Special Rules of Court

on ADR
(Alternative Dispute Resolution)

Motion for Reconsideration, Appeal and

Certiorari
 Grounds for Reconsideration: Distinction
• Ordinary Motion for Reconsideration • Motion for Reconsideration under
(Section 1 Rule 37 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure) ADR
(Rule 19.1, Special ADR Rules)

(a) Fraud, accident, mistake or excusable (16)

negligence which ordinary prudence could not a. That the arbitration agreement is inexistent, invalid
have guarded against and by reason of which or unenforceable pursuant to Rule 3.10 (B);
such aggrieved party has probably been impaired
in his rights; or
b. Upholding or reversing the arbitral tribunal’s
(b) Newly discovered evidence, which he could jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 3.19;
not, with reasonable diligence, have discovered
and produced at the trial, and which if presented
c. Denying a request to refer the parties to arbitration;
would probably alter the result.
 Grounds for Reconsideration: Distinction
• Ordinary Motion for Reconsideration
(Section 1 Rule 37 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure)
Within the same period, the aggrieved party may
also move for reconsideration upon the grounds
that the damages awarded are excessive, that the
evidence is insufficient to justify the decision or
final order, or that the decision or final order is
contrary to law.
• Motion for Reconsideration under
ADR
(Rule 19.1, Special ADR Rules)
d. Granting or denying a party an interim measure of
protection;
e. Denying a petition for the appointment of an
arbitrator;
f. Refusing to grant assistance in taking evidence;
g. Enjoining or refusing to enjoin a person from
divulging confidential information;
 Grounds for Reconsideration: Distinction
• Ordinary Motion for Reconsideration • Motion for Reconsideration under
(Section 1 Rule 37 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure) ADR
(Rule 19.1, Special ADR Rules)

h. Confirming, vacating or correcting a domestic

arbitral award;

i. Suspending the proceedings to set aside an

international commercial arbitral award and referring
the case back to the arbitral tribunal;

j. Setting aside an international commercial arbitral

award;
 Grounds for Reconsideration: Distinction
• Ordinary Motion for Reconsideration • Motion for Reconsideration under ADR
(Section 1 Rule 37 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure) (Rule 19.1, Special ADR Rules)

k. Dismissing the petition to set aside an international

commercial arbitral award, even if the court does not
recognize and/or enforce the same;

l. Recognizing and/or enforcing, or dismissing a petition

to recognize and/or enforce an international commercial
arbitral award;

m. Declining a request for assistance in taking evidence;

 Grounds for Reconsideration: Distinction
• Ordinary Motion for Reconsideration
(Section 1 Rule 37 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure)
• Motion for Reconsideration under
ADR
(Rule 19.1, Special ADR Rules)
n. Adjourning or deferring a ruling on a petition to set
aside, recognize and/or enforce an international
commercial arbitral award;
o. Recognizing and/or enforcing a foreign arbitral
award, or refusing recognition and/or enforcement of
the same; and
p. Granting or dismissing a petition to enforce a
deposited mediated settlement agreement
No motion for reconsideration shall be
allowed
• a. A prima facie determination upholding the existence, validity or enforceability of an
arbitration agreement pursuant to Rule 3.1 (A);

• b. An order referring the dispute to arbitration;

• c. An order appointing an arbitrator;

• d. Any ruling on the challenge to the appointment of an arbitrator;

• e. Any order resolving the issue of the termination of the mandate of an arbitrator; and

• f. An order granting assistance in taking evidence.

 Grounds for Reconsideration: Distinction
• Ordinary Motion for Reconsideration • Motion for Reconsideration under
(Section 4 and 5, Rule 37 1997 Rules of Civil ADR
Procedure)
(Rule 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6 , Special ADR
• A motion for new trial or reconsideration shall be Rules)
resolved within thirty (30) days from the time it
is submitted for resolution.
• A motion for reconsideration may be filed
with the Regional Trial Court within a non-
• A second motion for new trial, based on a ground extendible period of fifteen (15) days from
not existing nor available when the first motion receipt of the questioned ruling or order.
was made, may be filed within the time herein
provided excluding the time during which the
first motion had been pending.
• No party shall be allowed a second motion for
reconsideration of a judgment or final order
 Grounds for Reconsideration: Distinction
• Ordinary Motion for Reconsideration
(Section 4 and 5, Rule 37 1997 Rules of Civil
Procedure)
• Motion for Reconsideration under
ADR
(Rule 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6 , Special ADR
Rules)
• The motion shall be made in writing stating
the ground or grounds therefor and shall be
filed with the court and served upon the other
party or parties.
• Upon receipt of the motion for
reconsideration, the other party or parties
shall have a non-extendible period of fifteen
(15) days to file his opposition or comment.
 Grounds for Reconsideration: Distinction
• Ordinary Motion for Reconsideration • Motion for Reconsideration under
(Section 4 and 5, Rule 37 1997 Rules of Civil ADR
Procedure) (Rule 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6 , Special ADR
Rules)

• A motion for reconsideration shall be

resolved within thirty (30) days from receipt
of the opposition or comment or upon the
expiration of the period to file such
opposition or comment.

• No party shall be allowed a second motion for

reconsideration.
General Provisions on Appeal and Certiorari
 Appeal to the Court of Appeals (Petition for Review)

An appeal to the Court of Appeals through a petition for review under this
Special Rule shall only be allowed from the following final orders of the
Regional Trial Court -
a. Granting or denying an interim measure of protection;
b. Denying a petition for appointment of an arbitrator;
c. Denying a petition for assistance in taking evidence;
d. Enjoining or refusing to enjoin a person from divulging
confidential information;
e. Confirming, vacating or correcting/modifying a domestic
arbitral award;
f. Setting aside an international commercial arbitration
award;
g. Dismissing the petition to set aside an international
commercial arbitration award even if the court does not
decide to recognize or enforce such award;
h. Recognizing and/or enforcing an international
commercial arbitration award;
i. Dismissing a petition to enforce an international
commercial arbitration award;
j. Recognizing and/or enforcing a foreign arbitral
award;
k. Refusing recognition and/or enforcement of a
foreign arbitral award;
l. Granting or dismissing a petition to enforce a
deposited mediated settlement agreement; and
m. Reversing the ruling of the arbitral tribunal
upholding its jurisdiction.
 Appeal to the Court of Appeals (Petition for Review)

When to appeal. - The petition for review shall be filed within fifteen (15)
days from notice of the decision of the Regional Trial Court or the denial of
the petitioner’s motion for reconsideration.

Effect of appeal. - The appeal shall not stay the award, judgment, final order
or resolution sought to be reviewed unless the Court of Appeals directs
otherwise upon such terms as it may deem just. *
 Special Civil Action for Certiorari (Petition for
Certiorari)

Certiorari to the Court of Appeals. - When the Regional Trial Court, in making
a ruling under the Special ADR Rules, has acted without or in excess of its
jurisdiction, or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of
jurisdiction, and there is no appeal or any plain, speedy, and adequate remedy
in the ordinary course of law, a party may file a special civil action for
certiorari to annul or set aside a ruling of the Regional Trial Court.
A special civil action for certiorari may be filed against the following orders of
the court -
a. Holding that the arbitration agreement is
inexistent, invalid or unenforceable;
b. Reversing the arbitral tribunal’s preliminary
determination upholding its jurisdiction;
c. Denying the request to refer the dispute to
arbitration;
d. Granting or refusing an interim relief;
e. Denying a petition for the appointment of an
arbitrator;
f. Confirming, vacating or correcting a domestic
arbitral award;
g. Suspending the proceedings to set aside an
international commercial arbitral award and
referring the case back to the arbitral tribunal;
h. Allowing a party to enforce an international
commercial arbitral award pending appeal;
i. Adjourning or deferring a ruling on whether to
set aside, recognize and or enforce an international
commercial arbitral award;
j. Allowing a party to enforce a foreign arbitral
award pending appeal; and
k. Denying a petition for assistance in taking
evidence.
 Special Civil Action for Certiorari (Petition for
Certiorari)

When to file petition. - The petition must be filed with the Court of Appeals
within fifteen (15) days from notice of the judgment, order or resolution
sought to be annulled or set aside. No extension of time to file the petition
shall be allowed. *
 Appeal by Certiorari to the Supreme Court
(Petition for Review on Certiorari)

Review discretionary. - A review by the Supreme Court is not a matter of

right, but of sound judicial discretion, which will be granted only for serious
and compelling reasons resulting in grave prejudice to the aggrieved party.
The following, while neither controlling nor fully measuring the court's
discretion, indicate the serious and compelling, and necessarily, restrictive
nature of the grounds that will warrant the exercise of the Supreme Court’s
discretionary powers, when the Court of Appeals -
 Appeal by Certiorari to the Supreme Court
(Petition for Review on Certiorari)
a. Failed to apply the applicable standard or test for judicial review prescribed in these
Special ADR Rules in arriving at its decision resulting in substantial prejudice to the
aggrieved party;

b. Erred in upholding a final order or decision despite the lack of jurisdiction of the court
that rendered such final order or decision;

c. Failed to apply any provision, principle, policy or rule contained in these Special ADR
Rules resulting in substantial prejudice to the aggrieved party; and

d. Committed an error so egregious and harmful to a party as to amount to an undeniable

excess of jurisdiction.
 Appeal by Certiorari to the Supreme Court
(Petition for Review on Certiorari)

Time for filing; extension. - The petition shall be filed within fifteen (15) days from notice
of the judgment or final order or resolution appealed from, or of the denial of the
petitioner's motion for new trial or reconsideration filed in due time after notice of the
judgment.

On motion duly filed and served, with full payment of the docket and other lawful fees and
the deposit for costs before the expiration of the reglementary period, the Supreme Court
may for justifiable reasons grant an extension of thirty (30) days only within which to file
the petition.
 Appeal by Certiorari to the Supreme Court
(Petition for Review on Certiorari)

Dismissal or denial of petition. - The failure of the petitioner to comply with any of the
foregoing requirements regarding the payment of the docket and other lawful fees, deposit
for costs, proof of service of the petition, and the contents of and the documents which
should accompany the petition shall be sufficient ground for the dismissal thereof.

The Supreme Court may on its own initiative deny the petition on the ground that the
appeal is without merit, or is prosecuted manifestly for delay, or that the questions raised
therein are too insubstantial to require consideration.
 Appeal by Certiorari to the Supreme Court
(Petition for Review on Certiorari)

Dismissal or denial of petition. - The failure of the petitioner to comply with any of the
foregoing requirements regarding the payment of the docket and other lawful fees, deposit
for costs, proof of service of the petition, and the contents of and the documents which
should accompany the petition shall be sufficient ground for the dismissal thereof.

The Supreme Court may on its own initiative deny the petition on the ground that the
appeal is without merit, or is prosecuted manifestly for delay, or that the questions raised
therein are too insubstantial to require consideration.
 Appeal by Certiorari to the Supreme Court
(Petition for Review on Certiorari)

Due course; elevation of records. - If the petition is given due course, the
Supreme Court may require the elevation of the complete record of the case
or specified parts thereof within fifteen (15) days from notice.
REFERENCE

• A.M. No. 07-11-08-SC Special Rules of Court on Alternative Dispute

Resolution
• 1997 Rules Of Civil Procedure
END