UnderstandingtheMechanics

ofandDefenseStrategiesfor
RulesofProcedurefor
EnvironmentalCases

FlowofPresentation
y OverviewofRules
y Comparingand

ContrastingtheTwo
Writs Writof
Kalikasan and
Writof
ContinuingMandamus
y Environmental
ProtectionOrder
y 14PossibleDefenses
y 7ActualCasesusing
Rules

OverviewofRulesof
ProcedureforEnvironmental
Cases
A.M.0968SC
effective:April29,2010

Objectives
y BalancedandHealthfulEcology
y Simplified,SpeedyandInexpensiveProcedure
y BestPractices
y CompliancewithJudicialOrders

Scope
y LawsonEnvironment:EnvironmentalCases

arisingfromlawsontheconservation,
development,preservation,protectionand
utilizationoftheenvironmentandnatural
resources(EnumerationInclusive)
y MiningLaws:PhilippineMiningAct,Peoples
SmallScaleMiningAct
y OtherRelevantLaws:CleanAirAct,CleanWater
Act,IndigenousPeoplesRightsAct,Wildlife
ConservationandProtectionAct

y 3kindsofactionscovered:
y CivilAction citizensuits;TEPO
y SpecialCivilAction
y WritofKalikasan
y WritofContinuingMandamus
y CriminalActions

Innovations
y Liberalizeslocusstandi andcitizenssuit(allows

minors;NGOs/POs/PIGs)
y EnsuresSpeedyDispositionofCases(AllIn
Approach;1yearTrial;ProhibitedPleadings;
AffidavitsinlieuofDirectExamination:Extensive
PreTrial;InCriminalCases,Trialinabsentia)
y ProvidesConsentDecree(Courtapproved
settlement;consistentwithpublicinterest,public
policy,proenvironment)

Innovations
y RecognizesPrecautionaryPrinciple(lessens

evidentiaryburden;scientificallyplausiblebut
uncertain;threatofirreversible/gravedamage)
y IncorporatesStrategicLawsuitAgainstPublic
ParticipationorSLAPP(anycase;againstanyperson;
harassmentorstiflelegalrecourse;hastakenormay
take;environmentalprotection)
y IntroducesRemedialMeasures

WritofKalikasan andContinuing
Mandamus

ySimilaritiesandDifferences

Writ of Kalikasan

Continuing Mandamus

Subject Matter

Unlawful Act or Omission; Life,

Health or Property; Magnitude

Neglect or Exclusion;
Law, Rule or Right

Petitioner

Any person or representative/

agent (PO/ NGO/PIG)

One who is personally

aggrieved

Respondent

Public or Private
Entity or Individual

Government or Officers

TEPO

Ancillary Remedy

Ancillary Remedy

Venue

SC or CA

SC, CA or RTC

Discovery
Measures

Ocular Inspection or
Production of Documents

No enumeration

Damages

None; Separate Suit

Allows Damages for Malicious

Neglect of Duty

Stages
1st Stage:UponfilingofPetition,CourtissuesWrit
ofKalikasan requiresrespondenttofilea
VerifiedReturn alldefensesin.
2nd Stage:AfterTrial,Courtgrantsordenies
PrivilegeoftheWritofKalikasan

Procedure
Petition (mayincludeprayerforissuanceof
TemporaryEnvironmentalProtectionOrder
[TEPO])
CourtAction:issuesWrit(mayincludeCeaseand
DesistOrder)andrequiresRespondent(s)toFile
VerifiedReturn(within3daysfromfilingof
Petitionwhichissufficientinformandsubstance)
Service ofWrit
RespondentfilesReturn;RaiseallDefenses(10
days)

Judgment/Reliefs
GrantingorDenyingthePrivilegeoftheWrit
PermanentCeaseandDesist
Protect,Preserve,RehabilitateorRestore
Environment
MonitorStrictCompliance
PeriodicReports
OtherReliefs(exceptDamagestoIndividual
Petitioners)

EnvironmentalProtectionOrder
(EPO)
Instrument:CourtissuedOrder
Nature:AncillaryRemedialMeasure
Subject:AnyPersonorGovernmentAgency
Object:Direct/PerformorEnjoin/Desistfrom
performinganAct
Purpose:Protect,PreserveorRehabilitate
Environment

TemporaryEPO(TEPO)
Complaint/Petition: containsprayerforEPO
Conditions:Extremeurgencyandgraveinjustice
andreparableinjury
IssuingAuthority:ExecutiveJudge
Issuance:Exparte(hearingduring72hours)

TemporaryEPO(TEPO)
Duration: 72hours(maybeextendeduntilcase
terminated)
RespondentsRecourse: MotiontoDissolve
Conversion: TEPOmaybeconvertedtoEPOor
WritofContinuingMandamus

14PossibleDefenses
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Noenvironmentaldamage
NoenvironmentaldamagecausedbyRespondent
Environmentaldamagecausedbyanother
Notenvironmentalcase
Notviolateenvironmentallaw
Notprejudicelife,healthorpropertyof
inhabitants
Notaffect2ormorecitiesorprovinces

14PossibleDefenses
8. Noevidence
9. Nocausallinkbetweenactanddamage
10. Thereisplain,speedyandadequateremedy

exhaustionofadministrativeremedies.
11. Compliancewithalllawsandregulations
12. CompliancewithallECCconditions
13. CaseamountstoSLAPP
14. ConstitutionalissuesagainsttheRules

y violatesDoctrineofSeparationofPowers Executive

hasfullcontrolandsupervisionoverexploration,
developmentandutilizationofnaturalresources.
y Deprivationofpropertywithoutdueprocessoflaw.
y ExpansionofSupremeCourtsoriginaljurisdiction
judiciallegislation

7 ActualCasesusingthe
RulesofProcedurefor
EnvironmentalCases.

(1)FPICPipeline
y Parties: WestTowervs.FirstPhilippineIndustrial
y
y
y
y

Corporation(FPIC)
AreaAffected: Batangas toManila
LawInvolved: CleanAirAct,CleanWaterAct
Damage: Damagedpipelinebearingdangerous
chemicals;soilandwatercontamination
Defense:Exerciseddiligence;damageinMakati
only

(1)FPICPipeline
y WritofKalikasan GRANTED
1. CeaseandDesistpipelineoperation
2. FPICtocheckstructuralintegrityofpipeline
3. TemporaryEnvironmentalProtectionOrderissued

(2)Meralco
TransmissionLines
y Parties: ResidentsofMakatiandPasayvs.Meralco
y AreaAffected: MakatiandPasay
y LawInvolved: Constitution,SanitationCode
y Damage: Prolongedexposuretoelectromagnetic

radiation
y Defense:HealthHazard,notEnvironmentalHarm

(2)Meralco
TransmissionLines
y WritofKalikasan DENIED
1. Meralco compliedwithallenvironmentalstandards
embodiedinECC
2. Transmissionlinesnotposeathreat
3. Noevidenceshowingcausallinkbetween
electromagneticfieldandillnesses

(3)Barrick GoldandPlacerDome
Parties: Hernandezet.al.vs.BarrickandPlacer
AreaAffected: Marinduque,Batangas,Romblon
andQuezon
LawInvolved: Constitution
Damage: Pollutionofriversandbays
Evidence:Studies;AMDlinkedtodeteriorating
health;tailingsseepage

(3)Barrick GoldandPlacerDome
WritofKalikasanGRANTED
TEPOissued
SCremandedtoCAforhearing,receptionof
evidenceandrenditionofjudgment

(4)MininginSurigao
Parties: TribalCoalitionvs.Taganito,Platinum,
OrientalSynergy,ShenzouandMarcventures
AreaAffected: SurigaodelNorteandSur
LawInvolved: Constitution,IPRA,MiningAct,
CleanWaterAct
Damage: Failuretoprovidesiltationdams;water
pollution;mangrovedestruction
Defense:CompliantwithECC;notshowdamagein
morethan2provinces

(5)Philex Silangan
(6)Marcventures
Ground:Miningactivitiescausingriverpollution/
affectingwatersupply
CourtOrder:72hourTEPOissued;Notextended
orexpiredsincenoevidencepresented

(7)Zamboanga
Ground:Miningactivitiescausingpollution
AreaAffected:ZamboangaPeninsula
CourtOrder:WritofKalikasan

Thankyou.
Sourceofpresentation:Atty.AlbertoC.Agra FormerSecretary,
DepartmentofJustice.
AnnotationtotheRulesofProcedure SupremeCourtSub committee