instead allege the grounds thereof as defenses in the Answer, inconformity with IBP-OCA Memorandum on Policy Guidelines datedMarch 12, 2002. A copy of the summons is hereto attached asAnnex "A;" and1.2 The court shall issue an order requiring the parties to avail of interrogatories to parties under Rule 25 and request for admissionby adverse party under Rule 26 or at their discretion make use of dispositions under Rule 23 or other measures under Rules 27 and28 within five days from the filing of the answer.
A copy of theorder shall be served upon the defendant together with thesummons and upon the plaintiff.
Within five (5) days from date of filing of the reply,
the plaintiff must promptlymove ex parte that the case be set for pre-trial conference.
If the plaintiff fails tofile said motion within the given period, the Branch COC shall issue a notice of pre-trial.
2. The parties shall submit, at least three (3) days before the pre-trial, pre-trialbriefs containing the following:
a. A statement of their willingness to enter into an amicable settlementindicating the desired terms thereof or to submit: the case to any of thealternative modes of dispute resolution;b. A summary of admitted facts and proposed stipulation of facts;c. The issues to be tried or resolved;d. The documents or exhibits to be presented, stating the purpose thereof.(No evidence shall be allowed to be presented and offered during thetrial in support of a evidence-in-chief other than those that had beenearlier identified and pre-marked during the pre-trial, except if allowed bythe court for good cause shown);e. A manifestation of their having availed or their intention to availthemselves of discovery procedures or referral to commissioners; andf. The number arid names of the witnesses, the substance of their testimonies, and the approximate number of hours that will be requiredby the parties for the presentation of their respective witnesses.A copy of the Notice of Pre-trial Conference is hereto attached as Annex "B."The rule on the contents of the pre-trial brief must strictly be complied with.The parties are bound by the representations and statements in their respective
1
According to Justice Jose Y. Feria, Co-Chairman of the Revision of the Rules of CourtCommittee, Rules 25 and 26 require the parties to avail of said rules. (1997 Rules of CivilProcedure, p. 88 and p. 89, Philippine Legal Studies, Series No. 5, 1998)
2
Administrative Circular No. 3-99 dated 15 January 1999
3
Sec. 1, Rule 18 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure
4
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