RULE 1

General Provisions
Section 1. Title of the Rules. These Rule shall be known and cited as the
Rules of Court. (1)
Section 2. In what courts applicable. These Rules shall apply in all the
courts, except as otherwise provided by the Supreme Court. (n)
Section 3. Cases governed. These Rules shall govern the procedure to be
observed in actions, civil or criminal and special proceedings.
(a) A civil action is one by which a party sues another for the enforcement or
protection of a right, or the prevention or redress of a wrong, (1a, R2)
A civil action may either be ordinary or special. Both are governed by the rules
for ordinary civil actions, subject to the specific rules prescribed for a special
civil action. (n)
(b) A criminal action is one by which the State prosecutes a person for an act
or omission punishable by law. (n)
(c) A special proceeding is a remedy by which a party seeks to establish a
status, a right, or a particular fact. (2a, R2)
Section 4. In what case not applicable. These Rules shall not apply to
election cases, land registration, cadastral, naturalization and insolvency
proceedings, and other cases not herein provided for, except by analogy or in
a suppletory character and whenever practicable and convenient. (R143a)
Section 5. Commencement of action. A civil action is commenced by the
filing of the original complaint in court. If an additional defendant is impleaded
in a later pleading, the action is commenced with regard to him on the dated
of the filing of such later pleading, irrespective of whether the motion for its
admission, if necessary, is denied by the court. (6a)
Section 6. Construction. These Rules shall be liberally construed in order to
promote their objective of securing a just, speedy and inexpensive disposition
of every action and proceeding. (2a)

Civil Actions
Ordinary Civil Actions

RULE 2
Cause of Action
Section 1. Ordinary civil actions, basis of. Every ordinary civil action must be
based on a cause of action. (n)
Section 2. Cause of action, defined. A cause of action is the act or omission
by which a party violates a right of another. (n)
Section 3. One suit for a single cause of action. A party may not institute
more than one suit for a single cause of action. (3a)
Section 4. Splitting a single cause of action; effect of. If two or more suits
are instituted on the basis of the same cause of action, the filing of one or a
judgment upon the merits in any one is available as a ground for the dismissal
of the others. (4a)
Section 5. Joinder of causes of action. A party may in one pleading assert, in
the alternative or otherwise, as many causes of action as he may have against
an opposing party, subject to the following conditions:
(a) The party joining the causes of action shall comply with the rules on joinder
of parties;
(b) The joinder shall not include special civil actions or actions governed by
special rules;
(c) Where the causes of action are between the same parties but pertain to
different venues or jurisdictions, the joinder may be allowed in the Regional
Trial Court provided one of the causes of action falls within the jurisdiction of
said court and the venue lies therein; and
(d) Where the claims in all the causes action are principally for recovery of
money, the aggregate amount claimed shall be the test of jurisdiction. (5a)
Section 6. Misjoinder of causes of action. Misjoinder of causes of action is
not a ground for dismissal of an action. A misjoined cause of action may, on
motion of a party or on the initiative of the court, be severed and proceeded
with separately. (n)