al Affidav i tRul e appl i est oal l c r i mi nal ac t i ons : ( 1 )Wh er et h ema x i mu mo ft h ei mp os a b l ep en a l t yd oe sno te x c e e d 6y ea r s; ( 2 )Wh er et h ea cc us eda gr e est ot heus eofj udi c i a la ffida v i t s,i r r es pec t i v eoft hepenal t yi nv ol v ed; or ( 3)Wi t hr es pec tt ot hec i v i l as pec toft heac t i ons ,what ev ert hepenal t i esi nv ol v edar e.( Sec .9[ a] , J udi c i al Affida vi tRul e) Thepr os ec ut i onhass ubmi tt hej udi c i al affida vi t sofi t swi t nes s esnotl at ert han 5days bef or et he pr et r i al ,s er v i ngc opi esoft hes ameupont heac c us ed.Thepr i v at ec ompl ai nant / publ i cpr os ec ut or h ast oa t t a c ht ot h ea ffid av i t ss uc hd oc u me nt a r yoro bj e c te v i d en c ea sh ema yha v e ,ma r k i n gt h em
asEx hi bi t sA,B,C,an ds oon.Nof ur t he rj udi c i a la ffida vi t ,doc ume nt a r y , orobj e cte vi de nc e shal lbeadmi t t edatt het r i al . ( Sec .9[ b] ,J udi c i al Affidav i tRul e) I ft heac cus eddes i r est obehear donhi s / herdef ens eaf t err ec ei ptoft hej udi c i al affidav i t soft he pr os ec ut i on,he/ s hes hal l hav et heopt i ont os ubmi thi s / herj udi c i al affidav i taswel l ast hos eofhi s / her wi t nes sest ot hec our twi t hi n10days f r o mr e ce i p to fs u cha ffid av i t sandse r v eac op yofe ac ho nt h e publ i candpr i v at epr os ec ut or ,i nc l udi nghi s / herdoc ument ar yandobj ec te vi denc epr e vi ous l ymar k ed a sEx h i b i t s1,2 ,3 ,a nds oo n.Th es ea ffid av i t ss er v ea s di r ectt es t i moni es o ft h ea cc us e da ndhi s wi t nes s eswhent he yappearbef or et hec our tt ot es t i f y .( Sec .9[ c ] ,J udi c i al Affida vi tRul e) Effe ctofnonc ompl i a nc ewi t ht he* J udi c i a lAffida v i tRul e Apar t ywhof ai l st os ubmi tt her equi r edj udi c i al affidav i t sandex hi bi t sont i mei s deemedt ohav e wa i v e dt he i rs ubmi s si on.( Sec .10[ a] ,J udi c i al Affidav i tRul e) Thec our tma y ,ho wev er ,al l owonl yonc et hel at es ubmi s s i onoft hej udi c i al affida vi tpr o vi ded,t he del a yi sf orav al i dr e as on,woul dnotundul ypr e j udi c et heoppos i ngpa r t y,andt hedef aul t i ng par t ypa y safi neofno tl es st h anP1, OOO. OO butnotmor et hanP5, OOO. OO,att hedi s cr et i onof t hec our t .( I bi d. ) Thec our ts hal l no tc ons i de rt heaffida vi tofan ywi t nes swhof a i l st oa ppe aratt hes c he dul edhear i ng oft hec as easr equi r ed.Couns el whof ai l st oappearwi t houtv al i dc aus edes pi t eno t i c es hal l be deemedt oha vewai v edhi sc l i ent ' sr i ghtt oc onf r ontb yc r os s e x ami nat i ont hewi t nes sest her e pr es ent .( Sec .10[ b] ,J udi c i al Affidav i tRul e) Thec our ts hal l notadmi tasev i denc ej udi c i al affida vi t st hatdono tc onf or mt ot hec ont ent r equi r ement sofs etf or t habo v ean dt heat t e st at i o nr equi r ementoft hel a wy erwh oc on duc t e dor s up er v i s edt h ee x ami n at i o no ft h ewi t n es s .Th ec ou r t ma y ,h owe v er ,a l l o wo nl yon cet h es ub s eq uen t s ubmi s s i onoft hec ompl i antr epl ac ementaffida vi t sbef or et hehear i ngort r i al pr o vi dedt hedel a yi sf or av al i dr e as on andwoul dnotundul ypr e j udi c et heoppos i ngpa r t y a ndpr ov i dedf ur t her ,t hat publ i corpr i v at ec ouns el r es pons i bl ef ort hei rpr epar at i onands ubmi s si onpa ysafi neofno tl es st han P1, OOO. OO n ormo r et h anP5, OOO. OO,att hedi s cr et i onoft hec our t .( Sec .10[ c ] ,J udi c i al Affida v i t Ru l e )