ECodal - A.M. No. 05-11-04-SC - Rules of Procedure in Cases of Civil Forfeiture
ECodal - A.M. No. 05-11-04-SC - Rules of Procedure in Cases of Civil Forfeiture
ECodal - A.M. No. 05-11-04-SC - Rules of Procedure in Cases of Civil Forfeiture
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Title I
Applicability
SEC. 1. Applicability. – The Rule shall govern all proceedings for civil forfeiture, asset preservation and
freezing of monetary instrument, property, or proceeds representing, involving, or relating to an unlawful
activity or a money laundering offense under Republic Act No. 9160, as amended.
The Revised Rules of Court shall apply suppletorily when not inconsistent with the provisions of this special
Rule.
Title II
Sec. 2. Party to institute proceedings. – The Republic of the Philippines, through the Anti-Money Laundering
Council, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General, may institute actions for civil forfeiture and all
other remedial proceedings in favor of the State of any monetary instrument, property, or proceeds
representing, involving, or relating to an unlawful activity or a money laundering offense.
Sec. 3. Venue of cases cognizable by the regional trial court. – A petition for civil forfeiture shall be filed in
any regiona1 trial court of the judicial region where the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds
representing, involving, or relating to an unlawful activity or to a money laundering offense are located;
provided, however, that where all or any portion of the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds is
located outside the Philippines, the petition may be filed in the regiona1 trial court in Manila or of the
judicial region where any portion of the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds is located, at the
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of Procedure p of Civil Forfeiture
option of the petitioner.
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Sec. 4. Contents of the petition for civil forfeiture. – The petition for civil forfeiture shall be verified and
contain the following allegations:
(b) A description with reasonable particularity of the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds, and their
location; and
(c) The acts or omissions prohibited by and the specific provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as
amended, which are alleged to be the grounds relied upon for the forfeiture of the monetary instrument,
property, or proceeds;
Sec. 5. Direct filing; action on the petition. – The petition shall be filed directly with the executive judge of
the regional trial court or, in his absence, the vice-executive judge or, in their absence, any judge of the
regional trial court of the same station. He shall act on the petition within twenty-four hours after its filing.
Sec. 6. Separate logbook. – The executive judge of the regional trial court shall enter the petition in a
logbook specifically designed for the purpose and assign it a docket number. He shall designate a member
of his staff to keep the logbook under his custody and responsibility.
Sec. 7. Confidentiality; prohibited disclosure. – The logbook and the entries therein shall be kept strictly
confidential and maintained under the responsibility of the executive judge. No person, including court
personnel, shall disclose, divulge or communicate to anyone directly or indirectly, in any manner or by any
means, the fact of the filing of the petition for an asset preservation order, its contents and its entry in the
logbook except to those authorized by the court. Violation shall constitute contempt of court.
(a) The respondent shall be given notice of the petition in the same manner as service of summons under
Rule 14 of the Rules of Court and the following rules:
1. The notice shall be served on respondent personally, or by any other means prescribed in Rule 14 of
the Rules of Court;
2. The notice shall contain: (i) the title of the case; (ii) the docket number; (iii) the cause of action; and
(iv) the relief prayed for; and
3. The notice shall likewise contain a proviso that, if no comment or opposition is filed within the
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reglementary period, the court shall hear the case ex parte and render such judgment as may be
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warranted by the facts alleged in the petition and its supporting evidence.
(b) Where the respondent is designated as an unknown owner or whenever his whereabouts are unknown
and cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, service may, by leave of court, be effected upon him by
publication of the notice of the petition in a newspaper of general circulation in such places and for such
time as the court may order. In the event that the cost of publication exceeds the value or amount of the
property to be forfeited by ten percent, publication shall not be required.
Sec. 9. Comment or opposition. – The respondent shall file a verified comment or opposition, not a motion
to dismiss the petition, within fifteen days from service of notice or within thirty days from the publication
in case service of notice was by publication.
The comment or opposition shall (a) state whether respondent admits the allegations of the petition; (b)
specify such inaccuracies or falsities in petitioner’s statement of facts; and (c) state clearly and concisely the
respondent’s defense in law and the specific and pertinent provisions of the law and their applicability to
respondent.
Sec. 10. Effect of failure to file comment or opposition. – If no comment or opposition is filed within the
reglementary period, the court shall hear the case ex parte and render such judgment as may be warranted
by the facts alleged in the petition and its supporting evidence.
Title III
Sec. 11. Ex parte issuance of provisional asset preservation order. – Where the executive judge of the regional
trial court or, in his absence, the vice-executive judge or, in their absence, any judge of the regional trial
court available in the same station, has determined that probable cause exists on the basis of allegations of
a verified petition sufficient in form and substance, with a prayer for the issuance of an asset preservation
order, that the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds subject of the petition are in any way related to
an unlawful activity as defined in Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act No.
9194, the court may issue ex parte a provisional asset preservation order effective immediately forbidding
any transaction withdrawal deposit transfer removal conversion concealment or other disposition of the
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any transaction, withdrawal, deposit, transfer, removal, conversion, concealment or other disposition of the
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subject monetary instrument,Home
property, or Civil
proceeds. Such order shall beCriminal
Commercial effective for a Labor
period of twenty
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days from the respective dates of service to respondent or any person acting in his behalf, and upon each
covered institution or government agency in accordance with Section 14 of this Rule.
Sec. 12. Summary hearing. – The court shall schedule a hearing at a date and time within the twenty-day
period at which the respondent may for good cause show why the provisional asset preservation order
should be lifted. The court shall determine within the same period whether the provisional asset
preservation order should be modified or lifted or an asset preservation order should issue and act
accordingly.
Sec. 13. Issuance, form and content of asset preservation order. – The asset preservation order issued under
Section 11 or 12 shall:
(a) issue in the name of the Republic of the Philippines represented by the Anti-Money Laundering Council;
(b) state the name of the court, the case number and title, and the subject order; and
(c) require the sheriff or other proper officer to whom it is directed to serve a copy of the order upon the
respondent or any person acting in his behalf and upon the covered institution or government agency.
Sec. 14. Service and enforcement of asset preservation order. – The asset preservation order shall be served
personally by the sheriff or other proper officer designated by the court in the manner provided in Sections
8, 19 and 20. If personal service is not practicable, the order shall be served in any other manner which the
court may deem expedient.
When authorized by the court, service may be effected upon the respondent or any person acting in his
behalf and upon the treasurer or other responsible officer of the covered institution or the head of the
covered government agency, by facsimile transmission (fax) or electronic mail (e-mail). In such cases, the
date of transmission shall be deemed to be prima facie the date of service.
Sec. 15. Duties of covered institution and government agencies upon receipt of asset preservation order. –
Upon receipt of notice of an asset preservation order, the covered institution or government agency shall
immediately preserve the subject monetary instrument, property, or proceeds in accordance with the order
of the court and shall forthwith furnish a copy of the notice of the asset preservation order upon the owner
or holder of the subject monetary instrument, property, or proceeds.
Sec. 16. Returns of the sheriff, covered institution or government agency. – Within twenty-four hours from
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receipt of an asset preservation order, the sheriff who served the order and the covered institution or
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government agency shall submit by personal delivery to the regional trial court which issued the order a
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detailed written return specifying all the relevant information which shall include the following:
(a) For covered institutions: The account numbers for financial accounts or description of the monetary
instrument, property, or proceeds involved;
1. Certificates of title numbers of registered real property and the volumes and pages of the registration
books of the Register of Deeds where the same are registered;
2. Registration in the Primary Entry Book and corresponding Registration Book in the Register of Deeds
for unregistered real property;
3. Registration with the Register of Deeds of the enabling or master deed for a condominium project,
declaration of restrictions relating to such condominium project, certificate of title conveying a
condominium and notice of assessment upon any condominium;
4. Tax declarations for improvements built on land owned by a different party, together with the
annotation of the contract of lease on the title of the owner of the land as registered in the Register of
Deeds;
5. Certificates of registration for motor vehicles and heavy equipment indicating the engine numbers,
chassis numbers and plate numbers;
8. Commercial invoices or notarial identification for personal property capable of manual delivery;
(c) The names of the account holders, personal property owners or possessors, or real property owners or
occupants;
(d) The peso value of the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds as of the time the assets were ordered
seized and preserved;
(e) All relevant information as to the nature of the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds; and
(f) The date and time when the asset preservation order was served.
Sec. 17. Grounds for discharge of asset preservation order. – The respondent or the party, whose personal or
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real property has been preserved pursuant to an asset preservation order, may raise in a motion or in the
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comment or opposition the grounds for its discharge.
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The following grounds for the discharge of the asset preservation order may be raised:
(b) Any of the material allegations in the petition, or any of the contents of any attachment to the petition
thereto, or its verification, is false; and
(c) The specific personal or real property ordered preserved is not in any manner connected with the
alleged unlawful activity as defined in Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act No.
9194.
No counterbond to discharge the asset preservation order shall be allowed except for compelling reasons.
Title IV
and Receivership
2. Credit instruments, including bank deposits, financial interest, royalties, commissions and other
intangible personal property;
5. An interest in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or any other similar association or organization
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custodial receipts or deposit substitute instruments, trading orders, transaction tickets and
confirmations of sale or investments and money market instruments;
8. Other similar instruments where title thereto passes to another by assignment, endorsement or delivery;
1. Personal property, including proceeds derived therefrom, traceable to any unlawful activity as defined in
Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act No. 9194, includes but is not limited to:
2. (i) Cash;
4. (iii) Works of art such as paintings, sculptures, antiques, treasures and other similar precious objects;
8. activity defined in Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act No. 9194, such as:
9. (i) Computers, servers and other electronic information and communication systems; and
10. (ii) Any conveyance, including any vehicle, vessel and aircraft.
11. Real estate, improvements constructed or crops growing thereon, or any interest therein, standing upon
the record of the registry of deeds of the province in the name of the party against whom the asset
preservation order is issued, or not appearing at all upon such records, or belonging to the party against
whom the asset preservation order is issued and held by any other person, or standing on the records of
the registry of deeds in the name of any other person, which are:
12. (i) derived from, or traceable to, any unlawful activity defined in Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 9160, as
amended by Republic Act No. 9194; or
13. (ii) used as an instrumentality in the commission of any unlawful activity as defined in Section 3(i) of
Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act No. 9194.
14. (c) Proceeds. – The term “proceeds” refers to an amount derived or realized from an unlawful activity,
which includes, but is not limited to:
15. All material results, profits, effects and any amount realized from any unlawful activity;
16 All monetary financial or economic means devices documents papers or things used in or having any
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16. All monetary, financial or economic means, devices, documents, papers or things used in or having any
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relation to any unlawful activity;
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17. All moneys, expenditures, payments, disbursements, costs, outlays, charges, accounts, refunds and
other similar items for the financing, operations and maintenance of any unlawful activity.
Sec. 19. Guidelines in serving asset preservation order on perishable property. – When perishable property is
preserved, and the same is liable to deteriorate in value and price by reason of delay in its disposition or is
disproportionately expensive to keep, the following guidelines are to be strictly followed:
(a) The petitioner may file a verified motion praying for the sale at public auction of said perishable
property setting forth all the facts showing such sale to be necessary;
(b) If the court grants the motion, the sale shall be conducted in the same manner as property sold under
execution as provided in the Rules of Court:
1. Written notice must be given, before the sale, by posting of the time and place of the sale in three
public places, preferably in conspicuous areas of the municipal or city hall, post office and public
market in the municipality or city where the perishable property is located and where the sale is to
take place, for such time as may be reasonable, considering the character and condition of the
property; and
2. The proceeds shall be deposited with the Clerk of Court to be disposed of according to the final
judgment of the court.
Sec. 20. Guidelines in serving asset preservation order on real estate property. – When real estate property is
ordered preserved, the following guidelines are to be strictly followed:
(a) Real property shall not be physically seized before a final order of forfeiture;
(b) The owners, if known, and occupants of the real property shall not be evicted from, or otherwise
deprived of the use and enjoyment of, real property that is the subject of a pending forfeiture action;
(c) Notice of the asset preservation order shall be served in accordance with Section 14 of this Rule on the
owners, if known, and occupants of the real property along with a copy of the petition; and
(d) The sheriff shall also post in a conspicuous place on the real property a copy of the asset preservation
order.
Sec. 21. Designation of receiver. – Upon verified motion, the court may order any person in contro1 or
possession of the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds to turn over the same to a receiver appointed
by the court under such terms and conditions as the court may deem proper in the following instances:
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(a) When it appears that the party
Home applyingCivil
for the appointment
Commercialof a receiver has an interest
Criminal Laborin the property
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or fund and that such property or fund is in danger of being lost, removed or materially injured;
(b) When it appears that the property is in danger of being wasted or dissipated or materially injured;
(c) After judgment, to preserve the property during the pendency of an appeal, or to dispose of it according
to the judgment or to aid execution when the execution has been returned unsatisfied or the judgment
obligor refuses to apply his property in satisfaction of the judgment, or otherwise to carry the judgment into
effect; and
(d) Whenever in other cases it appears that the appointment of a receiver is the most convenient and
feasible means of administering or disposing of the property in litigation.
Title V
Pre-trial
(a) Pre-trial mandatory. – Pre-trial is mandatory. If a comment or an opposition is filed, the court shall
forthwith send notice of pre-trial conference to the parties.
6. The propriety of rendering judgment on the pleadings, or summary judgment, or of dismissing the
action should a valid ground therefor be found to exist; and
7. Such other matters as may aid in the prompt disposition of the action.
1. The date of the pre-trial conference which shall be set within thirty days from the date of receipt by
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the court of the comment or opposition; and
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2. An order directing the parties to file and serve their respective pre-trial briefs. The parties shall ensure
the receipt of the pre-trial brief by the adverse party at least three days before the date of pre-trial.
(d) Separate service of notice; appearances. ?The notice shall be served separately on the parties and their
respective counsel, both of whom shall appear personally at the pre-trial conference. It shall be the duty of
the counsel to inform his client of the pre-trial conference. The failure of a party to appear may be excused
only if a valid cause is shown therefor or if a representative shall appear in his behalf, fully authorized in
writing to enter into stipulations or admissions of facts and of documents.
Sec. 23. Contents of the pre-trial brief. – The pre-trial brief shall contain the following:
(a) A full and complete statement of the respective claims of the parties with a citation of the applicable
laws and authorities;
(b) A statement of the admitted facts and proposed stipulations of facts, as well as the disputed factual and
legal issues;
(d) The names and number of witnesses, and the substance of their respective testimony; and
(e) Such other matters as may aid in the prompt disposition of the case.
Failure of a party to file a pre-trial brief or to comply with its required contents shall have the same effect as
failure to appear at the pre-trial conference.
Sec. 24. Effect of failure to appear at the pre-trial conference. – Failure of the petitioner or counsel to appear
at the pre-trial conference shall be cause for dismissal of the petition. The dismissal shall be with prejudice,
unless otherwise ordered by the court. A similar failure on the part of the respondent or counsel shall be
cause to allow the petitioner to present its evidence ex parte and the court to render judgment on the basis
thereof.
(a) Upon termination of the pre-trial conference, the court shall issue a pre-trial order which shall recite in
detail the matters taken up, the actions thereon, the amendments allowed on the pleadings, the
agreements or admissions made by the parties on any of the matters considered including any provisional11/22
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agreements or admissions made by the parties on any of the matters considered, including any provisional
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order that may be necessary orHome Civil
agreed to by Commercial
the parties. Criminal Labor Legal Ethics
(b) In case the court determines the need for further hearing, the pre-trial order shall contain a recital of the
following:
2. Facts disputed;
4. Evidence, including objects and documents, that have been marked and are to be presented;
6. Schedule of the presentation of evidence by both parties which shall be as expeditious as possible; and
7. Such other matters as may aid in the prompt disposition of the case.
(c) The parties shall not be allowed to raise issues or present witnesses and evidence other than those
stated in the pre-trial order. The order shall control the trial of the case, unless modified by the court to
prevent manifest injustice.
(d) The parties shall have ten days from receipt of the pre-trial order to propose corrections or
modifications.
Sec. 26. Prohibited procedures. – The rules on amicable settlement, mediation and other alternative mode
of dispute resolution shall not apply.
Title VI
Sec. 27. No prior charge, pendency or conviction necessary. – No prior criminal charge, pendency of or
conviction for an unlawful activity or money laundering offense is necessary for the commencement or the
resolution of a petition for civil forfeiture.
Sec. 28. Precedence of proceedings. – Any criminal case relating to an unlawful activity shall be given
precedence over the prosecution of any offense or violation under Republic Act No. 9160, as amended,
without prejudice to the filing of a separate petition for civil forfeiture or the issuance of an asset
preservation order or a freeze order. Such civil action shall proceed independently of the criminal
prosecution.
Sec. 29. Trial. – The trial shall proceed in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 30 of the Rules
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of Court.
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Sec. 30. Business records as exception to the hearsay rule. – A memorandum, report, record or data
compilation of acts, events, conditions, opinions or diagnoses, made by electronic, optical or other similar
means at or near the time of or from transmission or supply of information by a person with knowledge, as
a regular practice, and kept in the normal course of conduct of a business activity, as shown by the
testimony of the custodian or other qualified witness, is excepted from the rule on hearsay evidence.
Sec. 31. Factors to determine where lies preponderance of evidence. -In rendering judgment, the court may
consider the following factors to determine where lies the preponderance of evidence:
(a) That the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds are represented, involved, or related to an
unlawful activity or a money laundering offense:
1. If the value or amount involved is not commensurate with the business, financial or earning capacity of
the person;
2. If any transaction indicates a clear deviation from the profile or previous transactions of the person;
3. If a person opens, maintains or controls an account with a covered institution not in his own name or
registered business name unless authorized under existing law;
4. If a person has structured transactions in order to avoid being the subject of reporting requirements
under Republic Act No. 9160, as amended; or
5. If any transaction exists that has no apparent underlying legal or trade obligation, purpose or economic
justification;
or
(b) That the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds, the sources of which originated from or are
materially linked to monetary instruments, properties, or proceeds used in the commission of an unlawful
activity or money laundering offense, are related to the said unlawful activity or money laundering offense.
Sec. 32. Judgment. – The court shall render judgment within thirty days from submission of the case for
resolution. It shall grant the petition if there is preponderance of evidence in favor of the petitioner and
declare the monetary instrument, property, or proceeds forfeited to the State or, in appropriate cases, order
the respondent to pay an amount equal to the value of the monetary instrument or property and adjudge
such other reliefs as may be warranted.
Sec. 33. Service and enforcement of judgment. – A certified copy of the judgment issued shall be served
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upon the parties or persons acting in their behalf and upon the covered institution or government agency
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as the court may direct.
(a) Notice and period of appeal. – An aggrieved party may appeal the judgment to the Court of Appeals by
filing within fifteen days from its receipt a notice of appeal with the court which rendered the judgment and
serving a copy upon the adverse party.
(b) Procedure on appeal. – The parties shall file, in lieu of briefs, their respective memoranda within a non-
extendible period of thirty days from receipt of the notice issued by the clerk of court to the parties that all
the evidence, oral and documentary, are attached to the record.
The failure of the appellant to file his memorandum within the period therefor may be a ground for
dismissal of the appeal.
Title VII
Sec. 35. Notice to file claims. – Where the court has issued an order of forfeiture of the monetary instrument
or property in a civil forfeiture petition for any money laundering offense defined under Section 4 of
Republic Act No. 9160, as amended, any person who has not been impleaded nor intervened claiming an
interest therein may apply, by verified petition, for a declaration that the same legitimately belongs to him
and for segregation or exclusion of the monetary instrument or property corresponding thereto. The
verified petition shall be filed with the court which rendered the order of forfeiture within fifteen days from
the date of finality of the order of forfeiture, in default of which the said order shall be executory and bar all
other claims.
Sec. 36. How to file a claim; contents. – In his petition, the claimant must state the complete facts, attach the
affidavits of his witnesses, supporting documents and other evidence, and personally verify the claim. The
claimant shall file the petition with the clerk of court, pay the docket and other lawful fees and submit proof
of service of a copy of the claim upon the petitioner.
Sec. 37. Effect of non-compliance with requirements. – The court may dismiss the claim outright if it is not
sufficient in form and substance and is manifestly filed for delay. Otherwise, it shall issue a notice to the
petitioner to file its comment on the claim.
Sec. 38. Notice to file comment. – Within fifteen days after notice, petitioner shall file a comment admitting
or denying the claim specifically and setting forth the substance of the matters which are relied upon to
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or denying the claim specifically, and setting forth the substance of the matters which are relied upon to
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support the admission or denial.
HomeIf the petitioner
Civil has no knowledge sufficient
Commercial to enableLabor
Criminal it to admit or deny
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specifically, it shall state such want of knowledge. The petitioner in its comment shall allege in offset any
fees, charges, taxes and expenses due to it. A copy of the comment shall be served on the claimant.
Sec. 39. Disposition of admitted or uncontested claim. – The court may, without hearing, issue an
appropriate order approving any claim admitted or not contested by the petitioner.
Sec. 40. Hearing on contested claim. – Upon the filing of a comment contesting the claim, the court shall set
the claim for hearing within thirty days with notice to all parties.
Sec. 41. Final order. – The court shall issue a final order on the contested claim within thirty days from
submission.
Sec. 42. Appeal. – An appeal to the Court of Appeals may be taken in the same manner as prescribed in
Section 34 of this Rule.
Title VIII
Sec. 43. Applicability. – This Rule shall apply to petitions for freeze order in the Court of Appeals. The 2002
Internal Rules of the Court of Appeals, as amended, shall apply suppletorily in all other aspects.
Sec. 44. Party to file petition. ?The Republic of the Philippines, through the Anti-Money Laundering Council,
represented by the Office of the Solicitor General, may file ex parte with the Court of Appeals a verified
petition for a freeze order on any monetary instrument, property or proceeds relating to or involving an
unlawful activity as defined under Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act No.
9194.
Sec. 45. Form of application. -An application for a freeze order shall be in the form of a verified petition
accompanied by a sworn certification against forum shopping personally signed by an authorized official of
the Anti-Money Laundering Council and as provided in the fourth paragraph of Section 3, Rule 46, Rules of
Court.
Sec. 46. Contents of the petition. – The petition shall contain the following allegations:
(b) A specific description with particularity of the monetary instrument, property or proceeds, their
location, the name of the owner, holder, lienholder or possessor, if known;
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(c) The grounds relied upon forHome
the issuance of a freezeCommercial
Civil order; and Criminal Labor Legal Ethics
(d) The supporting evidence showing that the subject monetary instrument, property, or proceeds are in
any way related to or involved in an unlawful activity as defined under Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 9160,
as amended by Republic Act No. 9194.
The petition shall be filed in seven clearly legible copies and shall be accompanied by clearly legible copies
of supporting documents duly subscribed under oath.
Sec. 47. Direct filing and docketing. – To ensure the confidentiality of an application for a freeze order, the
petition shall be filed directly with the Presiding Justice in Manila or the Executive Justices in Cebu City or
Cagayan de Oro City, who shall enter the same in a logbook specifically designed for the purpose, and
assigned a docket number. In the absence of any of the aforenamed justices, the petition may be filed with
the next available senior justice, who shall act on the petition as provided in this Rule.
Sec. 48. Separate logbook. – There shall be a logbook under the custody and responsibility of a designated
member of the staff of the Presiding Justice or Executive Justices. The petition shall be docketed in the
logbook and the name of the assigned justice entered thereon.
Sec. 49. Confidentiality; prohibited disclosure. – The logbook and the entries therein shall be kept strictly
confidential and maintained under the responsibility of the Presiding Justice or the Executive Justices, as
the case may be. No person, including Court personnel, shall disclose, divulge or communicate to anyone
directly or indirectly, in any manner or by any means, the fact of the filing of the petition for freeze order, its
contents and its entry in the logbook except to those authorized by the Court. Violation shall constitute
contempt of court.
Sec. 50. Raffle. -The petition shall be raffled immediately on the same day it is filed. The raffle shall be
personally conducted by the Presiding Justice or the Executive Justices in the presence of the Chairmen of
the second and third divisions in Manila, Cebu City or Cagayan de Oro City. The petition shall be raffled to a
specific justice actually present in the Court from among the members of the first three divisions in Manila,
Cebu City or Cagayan De Oro City, for study and report.
Sec. 51. Action by the Court of Appeals. – All members of the Division of the Court to which the assigned
justice belongs shall act on the petition within twenty-four hours after its filing. However, if one member of
the Division is not available, the assigned justice and the other justice present shall act on the petition. If
only the assigned justice is present, he shall act alone. The action of the two justices or of the assigned
justice alone, as the case may be, shall be forthwith promulgated and thereafter submitted on the next
working day to the absent member or members of the Division for ratification, modification or recall.
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If the Court is satisfied from the Civil
verified allegations of Commercial Criminal
the petition that there Labor cause that
exists probable Legalthe
Ethics
monetary instrument, property, or proceeds are in any way related to or involved in any unlawful activity as
defined in Section 3(i) of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act No. 9194, it shall issue ex parte
a freeze order as hereinafter provided.
If the Court finds no substantial merit in the petition, it shall dismiss the petition outright, stating the
specific reasons for such dismissal.
When the unanimous vote of the three justices of the Division cannot be obtained, the Presiding Justice or
the Executive Justice shall designate two justices by raffle from among the other justices of the first three
divisions to sit temporarily with them forming a special division of five justices. The concurrence of a
majority of such special division shall be required for the pronouncement of a judgment or resolution.
Sec. 52. Issuance, form and contents of the freeze order . – The freeze order shall:
(a) issue in the name of the Republic of the Philippines represented by the Anti-Money Laundering Council;
(b) describe with particularity the monetary instrument, property or proceeds frozen, as well as the names
of their owner or owners; and
(c) direct the person or covered institution to immediately freeze the subject monetary instrument, property
or proceeds or its related web of accounts.
(a) Effectivity; post-issuance hearing. – The freeze order shall be effective immediately for a period of twenty
days. Within the twenty-day period, the court shall conduct a summary hearing, with notice to the parties,
to determine whether or not to modify or lift the freeze order, or extend its effectivity as hereinafter
provided.
(b) Extension. – On motion of the petitioner filed before the expiration of twenty days from issuance of a
freeze order, the court may for good cause extend its effectivity for a period not exceeding six months.
Sec. 54. Notice of freeze order. – The court shall order that notice of the freeze order be served personally, in
the same manner provided for the service of the asset preservation order in Section 14 of this Rule, upon
the respondent or any person acting in his behalf and such covered institution or government agency. The
court shall notify also such party in interest as may have appeared before the court.
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Sec. 55. Duty of respondent, covered institution or government agency upon receipt of freeze order. – Upon
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receipt of a copy of the freeze order, the respondent, covered institution or government agency shall
Criminal Labor Legal Ethics
immediately desist from and not allow any transaction, withdrawal, deposit, transfer, removal, conversion,
other movement or concealment of the account representing, involving or relating to the subject monetary
instrument, property, proceeds or its related web of accounts.
Sec. 56. Consolidation with the pending civil forfeiture proceedings. -After the post-issuance hearing required
in Section 53, the Court shall forthwith remand the case and transmit the records to the regional trial court
for consolidation with the pending civil forfeiture proceeding.
Sec. 57. Appeal. – Any party aggrieved by the decision or ruling of the court may appeal to the Supreme
Court by petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. The appeal shall not stay the
enforcement of the subject decision or final order unless the Supreme Court directs otherwise.
Title IX
Common Provisions
Sec. 58. Costs and fees. – Petitioner is exempted from the payment of costs and other lawful fees prescribed
in the Rules of Court.
Sec. 59. Transitory provision. – This Rule shall apply to all pending civil forfeiture cases or petitions for
freeze order.
Sec. 60. Effectivity. – This Rule shall take effect on the fifteenth of December 2005, following its publication
in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines not later than 20 November 2005.
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