RepublicofthePhilippines

SUPREMECOURT
Manila
ENBANC

A.M.No.06115SC
(2October2007)
RULEONDNAEVIDENCE
RESOLUTION
Acting on the recommendation of the Chairperson and Members of the Subcommittee on
Evidence submitting for the Courts consideration and approval the proposed Rule on DNA
Evidence,theCourtResolvedtoAPPROVEthesame.
ThisResolutionshalltakeeffectonOctober15,2007followingitspublicationinanewspaperof
generalcirculation.
October2,2007.
[sgd.]
RENATOS.PUNO
ChiefJustice

[sgd.]
LEONAROA.QUISUMBING
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
CONSUELOYNARES
SANTIAGO
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
ANGELINASANDOVAL
GUTIERREZ
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
ANTONIOT.CARPIO
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
MA.ALICIAAUSTRIA
MARTINEZ
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
RENATOC.CORONA
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
CONCHITACARPIOMORALES
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
ADOLFOS.AZCUNA
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
DANTEO.TINGA
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
MINITAV.CHICONAZARIO
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
CANCIOC.GARCIA
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
PRESBITEROJ.VELASCO,
JR.
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
ANTONIOEDUARDOB.
NACHURA
AssociateJustice

[sgd.]
RUBENT.REYES
AssociateJustice

RULEONDNAEVIDENCE
SECTION1.Scope.ThisRuleshallapplywheneverDNAevidence,asdefinedinSection3
hereof,isoffered,used,orproposedtobeofferedorusedasevidenceinallcriminalandcivil
actionsaswellasspecialproceedings.
Sec.2.ApplicationofotherRulesonEvidence.Inallmattersnotspecificallycoveredbythis
Rule,theRulesofCourtandotherpertinentprovisionsoflawonevidenceshallapply.
Sec.3.DefinitionofTerms.ForpurposesofthisRule,thefollowingtermsshallbedefinedas
follows:
a. Biologicalsamplemeansanyorganicmaterialoriginatingfromapersonsbody,even
iffoundininanimateobjects,thatissusceptibletoDNAtesting.Thisincludesblood,
salivaandotherbodyfluids,tissues,hairsandbones;
b. DNAmeansdeoxyribonucleicacid,whichisthechainofmoleculesfoundinevery
nucleated cell of the body. The totality of an individuals DNA is unique for the
individual,exceptidenticaltwins;
c. DNAevidenceconstitutesthetotalityoftheDNAprofiles,resultsandothergenetic
informationdirectlygeneratedfromDNAtestingofbiologicalsamples;

d. DNA profile means genetic information derived from DNA testing of a biological
sample obtained from a person, which biological sample is clearly identifiable as
originatingfromthatperson;
e. DNA testing means verified and credible scientific methods which include the
extraction of DNA from biological samples, the generation of DNA profiles andthe
comparisonoftheinformationobtainedfromtheDNAtestingofbiologicalsamplesfor
thepurposeofdetermining,withreasonablecertainty,whetherornottheDNAobtained
fromtwoormoredistinctbiologicalsamplesoriginatesfromthesameperson(direct
identification) or if the biological samples originate from related persons (kinship
analysis);and
f.

ProbabilityofParentagemeansthenumericalestimateforthelikelihoodofparentage
ofaputativeparentcomparedwiththeprobabilityofarandommatchoftwounrelated
individualsinagivenpopulation.

Sec.4. ApplicationforDNATestingOrder. Theappropriatecourtmay,atanytime,either

motupropriooronapplicationofanypersonwhohasalegalinterestinthematterinlitigation,
orderaDNAtesting.Suchordershallissueafterduehearingandnoticetothepartiesupona
showingofthefollowing:
a. Abiologicalsampleexiststhatisrelevanttothecase;
b. Thebiologicalsample:(i)wasnotpreviouslysubjectedtothetypeofDNAtestingnow
requested;or(ii)waspreviouslysubjectedtoDNAtesting,buttheresultsmayrequire
confirmationforgoodreasons;
c. TheDNAtestingusesascientificallyvalidtechnique;
d. TheDNAtestinghasthescientificpotentialtoproducenewinformationthatisrelevant
totheproperresolutionofthecase;and
e. The existence of other factors, if any, which the court may consider as potentially
affectingtheaccuracyofintegrityoftheDNAtesting.
ThisRuleshallnotprecludeaDNAtesting,withoutneedofapriorcourtorder,atthebehestof
anyparty,includinglawenforcementagencies,beforeasuitorproceedingiscommenced.
Sec.5.DNATestingOrder.IfthecourtfindsthattherequirementsinSection4hereofhave
beencompliedwith,thecourtshall
a. Order,whereappropriate,thatbiologicalsamplesbetakenfromanypersonorcrime
sceneevidence;
b. ImposereasonableconditionsonDNAtestingdesignedtoprotecttheintegrityofthe
biologicalsample,thetestingprocessandthereliabilityofthetestresults,includingthe
conditionthattheDNAtestresultsshallbesimultaneouslydisclosedtopartiesinvolved
inthecase;and
3

c. If the biological sample taken is of such an amount that prevents the conduct of
confirmatorytestingbytheotherortheadversepartyandwhereadditionalbiological
samplesofthesamekindcannolongerbeobtained,issueanorderrequiringallpartiesto
thecaseorproceedingstowitnesstheDNAtestingtobeconducted.
AnordergrantingtheDNAtestingshallbeimmediatelyexecutoryandshallnotbeappealable.
Anypetitionfor certiorariinitiatedtherefrom shallnot, inanyway,staythe implementation
thereof,unlessahighercourtissuesaninjunctiveorder.ThegrantofDNAtestingapplication
shallnotbeconstruedasanautomaticadmissionintoevidenceofanycomponentoftheDNA
evidencethatmaybeobtainedasaresultthereof.
Sec.6.PostconvictionDNATesting.PostconvictionDNAtestingmaybeavailable,without
needofpriorcourtorder,totheprosecutionoranypersonconvictedbyfinalandexecutory
judgmentprovidedthat(a)abiologicalsampleexists,(b)suchsampleisrelevanttothecase,and
(c) the testing would probably result in the reversal or modification of the judgment of
conviction.
Sec.7.AssessmentofprobativevalueofDNAevidence.Inassessingtheprobativevalueofthe
DNAevidencepresented,thecourtshallconsiderthefollowing:
a. Thechairofcustody,includinghowthebiologicalsampleswerecollected,howthey
werehandled,andthepossibilityofcontaminationofthesamples;
b. The DNA testing methodology, including the procedure followed in analyzing the
samples,theadvantagesanddisadvantagesoftheprocedure,andcompliancewiththe
scientificallyvalidstandardsinconductingthetests;
c. TheforensicDNAlaboratory,includingaccreditationbyanyreputablestandardssetting
institutionandthequalificationoftheanalystwhoconductedthetests.Ifthelaboratoryis
not accredited, the relevant experience of the laboratory in forensic casework and
credibilityshallbeproperlyestablished;and
d. Thereliabilityofthetestingresult,ashereinafterprovided.
The provisions of the Rules of Court concerning the appreciation of evidence shall apply
suppletorily.
Sec. 8. Reliability of DNA Testing Methodology. In evaluating whether the DNA testing
methodologyisreliable,thecourtshallconsiderthefollowing:
a. The falsifiability of the principles or methods used, that is, whether the theory or
techniquecanbeandhasbeentested;
b. Thesubjectiontopeerreviewandpublicationoftheprinciplesormethods;
c. The general acceptance of the principles or methods by the relevant scientific
community;

d. Theexistenceandmaintenanceofstandardsandcontrolstoensurethecorrectnessofdata
generated;
e. Theexistenceofanappropriatereferencepopulationdatabase;and
f.

The general degree of confidence attributed to mathematical calculations used in

comparingDNAprofilesandthesignificanceandlimitationofstatisticalcalculations
usedincomparingDNAprofiles.

Sec. 9. of DNA Testing Results. Inevaluating the results of DNAtesting, the court shall
considerthefollowing:
a. TheevaluationoftheweightofmatchingDNAevidenceortherelevanceofmismatching
DNAevidence;
b. TheresultsoftheDNAtestinginthelightofthetotalityoftheotherevidencepresented
inthecase;andthat
c. DNAresultsthatexcludetheputativeparentfrompaternityshallbeconclusiveproofof
nonpaternity.IfthevalueoftheProbabilityofPaternityislessthan99.9%,theresultsof
the DNA testing shall be considered as corroborative evidence. If the value of the
ProbabilityofPaternityis99.9%orhigherthereshallbeadisputablepresumptionof
paternity.
Sec.10.PostconvictionDNATestingRemedyiftheResultsAreFavorabletotheConvict.
Theconvictortheprosecutionmayfileapetitionforawritofhabeascorpusinthecourtoforigin
iftheresultsofthepostconvictionDNAtestingarefavorabletotheconvict.Inthecasethe
court, after due hearing finds the petition to be meritorious, if shall reverse or modify the
judgmentofconvictionandorderthereleaseoftheconvict,unlesscontinueddetentionisjustified
foralawfulcause.
AsimilarpetitionmaybefiledeitherintheCourtofAppealsortheSupremeCourt,orwithany
memberofsaidcourts,whichmayconductahearingthereonorremandthepetitiontothecourt
oforiginandissuetheappropriateorders.
Sec.11.Confidentiality.DNAprofilesandallresultsorotherinformationobtainedfromDNA
testingshallbeconfidential.Exceptuponorderofthecourt,aDNAprofileandallresultsorother
informationobtainedfromDNAtestingshallonlybereleasedtoanyofthefollowing,undersuch
termsandconditionsasmaybesetforthbythecourt:
a. Personfromwhomthesamplewastaken;
b. Personfromwhomthesamplewastaken;
c. Lawyersofprivatecomplainantsinacriminalaction;
d. Dulyauthorizedlawenforcementagencies;and

e. Otherpersonsasdeterminedbythecourt.
Whoeverdiscloses,utilizesorpublishesinanyformanyinformationconcerningaDNAprofile
withoutthepropercourtordershallbeliableforindirectcontemptofthecourtwhereinsuch
DNAevidencewasoffered,presentedorsoughttobeofferedandpresented.
Wherethepersonfromwhomthebiologicalsamplewastakenfilesawrittenverifiedrequestto
thecourtthatallowedtheDNAtestingforthedisclosureoftheDNAprofileofthepersonandall
resultsorotherinformationobtainedfromtheDNAtesting,hesamemaybedisclosedtothe
personsnamedinthewrittenverifiedrequest.
Sec.12.PreservationofDNAEvidence.ThetrialcourtshallpreservetheDNAevidenceinits
totality,includingallbiologicalsamples,DNAprofilesandresultsorothergeneticinformation
obtainedfromDNAtesting.Forthispurpose,thecourtmayordertheappropriategovernment
agencytopreservetheDNAevidenceasfollows:
a. Incriminalcases:
i.

fornotlessthantheperiodoftimethatanypersonisundertrialforan
offense;or

ii.

incasetheaccusedisservingsentence,untilsuchtimeastheaccusedhas
servedhissentence;

a. Inallothercases,untilsuchtimeasthedecisioninthecasewheretheDNAevidencewas
introducedhasbecomefinalandexecutory.
Thecourtmayallowthephysicaldestructionofabiologicalsamplebeforetheexpirationofthe
periodssetforthabove,providedthat:
a. Acourtordertothateffecthasbeensecured;or
b. ThepersonfromwhomtheDNAsamplewasobtainedhasconsentedinwritingtothe
disposaloftheDNAevidence.
Sec.13.ApplicabilitytoPendingCases.ExceptasprovidedinSection6and10hereof,thisRule
shallapplytocasespendingatthetimeofitseffectivity.
Sec.14.Effectivity.ThisRuleshalltakeeffectonOctober15,2007,followingpublicationina
newspaperofgeneralcirculation.