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A.M.No.08116SC

TodayisThursday,December08,2016

RepublicofthePhilippines
SUPREMECOURT
Manila
ENBANC
A.M.No.08116SCJanuary22,2008
THERULEONTHEWRITOFHABEASDATA
RESOLUTION
ActingontherecommendationoftheChairpersonoftheCommitteeonRevisionoftheRulesofCourtsubmitting
forthisCourtsconsiderationandapprovaltheproposedRuleontheWritofHabeasData,theCourtResolvedto
APPROVEthesame.
ThisResolutionshalltakeeffectonFebruary2,2008,followingitspublicationinthree(3)newspapersofgeneral
circulation.
January22,2008.
(Sgd.)
REYNATOS.PUNO
ChiefJustice
(Sgd.)

(Sgd.)

LEONARDOA.QUISUMBING
AssociateJustice

CONSUELOYNARESSANTIAGO
AssociateJustice

(Sgd.)

(Sgd.)

ANGELINASANDOVALGUTIERREZ
AssociateJustice

ANTONIOT.CARPIO
AssociateJustice

(Sgd.)

(Sgd.)

MA.ALICIAAUSTRIAMARTINEZ
AssociateJustice

RENATOC.CORONA
AssociateJustice

(Sgd.)

(Sgd.)

CONCHITACARPIOMORALES
AssociateJustice

ADOLFOS.AZCUNA
AssociateJustice

(Sgd.)

(ONOFFICIALLEAVE)

DANTEO.TINGA
AssociateJustice

MINITAV.CHICONAZARIO
AssociateJustice

(Sgd.)

(Sgd.)

PRESBITEROJ.VELASCOJR.
AssociateJustice

ANTONIOEDUARDOB.NACHURA
AssociateJustice

(Sgd.)

(Sgd.)

RUBENT.REYESTERESITAJ.
AssociateJustice

LEONARDODECASTRO
AssociateJustice

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THERULEONTHEWRITOFHABEASDATA
SECTION1.HabeasData.Thewritofhabeasdataisaremedyavailabletoanypersonwhoserighttoprivacy
inlife,libertyorsecurityisviolatedorthreatenedbyanunlawfulactoromissionofapublicofficialoremployee,or
ofaprivateindividualorentityengagedinthegathering,collectingorstoringofdataorinformationregardingthe
person,family,homeandcorrespondenceoftheaggrievedparty.
SEC.2.WhoMayFile.Anyaggrievedpartymayfileapetitionforthewritofhabeasdata.However,incasesof
extralegalkillingsandenforceddisappearances,thepetitionmaybefiledby:
(a)Anymemberoftheimmediatefamilyoftheaggrievedparty,namely:thespouse,childrenandparents
or
(b)Anyascendant,descendantorcollateralrelativeoftheaggrievedpartywithinthefourthcivildegreeof
consanguinityoraffinity,indefaultofthosementionedintheprecedingparagraphor
SEC. 3. Where to File. The petition may be filed with the Regional Trial Court where the petitioner or
respondent resides, or that which has jurisdiction over the place where the data or information is gathered,
collectedorstored,attheoptionofthepetitioner.
ThepetitionmayalsobefiledwiththeSupremeCourtortheCourtofAppealsortheSandiganbayanwhenthe
actionconcernspublicdatafilesofgovernmentoffices.
SEC. 4. Where Returnable Enforceable. When the writ is issued by a Regional Trial Court or any judge
thereof,itshallbereturnablebeforesuchcourtorjudge.
When issued by the Court of Appeals or the Sandiganbayan or any of its justices, it may be returnable before
suchcourtoranyjusticethereof,ortoanyRegionalTrialCourtoftheplacewherethepetitionerorrespondent
resides, or that which has jurisdiction over the place where the data or information is gathered, collected or
stored.
WhenissuedbytheSupremeCourtoranyofitsjustices,itmaybereturnablebeforesuchCourtoranyjustice
thereof,orbeforetheCourtofAppealsortheSandiganbayanoranyofitsjustices,ortoanyRegionalTrialCourt
of the place where the petitioner or respondent resides, or that which has jurisdiction over the place where the
dataorinformationisgathered,collectedorstored.
ThewritofhabeasdatashallbeenforceableanywhereinthePhilippines.
Sec.5.DocketFees.Nodocketandotherlawfulfeesshallberequiredfromanindigentpetitioner.Thepetition
oftheindigentshallbedockedandacteduponimmediately,withoutprejudicetosubsequentsubmissionofproof
ofindigencynotlaterthanfifteen(15)daysfromthefilingofthepetition.
SEC.6.Petition.Averifiedwrittenpetitionforawritofhabeasdatashouldcontain:
(a)Thepersonalcircumstancesofthepetitionerandtherespondent
(b) The manner the right to privacy is violated or threatened and how it affects the right to life, liberty or
securityoftheaggrievedparty
(c)Theactionsandrecoursestakenbythepetitionertosecurethedataorinformation
(d) The location of the files, registers or databases, the government office, and the person in charge, in
possessionorincontrolofthedataorinformation,ifknown
(e)Thereliefsprayedfor,whichmayincludetheupdating,rectification,suppressionordestructionofthe
databaseorinformationorfileskeptbytherespondent.
Incaseofthreats,thereliefmayincludeaprayerforanorderenjoiningtheactcomplainedofand
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(f)Suchotherrelevantreliefsasarejustandequitable.
SEC.7.IssuanceoftheWrit.Uponthefilingofthepetition,thecourt,justiceorjudgeshallimmediatelyorder
theissuanceofthewritifonitsfaceitoughttoissue.Theclerkofcourtshallissuethewritunderthesealofthe
courtandcauseittobeservedwithinthree(3)daysfromtheissuanceor,incaseofurgentnecessity,thejustice
orjudgemayissuethewritunderhisorherownhand,andmaydeputizeanyofficerorpersonserveit.
Thewritshallalsosetthedateandtimeforsummaryhearingofthepetitionwhichshallnotbelaterthanten(10)
workdaysfromthedateofitsissuance.
SEC.8.PenaltyforRefusingtoIssueorServetheWrit.Aclerkofcourtwhorefusestoissuethewritafterits
allowance,oradeputizedpersonwhorefusestoservethesame,shallbepunishedbythecourt,justiceorjudge
forcontemptwithoutprejudicetootherdisciplinaryactions.
SEC. 9. How the Writ is Served. The writ shall be served upon the respondent by a judicial officer or by a
persondeputizedbythecourt,justiceorjudgewhoshallretainacopyonwhichtomakeareturnofservice.In
casethewritcannotbeservedpersonallyontherespondent,therulesonsubstitutedserviceshallapply.
SEC.10.ReturnContents.Therespondentshallfileaverifiedwrittenreturntogetherwithsupportingaffidavits
withinfive(5)workingdaysfromserviceofthewrit,whichperiodmaybereasonablyextendedbytheCourtfor
justifiablereasons.Thereturnshall,amongotherthings,containthefollowing:
(a)Thelawfuldefensessuchasnationalsecurity,statesecrets,privilegedcommunications,confidentiality
ofthesourceofinformationofmediaandothers
(b) In case of respondent in charge, in possession or in control of the data or information subject of the
petition
(i)adisclosureofthedataorinformationaboutthepetitioner,thenatureofsuchdataorinformation,
andthepurposeforitscollection
(ii)thestepsoractionstakenbytherespondenttoensurethesecurityandconfidentialityofthedata
orinformationand,
(iii)thecurrencyandaccuracyofthedataorinformationheldand,
(c)Otherallegationsrelevanttotheresolutionoftheproceeding.
Ageneraldenialoftheallegationsinthepetitionshallnotbeallowed.
SEC. 11. Contempt. The court, justice or judge may punish with imprisonment or fine a respondent who
commitscontemptbymakingafalsereturn,orrefusingtomakeareturnoranypersonwhootherwisedisobeys
orresistalawfulprocessororderofthecourt.
SEC.12.WhenDefensesMaybeHeardinChambers.Ahearinginchambersmaybeconductedwherethe
respondentinvokesthedefensethatthereleaseofthedataorinformationinquestionshallcompromisenational
security or state secrets, or when the data or information cannot be divulged to the public due to its nature or
privilegedcharacter.
Sec.13.ProhibitedPleadingsandMotions.Thefollowingpleadingsandmotionsareprohibited:
(a)Motiontodismiss
(b)Motionforextensionoftimetofilereturn,opposition,affidavit,positionpaperandotherpleadings
(c)Dilatorymotionforpostponement
(d)Motionforabillofparticulars
(e)Counterclaimorcrossclaim
(f)Thirdpartycomplaint
(g)Reply
(h)Motiontodeclarerespondentindefault
(i)Intervention
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(j)Memorandum
(k)Motionforreconsiderationofinterlocutoryordersorinterimreliefordersand
(l)Petitionforcertiorari,mandamusorprohibitionagainstanyinterlocutoryorder.
SEC.14.ReturnFiling.Incasetherespondentfailstofileareturn,thecourt,justiceorjudgeshallproceedto
hear the petition exparte, granting the petitioner such relief as the petition may warrant unless the court in its
discretionrequiresthepetitionertosubmitevidence.
SEC.15.SummaryHearing.Thehearingonthepetitionshallbesummary.However,thecourt,justiceorjudge
maycallforapreliminaryconferencetosimplifytheissuesanddeterminethepossibilityofobtainingstipulations
andadmissionsfromtheparties.
SEC.16.Judgment.Thecourtshallrenderjudgmentwithinten(10)daysfromthetimethepetitionissubmitted
for decision. If the allegations in the petition are proven by substantial evidence, the court shall enjoin the act
complained of, or order the deletion, destruction, or rectification of the erroneous data or information and grant
otherrelevantreliefsasmaybejustandequitableotherwise,theprivilegeofthewritshallbedenied.
Uponitsfinality,thejudgmentshallbeenforcedbythesherifforanylawfulofficersasmaybedesignatedbythe
court,justiceorjudgewithinfive(5)workingdays.
SEC.17.ReturnofService. The officer who executed the final judgment shall, within three (3) days from its
enforcement, make a verified return to the court. The return shall contain a full statement of the proceedings
under the writ and a complete inventory of the database or information, or documents and articles inspected,
updated,rectified,ordeleted,withcopiesservedonthepetitionerandtherespondent.
Theofficershallstateinthereturnhowthejudgmentwasenforcedandcompliedwithbytherespondent,aswell
asallobjectionsofthepartiesregardingthemannerandregularityoftheserviceofthewrit.
SEC.18.HearingonOfficersReturn.Thecourtshallsetthereturnforhearingwithduenoticetotheparties
andactaccordingly.
SEC.19.Appeal.AnypartymayappealfromthefinaljudgmentorordertotheSupremeCourtunderRule45.
Theappealmayraisequestionsoffactorlaworboth.
Theperiodofappealshallbefive(5)workingdaysfromthedateofnoticeofthejudgmentorfinalorder.
Theappealshallbegiventhesamepriorityasinhabeascorpusandamparocases.
SEC.20.InstitutionofSeparateActions.Thefilingofapetitionforthewritofhabeasdatashallnotpreclude
thefilingofseparatecriminal,civiloradministrativeactions.
SEC. 21. Consolidation. When a criminal action is filed subsequent to the filing of a petition for the writ, the
lattershallbeconsolidatedwiththecriminalaction.
Whenacriminalactionandaseparatecivilactionarefiledsubsequenttoapetitionforawritofhabeasdata,the
petitionshallbeconsolidatedwiththecriminalaction.
After consolidation, the procedure under this Rule shall continue to govern the disposition of the reliefs in the
petition.
SEC. 22. Effect of Filing of a Criminal Action. When a criminal action has been commenced, no separate
petitionforthewritshallbefiled.Thereliefunderthewritshallbeavailabletoanaggrievedpartybymotioninthe
criminalcase.
TheprocedureunderthisRuleshallgovernthedispositionofthereliefsavailableunderthewritofhabeasdata.
SEC.23.SubstantiveRights.ThisRuleshallnotdiminish,increaseormodifysubstantiverights.
SEC.24.SuppletoryApplicationoftheRulesofCourt.TheRulesofCourtshallapplysuppletorilyinsofaras
itisnotinconsistentwiththisRule.
SEC. 25. Effectivity. This Rule shall take effect on February 2, 2008, following its publication in three (3)
newspapersofgeneralcirculation.
[PUBLISHEDINTHEMANILABULLETIN,THEPHILIPPINESTARANDTHEPHILIPPINEDAILYINQUIRERON
25JANUARY2008]
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