A.M. No.

03-04-04-SC

Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila

A.M. No. 03-04-04-SC April 22, 2003

RE: PROPOSED RULE ON CUSTODY OF MINORS AND WRIT OF HABEAS

CORPUS
IN RELATION TO CUSTODY OF MINORS

RESOLUTION

Acting on the letter of the Chairman of the Committee on Revision of the Rules
of Court submitting for this Court’s consideration and approval the Proposed
Rule on custody of Minors and Writ of Habeas Corpus in Relation to Custody of
Minors, the Court Resolved to APPROVE the same.

The Rule shall take effect on May 15, 2003 following its publication in a
newspaper of general circulation not later than April 30, 2003.

April 22, 2003

Davide, Jr., C.J., Bellosillo, Puno, Vitug, Panganiban, Ynares-Santiago,

Sandoval-Gutierrez, Carpio, Austria-Martinez, Corona, Carpio-Morales, Callejo,
Sr., and Azcuna, JJ., concur.
Quisumbing, J., on official leave.

RULE ON CUSTODY OF MINORS AND WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

IN RELATION TO CUSTODY OF MINORS

SECTION 1. Applicability. - This rule shall apply to petitions for custody of

minors and writs of habeas corpus in relation thereto.

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 The Rules of Court shall apply suppletorily.

Section 2. Petition for custody of minors; who may file.- A verified petition for
the rightful custody of a minor may be filed by any person claiming such right.
The party against whom it may be filed shall be designated as the respondent.

Section 3. Where to file petition. - The petition for custody of minors shall be
filed with the Family Court of the province or city where the petitioner resides or
where the minor may be found.

Section 4. Contents of petition. - The verified petition shall allege the

following:

(a) The personal circumstances of the petitioner and of the respondent;

(b) The name, age and present whereabouts of the minor and his or her
relationship to the petitioner and the respondent;

(c) The material operative facts constituting deprivation of custody; and

(d) Such other matters which are relevant to the custody of the minor.

The verified petition shall be accompanied by a certificate against forum

shopping, which the petitioner must sign personally.

Section 5. Summons; personal service on respondent. - If the court is

satisfied that the petition is sufficient in form and substance, it shall direct the
clerk of court to issue summons, which shall be served together with a copy of
the petition personally on the respondent.

Section 6. Motion to Dismiss. - A motion to dismiss the petition is not allowed

except on the ground of lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter or over the
parties. Any other ground that might warrant the dismissal of the petition may
be raised as an affirmative defense in the answer.

Section 7. Verified Answer. - The respondent shall file an answer to the

petition, personally verified by him, within five days after service of summons
and a copy of the petition.

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 Section 8. Case study; duty of social worker. - Upon the filing of the verified
answer or the expiration of the period to file it, the court may order a social
worker to make a case study of the minor and the parties and to submit a report
and recommendation to the court at least three days before the scheduled pre-
trial.

Section 9. Notice of mandatory pre-trial. - Within fifteen days after the filing
of the answer or the expiration of the period to file answer, the court shall issue
an order: (1) fixing a date for the pre-trial conference; (2) directing the parties to
file and serve their respective pre-trial briefs in such manner as shall ensure
receipt thereof by the adverse party at least three days before the date of pre-
trial; and (3) requiring the respondent to present the minor before the court.

The notice of its order shall be served separately on both the parties and their
respective counsels. The pre-trial is mandatory.

Section 10. Contents of pre-trial brief. - The pre-trial brief shall contain the
following:

(a) A statement of the willingness of the parties to enter into agreements

that may be allowed by law, indicating its terms;

(b) A concise statement of their respective claims together with the

applicable laws and authorities;

(c) Admitted facts and proposed stipulations of facts;

(d) The disputed factual and legal issues;

(e) All the evidence to be presented, briefly stating or describing its nature
and purpose;

(f) The number and names of the witnesses and their respective affidavits
which shall serve as the affiant's testimony on direct examination; and

(g) Such other matters as the court may require to be included in the pre-
trial brief.

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 Failure to file the pre-trial brief or to comply with its required contents shall have
the same effect as failure to appear at the pre-trial.

Section 11. Effect of failure to appear at the pre-trial.-(a) If the petitioner fails
to appear personally at the pre-trial, the case shall be dismissed, unless his
counsel or a duly authorized representative appears in court and proves a valid
excuse for the non-appearance of the petitioner.

(b) If the respondent has filed his answer but fails to appear at the pre-trial, the
petitioner shall be allowed to present his evidence ex parte. The court shall then
render judgment on the basis of the pleadings and the evidence thus
presented.

Section 12. What may be done at pre-trial. - At the pre-trial, the parties may
agree on the custody of the minor. If the parties fail to agree, the court may
refer the matter to a mediator who shall have five days to effect an agreement
between the parties. If the issue is not settled through mediation, the court shall
proceed with the pre-trial conference, on which occasion it shall consider such
other matters as may aid in the prompt disposition of the petition.

Section 13. Provisional order awarding custody. - After an answer has been
filed or after expiration of the period to file it, the court may issue a provisional
order awarding custody of the minor. As far as practicable, the following order
of preference shall be observed in the award of custody:

(a) Both parents jointly;

(b) Either parent, taking into account all relevant considerations, especially
the choice of the minor over seven years of age and of sufficient
discernment, unless the parent chosen is unfit;

(c) The grandparent, or if there are several grandparents, the grandparent

chosen by the minor over seven years of age and of sufficient
discernment, unless the grandparent chosen is unfit or disqualified;

(d) The eldest brother or sister over twenty-one years of age, unless he or

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 she is unfit or disqualified;

(e) The actual custodian of the minor over twenty-one years of age, unless
the former is unfit or disqualified; or

(f) Any other person or institution the court may deem suitable to provide
proper care and guidance for the minor.

Section 14. Factors to consider in determining custody. - In awarding

custody, the court shall consider the best interests of the minor and shall give
paramount consideration to his material and moral welfare. The best interests of
the minor refer to the totality of the circumstances and conditions as are most
congenial to the survival, protection, and feelings of security of the minor
encouraging to his physical, psychological and emotional development. It also
means the least detrimental available alternative for safeguarding the growth
and development of the minor.

The court shall also consider the following:

(a) Any extrajudicial agreement which the parties may have bound
themselves to comply with respecting the rights of the minor to maintain
direct contact with the non custodial parent on a regular basis, except
when there is an existing threat or danger of physical, mental, sexual or
emotional violence which endangers the safety and best interests of the
minor;

(b) The desire and ability of one parent to foster an open and loving
relationship between the minor and the other parent;

(c) The health, safety and welfare of the minor;

(d) Any history of child or spousal abuse by the person seeking custody or
who has had any filial relationship with the minor, including anyone
courting the parent;

(e) The nature and frequency of contact with both parents;

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 (f) Habitual use of alcohol, dangerous drugs or regulated substances;

(g) Marital misconduct;

(h) The most suitable physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological and

educational environment for the holistic development and growth of the
minor; and

(i) The preference of the minor over seven years of age and of sufficient
discernment, unless the parent chosen is unfit.

Section 15. Temporary visitation rights. - The court shall provide in its order
awarding provisional custody appropriate visitation rights to the non-custodial
parent or parents, unless the court finds said parent or parents unfit or
disqualified.

The temporary custodian shall give the court and non custodial parent or
parents at least five days' notice of any plan to change the residence of the
minor or take him out of his residence for more than three days provided it does
not prejudice the visitation rights of the non-custodial parent or parents.

Section 16. Hold Departure Order. - The minor child subject of the petition
shall not be brought out of the country without prior order from the court while
the petition is pending.

The court, motu proprio or upon application under oath, may issue ex parte a
hold departure order, addressed to the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation,
directing it not to allow the departure of the minor from the Philippines without
the permission of the court.

The Family Court issuing the hold departure order shall furnish the Department
of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation of the
Department of Justice a copy of the hold departure order within twenty-four
hours from its issuance and through the fastest available means of transmittal.

The hold departure order shall contain the following information:

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 (a) The complete name (including the middle name), the date and place of
birth, the nationality and the place of last residence of the person against
whom a hold departure order has been issued or whose departure from
the country has been enjoined;

(b) The complete title and docket number of the case in which the hold
departure order was issued;

(c) The specific nature of the case;

(d) The date of the hold departure order; and

(e) A recent photograph, if available, of the party against whom a hold

departure order has been issued or whose departure from the country has
been enjoined.

The court may recall the hold departure order motu proprio, or upon verified
motion of any of the parties after summary hearing, subject to such terms and
conditions as may be necessary for the best interests of the minor.

Section 17. Protection Order. - The court may issue a Protection Order
requiring any person:

(a) To stay away from the home, school, business, or place of employment
of the minor, other parent or any other party, or from any other specific
place designated by the court;

(b) To cease and desist from harassing, intimidating, or threatening such

minor or the other parent or any person to whom custody of the minor is
awarded;

(c) To refrain from acts of commission or omission that create an

unreasonable risk to the health, safety, or welfare of the minor;

(d) To permit a parent, or a party entitled to visitation by a court order or a

separation agreement, to visit the minor at stated periods;

(e) To permit a designated party to enter the residence during a specified

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 period of time in order to take personal belongings not contested in a
proceeding pending with the Family Court; and

(f) To comply with such other orders as are necessary for the protection of
the minor.

Section 18. Judgment. - After trial, the court shall render judgment awarding
the custody of the minor to the proper party considering the best interests of
the minor.

If it appears that both parties are unfit to have the care and custody of the
minor, the court may designate either the paternal or maternal grandparent of
the minor, or his oldest brother or sister, or any reputable person to take charge
of such minor, or commit him to any suitable home for children.

In its judgment, the court may order either or both parents to give an amount
necessary for the support, maintenance and education of the minor,
irrespective of who may be its custodian. In determining the amount of support,
the court may consider the following factors: (1) the financial resources of the
custodial and non-custodial parent and those of the minor; (2) the physical and
emotional health, special needs, and aptitude of the minor; (3) the standard of
living the minor has been accustomed to; and (4) the non-monetary
contributions that the parents would make toward the care and well-being of
the minor.

The court may also issue any order that is just and reasonable permitting the
parent who is deprived of the care and custody of the minor to visit or have
temporary custody.

Section 19. Appeal. - No appeal from the decision shall be allowed unless the
appellant has filed a motion for reconsideration or new trial within fifteen days
from notice of judgment.

An aggrieved party may appeal from the decision by filing a Notice of Appeal
within fifteen days from notice of the denial of the motion for reconsideration or
new trial and serving a copy thereof on the adverse parties.

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 Section 20. Petition for writ of habeas corpus. - A verified petition for a writ of
habeas corpus involving custody of minors shall be filed with the Family Court.
The writ shall be enforceable within its judicial region to which the Family Court
belongs.

However, the petition may be filed with the regular court in the absence of the
presiding judge of the Family Court, provided, however, that the regular court
shall refer the case to the Family Court as soon as its presiding judge returns to
duty.

The petition may also be filed with the appropriate regular courts in places
where there are no Family Courts.

The writ issued by the Family Court or the regular court shall be enforceable in
the judicial region where they belong.

The petition may likewise be filed with the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or
with any of its members and, if so granted, the writ shall be enforceable
anywhere in the Philippines. The writ may be made returnable to a Family Court
or to any regular court within the region where the petitioner resides or where
the minor may be found for hearing and decision on the merits.

Upon return of the writ, the court shall decide the issue on custody of minors.
The appellate court, or the member thereof, issuing the writ shall be furnished a
copy of the decision.

Section 21. Confidentiality of proceedings. - The hearings on custody of

minors may, at the discretion of the court, be closed to the public and the
records of the case shall not be released to non-parties without its approval.

Section 22. Effectivity. - This Rule shall take effect on May 15, 2003 following
its publication in a newspaper of general circulation not later than April 30,
2003.

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

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