BASIC  CONCEPTS  ON  TRIAL   GR:   Trial   is   necessary   if   there   are   legal   and  
(RULES  30  AND  132)   factual   issues   involve   in   the   case   which  
  requires   presentation   of   evidence   and  
What  is  trial?   witnesses.  
A  trial  is  a  judicial  process  of  investigating  and    
determining   the   legal   controversies,   starting   EXCEPTIONS:    
with   the   production   of   evidence   by   the   a.   When   the   case   falls   under   the   Rules   on  
plaintiff   and   ending   with   his   closing   Summary  Procedure  in  civil  cases;  
arguments.   b.   When   the   parties   enter   into   an   amicable  
  settlement  or  compromise  of  their  claims;  
Nature   of   trial:   trial   before   the   court   is   c.  In  case  of  dismissal  of  action  under  Rule  16;  
adversarial   in   character,   and   which   requires   d.  In  case  of  dismissal  of  the  action  under  Secs.  
the   presentation   of   evidence   and   witnesses   1  and  2  of  Rule  17;  
before  the  court.   e.  In  case  of  dismissal  of  the  action  under  Sec.  
  3,  Rule  17;  
Constitutional  right  to  speedy  trial   f.   In   case   of   dismissal   of   the   action   for   failure  
Section  16,  Article  3,  1987  Constitution   of   the   plaintiff   to   appear   during   pre-­‐trail  
  conference;  
“Section   16.   All   persons   shall   have   the   g.  In  case  of  judgment  on  the  pleadings  under  
right  to  a  speedy  disposition  of  their  cases   Rule  34;  
before   all   judicial,   quasi-­‐judicial,   or   h.   In   case   of   summary   judgment   under   Rule  
administrative  bodies.”   35;  
  i.   In   case   of   amicable   settlement   during  
Factors  to  determine  delay   mediation   before   the   Philippine   Mediation  
a.  Duration  of  the  delay;   Center;  
b.  Reason  therefor;   j.   In   case   of   amicable   settlement   during  
c.  Assertion  of  the  right  of  failure  to  assert  it;   Judicial  Dispute  Resolution;  
and   k.  In  case  of  amicable  settlements  by  virtue  of  
d.  Prejudice  caused  by  such  delay.   Alternative  Dispute  Resolution.  
  l.   When   parties   to   any   action   agree,   in   writing,  
Applicability  of  right  to  speedy  trial   upon   the   facts   involved   in   the   litigation,   and  
-­‐   all   parties   in   all   cases,   including   civil   and   submit   the   case   for   judgment   on   the   facts  
administrative   cases,   and   in   all   proceedings,   agreed   upon,   without   the   introduction   of  
including   judicial   and   quasi-­‐judicial   evidence  under  Sec.  6,  Rule  30.  
hearings    
  Burden  of  proof  in  civil  case  
Purpose   of   speedy   trial:   to   stem   the   tide   of   -­‐   the   party   having   the   burden   of   proof   must  
disenchantment   among   the   people   in   the   establish   his   case   by   a   preponderance   of  
administration   of   justice   by   our   judicial   and   evidence  
quasi-­‐judicial  tribunals   -­‐   preponderance   of   evidence:   evidence  
  which   is   of   greater   weight,   or   more  
Right   to   speedy   disposition   of   cases:   The   convincing   than   that   which   is   offered   in  
Constitution   requires   all   lower   courts   to   opposition  to  it.  
decide   or   resolve   cases   or   matters   within   3   -­‐  the  plaintiff  must  rely  on  the  strength  of  his  
months   from   the   time   said   matter   is   own  evidence  and  not  upon  the  weakness  of  
submitted  for  decision  or  resolution.   the  defendant’s  
   
Trial  vs.  Hearing   Notice  of  trial  
Hearing   is  broader  in  its  scope  as  it  includes   Section  1  
pre-­‐trial   conference,   hearing   on   the   motion,    
and   trial;   while   trial   is   limited   only   to   the   Duty  of  the  clerk  of  court  upon  entry  of  a  case  
presentation  of  evidence  and  witnesses  before   in  the  trial  calendar:  
the  court.   a.  Notify  the  parties  of  the  date  of  its  trial;  
  b.   In   such   manner   as   shall   ensure   his   receipt  
of  that  notice  at  least  5  days  before  such  date.  

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Adjournment  and  postponement   (a)   The   plaintiff   shall   adduce   evidence   in  

Section  2   support  of  his  complaint;  
   
Acts   which   the   court   may   perform   during   (b)  The  defendant  shall  then  adduce  evidence  
trial:   in  support  of  his  defense,  counterclaim,  cross-­‐
a.   Adjourn   the   trial   from   day   to   day,   and   to   claim  and  third-­‐party  complaints;  
any   stated   time,   as   the   expeditious   and    
convenient  transaction  business  may  require;   (c)   The   third-­‐party   defendant   if   any,   shall  
b.  It  shall  have  no  power  to  adjourn  a  trial  for   adduce  evidence  of  his  defense,  counterclaim,  
a   longer   period   than   one   month   for   each   cross-­‐claim  and  fourth-­‐party  complaint;  
adjournment;    
c.   Nor   more   than   3   months   in   all,   except   when   (d)   The   fourth-­‐party,   and   so   forth,   if   any,   shall  
authorized   by   the   Court   Administrator,   adduce  evidence  of  the  material  facts  pleaded  
Supreme  Court.   by  them;  
   
Q:  Is  postponement  a  matter  of  right?   (e)   The   parties   against   whom   any  
A:   No.  It  is  addressed  to  the  sound  discretion   counterclaim  or  cross-­‐claim  has  been  pleaded,  
of  the  court.   shall   adduce   evidence   in   support   of   their  
  defense,   in   the   order   to   be   prescribed   by   the  
Limitation  on  the  authority  to  adjourn:   court;  
-­‐   not   be   for   a   period   of   more   than   1   month   for    
each  adjournment  nor  more  than  3  months  in   (f)   The   parties   may   then   respectively   adduce  
all.   rebutting   evidence   only,   unless   the   court,   for  
  good  reasons  and  in  the  furtherance  of  justice,  
Duty   of   a   litigant   to   postpone   before   the   permits   them   to   adduce   evidence   upon   their  
day  of  hearing   original  case;  and  
Ratio:   the   court   could   order   its   resetting   and    
timely   inform   the   adverse   party   of   the   new   (g)   Upon   admission   of   the   evidence,   the   case  
date.   shall   be   deemed   submitted   for   decision,  
  unless  the  court  directs  the  parties  to  argue  or  
Requisites   of   motion   to   postpone   trial   for   to  submit  their  respective  memoranda  or  any  
absence  of  evidence   further  pleadings.  
Section  3    
  If   several   defendants   or   third-­‐party  
a.  A  motion  for  postponement  must  be  filed;   defendants,   and   so   forth,   having   separate  
b.   The   motion   must   be   supported   by   an   defenses   appear   by   different   counsel,   the  
affidavit  or  sworn  certification  showing  the   court   shall   determine   the   relative   order   of  
(1)  materiality  or  relativity  of  the  evidence,   presentation  of  their  evidence.    
and  (2)  that  due  diligence  has  been  used  to    
procure  it.   Formal  Offer  of  Evidence  
c.  If  the  adverse  party  admits  the  facts  given  in   Sections  34-­‐36,  Rule  132  
evidence   the   trial   shall   not   be   postponed    
even  if  he  reserves  the  right  to  object  to  the   Rule  on  offer  of  evidence  
admissibility  of  the  evidence.   The   court   shall   consider   no   evidence   which  
  has   not   been   formally   offered.   The   purpose  
Order  of  trial   for   which   the   evidence   is   offered   must   be  
Section  5   specified.  
   
Subject   to   the   provisions   of   section   2   of   Rule   When  to  make  an  offer  
31,   and   unless   the   court   for   special   reasons   -­‐   As   regards   to   the   testimony   of   a   witness,  
otherwise   directs,   the   trial   shall   be   limited   to   the  offer  must  be  made  at  the  time  the  witness  
the   issues   stated   in   the   pre-­‐trial   order   and   is  called  to  testify.  
shall  proceed  as  follows:   -­‐  Documentary  and  object  evidence  shall  be  
  offered   after   the   presentation   of   a   party’s  
testimonial  evidence  

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When  and  how  to  make  an  objection:   When   can   the   court   make   a   ruling   on   the  
a.  Objection  to  evidence  offered  orally  must  be   objection:   immediately   unless   he   court  
made  immediately  after  the  offer  is  made;   desires   to   take   time   to   inform   itself   on   the  
b.   An   offer   of   evidence   in   writing   shall   be   question   presented;   but   the   ruling   shall  
objected  to  within  3  days  after  notice  of  the   always   be   made   during   the   trial   and   at   such  
offer  unless  a  different  period  is  allowed  by   time  as  will  give  the  party  against  whom  it   is  
the  court.   made   an   opportunity   to   made   the   situation  
  presented  by  the  ruling.  
Rules  on  objection  on  the  offer  of  evidence    
Section  36,  Rule  132   What   should   the   court   do   in   making   a  
  ruling  
-­‐   Objection   to   evidence   offered   orally:   The   reason   for   sustaining   or   overruling   an  
immediately  after  the  offer  is  made   objection   need   not   be   stated.   However,   if   the  
-­‐   Objection   to   a   question   propounded   in   objection   on   one   or   some   of   them   must  
the  course  of  oral  examination  of  a  witness   specify  the  ground  or  grounds  relied  upon.  
shall  be  made  as  soon  as  the  ground  therefor    
shall  become  reasonably  apparent.   Presentation  of  defendant’s  evidence  
-­‐   Objection   to   an   offer   of   evidence   in    
writing   shall   be   objected   to   within   3   days   When   made:   after  the  plaintiff  has  rested  its  
after   notice   of   the   offer   unless   a   different   case   or   in   case   of   denial   of   the   demurrer   to  
period  is  allowed  by  the  court.   evidence.  
   
Oral  offer  and  objections  of  exhibits  under   Rebuttal  evidence  
the  JUDICIAL  AFFIDAVIT  RULE   Any   component   evidence   to   explain,   repel,   or  
  counteract,  or  disprove  adversary’s  proof.    
When   is   an   oral   offer   of   evidence   of    
documentary   or   object   exhibits   is   made:   When   receivable:   only   when   new   matters  
upon   the   termination   of   the   testimony   of   his   have  been  developed  by  the  evidence  of  one  of  
last  witness   the  parties  and  is  generally  limited  to  a  reply  
  to  new  matters  
How   made:   piece   by   piece,   in   their    
chronological   order,   stating   the   purpose   or   When   may   be   presented:   after   the  
purposes   for   which   a   particular   exhibit   is   termination   of   the   presentation   of   the  
offered   defendant’s  evidence-­‐in-­‐chief  
   
How  objection  shall  be  made   Who  may  present:  the  plaintiff  
After   each   piece   of   exhibit   is   offered,   the    
adverse   party   shall   state   the   legal   ground   for   CONSOLIDATION  OR  SEVERANCE  OF  CASES    
his   objection,   if   any,   to   its   admission,   and   the   (RULE  31)  
court   shall   immediately   make   its   ruling    
respecting  that  exhibit.   When   proper:   when   actions   involving   a  
  common   question   of   law   or   fact   are   pending  
How  to  make  an  offer  of  exhibits  as  part  of   before  the  court.  
the  judicial  affidavits    
Since  the  documentary  or  object  exhibits  form   What  the  court  may  do:  
part   of   the   judicial   affidavits   that   describe   and   a.   Order   a   joint   hearing   or   trial   of   any   or   all  
authenticate   them,   it   is   sufficient   that   such   the  matters  in  issue  in  the  action;  
exhibits   are   simply   cited   by   their   markings   b.  Order  all  the  actions  consolidated;  or  
during   the   offers,   the   objections,   and   the   c.   It   may   make   such   orders   concerning  
rulings,  dispensing  with  the  description  of  the   proceedings   therein   as   may   tend   to   avoid  
exhibit.   unnecessary  costs  or  delay.  
   
Ruling  of  the  court  on  the  comment   Separate  trials  
  Section  2  
 

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When  can  be  conducted   What   are   contained   in   the   order   of  

a.  Any  claim;   reference:  
b.  Cross-­‐claim;    
c.  Counterclaim;   The   order   of   reference   issued   by   the   court  
d.  Third-­‐party  complaint;  or   may:  
e.   Any   separate   issue   or   of   any   number   of    
claims,   cross-­‐claims,   counterclaims,   third-­‐ a.   Specify   or   limit   the   powers   of   the  
party  complaints  or  issues.   commissioner;  
  b.   May   direct   him   to   report   only   upon  
TRIAL  BY  COMMISSIONER   particular  issues;  
Rule  32   c.  To  do  or  perform  particular  acts;  
  d.  To  receive  and  report  evidence  only;  and  
When   is   reference   to   the   commissioner   e.   May   fix   the   date   for   beginning   and   closing  
available:   the  hearings  and  for  the  filing  of  his  report.  
-­‐  By  written  consent  of  both  parties,  the  court    
may  order  any  or  all  of  the  issues  in  a  case  to   Powers  of  the  commissioner:  
be   referred   to   a   commissioner   to   be   agreed   a.   To   regulate   the   proceedings   in   every  
upon  by  the  parties  or  to  be  appointed  by  the   hearing  before  him;  
court.   b.   To   do   all   acts   and   take   all   measure  
  necessary   or   proper   for   the   efficient  
Who  is  a  commissioner:   performance  of  his  duties  under  the  order;  
a.  A  referee;   c.   He   may   issue   subpoenas   and   subpoenas  
b.  An  auditor;   duces  tecum;  
c.  An  examiner.   d.  Swear  witnesses;  
  e.   Unless   otherwise   provided   in   the   order   of  
When   can   a   case   be   ordered   by   the   court   reference,  he  may  rule  upon  the  admissibility  
upon  motion  of  the  parties:  (Section  2)   of   evidence.   The   trial   or   hearing   before   him  
  shall  proceed  in  all  respects  as  it  would  if  held  
When   the   parties   do   not   consent,   the   court   before  the  court.  
may,   upon   the   application   of   either   or   of   its    
own   motion,   direct   a   reference   to   a   Duty   of   the   commissioner   before   entering  
commissioner  in  the  following  cases:   his   duties:   to   swear   to   a   faithful   and   honest  
  performance  thereof.  
(a)  When  the  trial  of  an  issue  of  fact  requires    
the  examination  of  a  long  account  on  either   Proceeding;  when  held:  within  10  days  after  
side,   in   which   case   the   commissioner   may   the  date  of  the  order  of  reference    
be   directed   to   hear   and   report   upon   the    
whole   issue   or   any   specific   question   Failure   of   parties   to   appear   before  
involved  therein;   commissioner  
  Section  6  
(b)   When   the   taking   of   an   account   is    
necessary   for   the   information   of   the   court   If  a  party  fails  to  appear  at  the  time  and  place  
before   judgment,   or   for   carrying   a   judgment   appointed,  the  commissioner    may:  
or  order  into  effect.    
  a.  Proceed  ex  parte  
(c)   When   a   question   of   fact,   other   than   upon   b.  In  his  discretion,  adjourn  the  proceedings  to  
the   pleadings,   arises   upon   motion   or   a  future  day,  giving  notice  to  the  absent  party  
otherwise,   in   any   stage   of   a   case,   or   for   or  his  counsel  of  the  adjournment.  
carrying  a  judgment  or  order  into  effect.      
  Refusal  of  witness  to  obey  subpoena  
Duty   of   the   clerk   of   court   on   the   order   of   Section  7  
preference:   furnish   the   commissioner   with    
the  copy  of  the  order  of  preference.   Effect:  contempt  of  court  which  appointed  the  
  commissioner  
 

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Remedy  of  the  party  in  case  of  delay   b.  Modifying  the  report  
Either   party,   on   notice   to   the   parties   and   c.  Rejecting  the  report  in  whole  or  in  part;  or  
commissioner,  may  apply  to  the  court  for:   d.  Recommitting  it  with  instructions;  or  
a.   An   order   requiring   the   commissioner   to   e.   Requiring   the   parties   to   present   further  
expedite  the  proceedings;  and   evidence   before   the   commissioner   or   the  
b.  For  the  commissioner  to  make  his  report.   court.  
   
Report  of  the  commissioner   Stipulations  as  to  findings  
Section  9   Section  12  
   
Duties   of   the   commissioner   upon   the   Effect   when   the   parties   stipulate   that   a  
completion   of   the   trial   or   hearing   or   commissioner’s   finding   of   facts   shall   be  
proceeding  before  him:   final:  only  questions  of  law  shall  thereafter  be  
  considered.  
a.   File   with   the   court   his   report   in   writing    
upon   the   matters   submitted   to   him   by   the    
order  of  reference;    
b.   When   his   powers   are   not   specified   or    
limited,  he  shall  set  forth  his  findings  of  fact    
and  conclusions  of  law  in  his  report;    
c.   He   shall   attach   thereto   all   exhibits,    
affidavits,   depositions,   papers   and   the    
transcript,  if  ant,  of  the  testimonial  evidence    
presented  before  him.    
   
Notice  to  parties  of  the  filing  of  report    
Section  10    
   
Duty  of  the  clerk  of  court  upon  submission    
of  the  report    
Upon   submission   of   the   report,   the   parties    
shall  be  notified  by  the  clerk,  and  they  shall  be    
allowed   10   days   within   which   to   signify    
grounds   of   objections   to   the   findings   of   the    
report,  if  they  so  desire.    
   
Rule   on   objection   made   by   the   parties    
during  the  proceedings    
Objections   to   the   report   based   upon   grounds    
which   were   available   to   the   parties   during   the    
proceedings   before   the   commissioner,   other    
than   objections   to   the   findings   and    
conclusions   therein   set   forth,   shall   not   be    
considered   by   the   court   unless   they   were    
made  before  the  commissioner.    
   
Hearing  upon  the  report    
Section  11    
   
Courses   of   action   of   the   court   on   the    
hearing   on   the   report   upon   the   expiration    
of   the   period   of   10   days   referred   to   in    
Section  10    
The  court  shall  issue  and  order    
a.  Adopting  the  report    

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DEMURRER  TO  EVIDENCE  (RULE  33)   JUDGMENT  ON  THE  PLEADINGS  (RULE  34)  
   
What  is  a  demurrer  to  evidence?   “Section   1.   Judgment   on   the   pleadings.   —  
A   demurrer   to   evidence   is   a   motion   to   dismiss   Where   an   answer   fails   to   tender   an   issue,   or  
on   the   ground   of   insufficiency   of   evidence   and   otherwise   admits   the   material   allegations   of  
is  presented  after  the  plaintiff  rests  his  case.   the   adverse   party's   pleading,   the   court   may;  
  on  motion  of  that  party,  direct  judgment  on  
Nature  of  the  demurrer  to  evidence   such   pleading.   However,   in   actions   for  
-­‐  It  authorizes  a  judgment  in  the  merits  of  the   declaration   of   nullity   or   annulment   of  
case.   marriage   or   for   legal   separation,   the  
-­‐   It   is   similar   to   a   motion   to   dismiss   which   the   material  facts  alleged  in  the  complaint  shall  
court  or  tribunal  may  either  grants  or  deny.   always  be  proved.”  
   
Guidelines   in   the   granting   of   demurrer   to   When  judgment  on  the  pleading  is  proper  
evidence   When   an   answer   fails   to   tender   an   issue,   or  
-­‐   May   be   issued   when   upon   the   facts   and   the   otherwise   admits   the   material   allegations   of  
law,  the  plaintiff  has  shown  no  right  to  relief   the  adverse  party’s  pleading.  
-­‐  Where  the  plaintiff’s  evidence  together  with    
such   inferences   and   conclusions   as   may   be   Nature  of  a  judgment  on  the  pleading  
reasonably   drawn   therefrom   does   not   A  motion  for  judgment  on  the  pleading  admits  
warrant   recovery   against   the   defendant,   a   the   truth   of   all   the   material   and   relevant  
demurrer  to  evidence  should  be  sustained.   allegations   of   the   opposing   party   and   the  
-­‐   It   should   be   sustained   where   the   plaintiff’s   judgment  must  rest  on  those  allegations  taken  
evidence   is   prima   facie   insufficient   for   a   together   with   such   other   allegations   as   are  
recovery.   admitted  in  the  pleadings.  
   
When  to  file   Judgment  on  the  Pleadings  vs.  Summary  
-­‐   after   the   plaintiff   has   completed   the   Judgment  
presentation  of  his  evidence     Judgment  on   Summary  
  the   Judgment  
Ground   Pleadings  
-­‐   that   upon   the   facts   and   the   law   the   plaintiff   When   When   it   Proper   even  
has  shown  no  right  to  relief   proper   appears   that   if   there   is   an  
  there   is   no   issue   as   to  
Remedy   of   the   defendant   in   case   the   genuine  issue   damages  
motion  is  denied   between   the   recoverable  
-­‐  he  shall  have  the  right  to  present  evidence   parties  
  Basis   Based   Based   not  
Remedy   of   the   plaintiff   in   case   of   granting   exclusively   only   on   the  
of  the  demurrer   upon   the   pleadings   but  
-­‐  appeal   pleadings   also  upon  the  
  without   affidavits,  
Effect   if   the   demurrer   is   granted   but   on   introduction   depositions,  
appeal   the   order   of   the   dismissal   is   of  evidence   and  
reversed   admissions  of  
-­‐  he  shall  be  deemed  to  have  waived  the  right   the   parties  
to  present  evidence   showing   that,  
  except   as   to  
Demurrer   to   evidence   in   criminal   versus   the   amount  
civil  cases   of   damages,  
(see  notes)   there   is   no  
  genuine  
  issue.  
  What   cases   In  any  action   Proper   only  
  available   Except:   in   actions   to  

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annulment   of   recover   a  
marriage   or   debt,   or   for   a  
legal   liquidated  
separation   sum   of  
money,  or  for  
declaratory  
relief  
Required   3   days,   and   10  days  
notice   where   all  
material  
averments   of  
the  
complaint  
are   admitted,  
such   motion  
may   even   be  
made   ex  
parte  
 
 
 
 
 
 

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