WRIT OF

AMPARO
Alarilla // Serrano // Sy
“The writ of amparo is a tool that gives
voice to preys of silent guns and
prisoners behind secret walls”- [Secretary
of National Defense v. Manalo, 568 SCRA 1,
38 (2008)]]

2
1.
Historical
Background
3
 Justice Adolfo
• Azcuna
First to introduce
the writ of amparo
in the Philippine
legal system
• A member of both the
1971 and 1987
Constitutional
“Father of the Commission, but
Writ of Amparo" failed to convince the
bodies to explicitly
include the same in
the Constitution 4
 Justice Adolfo
• Azcuna
Still, it was deemed
included in the
provision that
empowers the
Supreme Court to
promulgate rules
concerning the
“Father of the protection and
Writ of Amparo" enforcement of
constitutional rights

5
Thus, in 2007, the
Supreme Court
approved the Rule
on the Writ of
Amparo
[AM No. 07-9-12-
SC] And it took effect
on 24 October
2007 to address
the escalating
cases of extra-legal
killings and
enforced
6
disappearances.
2.
Basis of the Rule
on The Writ of
Amparo
7
 Art. VIII, Sec. 5 of
• Although strictly
procedural, the legal the 1987
protection that the Constitution
SC can provide can
be meaningful
“Promulgate rules
through setting the
concerning the
standards and
protection and
directly compelling
enforcement of
the public authorities
constitutional rights"
to act on threatened
violations of
constitutional
rights… [Razon Jr v. 8
• The petition for writ of amparo is a remedy
available to any person whose right to life,
liberty and security is violated or
threatened with violation by an unlawful
act or omission of a public official or
employee, or of a private individual or
entity. The writ shall cover extralegal
killings and enforced disappearances or
threats thereof.
[Sec. 1, AM No. 07-9-12-SC]
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3.
Nature and
Purpose
• The remedy of the writ of
amparo is an equitable and
extraordinary remedy to
safeguard the right of the
people to life, liberty and
security as enshrined in the
1987 Constitution.
• The Rule on the Writ of Amparo
was promulgated to arrest the
rampant extralegal killings and
enforced disappearances in the
Philippines.
• The remedy of the writ of amparo provides rapid
judicial relief as it partakes of a summary proceeding
that requires only substantial evidence to make the
appropriate reliefs available to the petitioner; it is not
an action to determine criminal guilt requiring proof
beyond reasonable doubt, or liability for damages
requiring preponderance of evidence, or
administrative responsibility requiring substantial
evidence that will require full and exhaustive
proceedings.
[Secretary of National Defense v. Manalo, supra]
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 Both preventive and
curative
• It is preventive in • It is curative in that it
that it breaks the facilitates the
expectation of subsequent
impunity in the punishment of
commission of perpetrators by
these offenses inevitably leading to
subsequent
investigation and
action.
13
•
 • The writ’s curative role is an
acknowledgement that the violation
of the right to life, liberty and
security may be caused not only by
a public official’s act, but also by his
omission. Accountability may attach
to respondents who are imputed with
knowledge relating to the enforced
disappearance and who carry the
burden of disclosure; or those who
carry, but have failed to discharge,
the burden of extraordinary diligence
in the investigation of the enforced
disappearance. -
[Rodriguez v. Arroyo, GR No. 191805,
4.
Coverage
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Extralegal killings

• Killings committed
without due process of
law (without legal
safeguards or judicial
proceedings)

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 Enforced
disappearances
• Attended by the ff.
characteristics:
• An arrest, detention, or • The refusal of the State to
abduction of a person by a disclose the fate or
government official or whereabouts of the person
organized groups or private concerned or a refusal to
individuals acting with the acknowledge the deprivation
direct or indirect acquiescence of liberty which places such
of the government; persons outside the
protection of law.

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For the protective writ of amparo to
issue:
• Allegation and proof that the persons subject
thereof is missing are not enough.

• Must be shown and proved by substantial

evidence that the disappearance was
carried out by, or with the authorization,
support or acquiesce of, the State or a
political organization;
• Followed by a refusal to acknowledge the same or
give information on the fate or whereabouts of said
missing persons, with the intention of removing them
from the protection of the law for a prolonged period
of time.
Simply put, the petitioner in
an amparo case has the
burden of proving by
substantial evidence the
indispensable element of
government
participation.
(This is what differentiates
an enforced disappearance
case from an ordinary case
of a missing person)
[Navia v. Pardico, GR No.
184467 (2012)]
It does not protect concerns that
are:
• Purely property or commercial
• Related to the right to travel [Reyes v.
• Gonzales]
Related to obtaining parental authority or custody of a
minor child
• Neither is it a writ that courts shall issue on
amorphous and uncertain grounds [Castillo v.
Cruz]
5.
Procedure
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SEC. 2. Who May File- The petition may be filed by the aggrieved party
or by any qualified person or entity in the following order:
 
(a) Any member of the immediate family, namely: the spouse, children
and parents of the aggrieved party;
 
(b)Any ascendant, descendant or collateral relative of the aggrieved
party within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, in
default of those mentioned in the preceding paragraph; or
 
(c) Any concerned citizen, organization, association or institution, if there
is no known member of the immediate family or relative of the
aggrieved party.
 
The filing of a petition by the aggrieved party suspends the right of all
other authorized parties to file similar petitions. Likewise, the filing of
the petition by an authorized party on behalf of the aggrieved party
suspends the right of all others, observing the order established herein.
SEC. 3. Where to File- The petition may be filed on any day and at any
time with the Regional Trial Court of the place where the threat, act or
omission was committed or any of its elements occurred, or with the
Sandiganbayan, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, or any justice
of such courts. The writ shall be enforceable anywhere in the Philippines.

When issued by a Regional Trial Court or any judge thereof, the writ
shall be returnable before such court or judge.

When issued by the Sandiganbayan or the Court of Appeals or any of

their justices, it may be returnable before such court or any justice
thereof, or to any Regional Trial Court of the place where the threat, act or
omission was committed or any of its elements occurred.

When issued by the Supreme Court or any of its justices, it may be

returnable before such Court or any justice thereof, or before the
Sandiganbayan or the Court of Appeals or any of their justices, or to any
Regional Trial Court of the place where the threat, act or omission was
committed or any of its elements occurred.
SEC. 5. Contents of Petition- The petition shall be signed and verified and shall
allege the following:

a) The personal circumstances of the petitioner;

b) The name and personal circumstances of the respondent responsible for the
threat, act or omission, or, if the name is unknown or uncertain, the respondent
may be described by an assumed appellation;

c) The right to life, liberty and security of the aggrieved party violated or threatened
with violation by an unlawful act or omission of the respondent, and how such
threat or violation is committed with the attendant circumstances detailed in
supporting affidavits;

d) The investigation conducted, if any, specifying the names, personal circumstances,

and addresses of the investigating authority or individuals, as well as the manner
and conduct of the investigation, together with any report;

e) The actions and recourses taken by the petitioner to determine the fate or
whereabouts of the aggrieved party and the identity of the person responsible for
the threat, act or omission; and
SEC. 4. No Docket Fees- The petitioner shall be exempted from
the payment of the docket and other lawful fees when filing the
petition. The court, justice or judge shall docket the petition and
act upon it immediately.
SEC. 6. Issuance of the Writ- Upon the filing of the petition, the court, justice or
judge shall immediately order the issuance of the writ if on its face it ought to issue.
The clerk of court shall issue the writ under the seal of the court; or in case of
urgent necessity, the justice or the judge may issue the writ under his or her own
hand, and may deputize any officer or person to serve it.
The writ shall also set the date and time for summary hearing of the petition which
shall not be later than seven (7) days from the date of its issuance.
SEC. 8. How the Writ is Served- The writ shall be served upon
the respondent by a judicial officer or by a person deputized by the
court, justice or judge who shall retain a copy on which to make a
return of service. In case the writ cannot be served personally on
the respondent, the rules on substituted service shall apply.
SEC. 9. Return Contents. Within seventy-two (72) hours after
service of the writ, the respondent shall file a verified written
return together with supporting affidavits which shall, among
other things, contain the following:
 
a) The lawful defenses to show that the respondent did not violate
or threaten with violation the right to life, liberty and security
of the aggrieved party, through any act or omission;

b) The steps or actions taken by the respondent to determine the

fate or whereabouts of the aggrieved party and the person or
persons responsible for the threat, act or omission;

c) All relevant information in the possession of the respondent

pertaining to the threat, act or omission against the aggrieved
party; and
d)  If the respondent is a public official or employee, the return shall further state the
actions that have been or will still be taken:
 
• to verify the identity of the aggrieved party;

• to recover and preserve evidence related to the death or disappearance of the

person identified in the petition which may aid in the prosecution of the person or
persons responsible;

• to identify witnesses and obtain statements from them concerning the death or
disappearance; 
• to determine the cause, manner, location and time of death or disappearance as
well as any pattern or practice that may have brought about the death or
disappearance;

• to identify and apprehend the person or persons involved in the death or

disappearance; and 

• to bring the suspected offenders before a competent court.

 
The return shall also state other matters relevant to the investigation, its resolution
SEC. 11. Prohibited Pleadings and Motions- The following
pleadings and motions are prohibited:
 
a) Motion to dismiss;
b) Motion for extension of time to file return, opposition, affidavit,
position paper and other pleadings;
c) Dilatory motion for postponement;
d) Motion for a bill of particulars;
e) Counterclaim or cross-claim;
f) Third-party complaint;
g) Reply;
h) Motion to declare respondent in default;
i) Intervention;
j) Memorandum;
k) Motion for reconsideration of interlocutory orders or interim relief
orders; and
l) Petition for certiorari, mandamus or prohibition against any
SEC. 13. Summary Hearing- The hearing on the petition shall be
summary. However, the court, justice or judge may call for a
preliminary conference to simplify the issues and determine the
possibility of obtaining stipulations and admissions from the
parties.
The hearing shall be from day to day until completed and given
the same priority as petitions for habeas corpus.
SEC. 17. Burden of Proof and Standard of Diligence
Required- The parties shall establish their claims by substantial
evidence. The respondent who is a private individual or entity
must prove that ordinary diligence as required by applicable laws,
rules and regulations was observed in the performance of duty.
The respondent who is a public official or employee must prove
that extraordinary diligence as required by applicable laws, rules
and regulations was observed in the performance of duty. The
respondent public official or employee cannot invoke the
presumption that official duty has been regularly performed to
SEC. 18. Judgment- The court shall render judgment within ten
(10) days from the time the petition is submitted for decision. If the
allegations in the petition are proven by substantial evidence, the
court shall grant the privilege of the writ and such reliefs as may
be proper and appropriate; otherwise, the privilege shall be
denied.
SEC. 19. Appeal- Any party may appeal from the final judgment or
order to the Supreme Court under Rule 45. The appeal may raise
questions of fact or law or both. The period of appeal shall be five
(5) working days from the date of notice of the adverse judgment.
The appeal shall be given the same priority as in habeas corpus
cases.
SEC. 20. Archiving and Revival of Cases- The court shall not
dismiss the petition, but shall archive it, if upon its determination
it cannot proceed for a valid cause such as the failure of petitioner
or witnesses to appear due to threats on their lives.

A periodic review of the archived cases shall be made by the

amparo court that shall, motu proprio or upon motion by any
party, order their revival when ready for further proceedings. The
petition shall be dismissed with prejudice upon failure to
prosecute the case after the lapse of two (2) years from notice to
the petitioner of the order archiving the case.

The clerks of court shall submit to the Office of the Court

Administrator a consolidated list of archived cases under this Rule
not later than the first week of January of every year.
Rule on Separate
Actions
• Does not preclude the filing of a separate criminal, civil,
or administrative suit
• Hence, a claim for damages cannot be included in the
petition for amparo.
• Not criminal in nature, thus the amparo court may only
refer the case to the DOJ for prosecution if the evidence
• so
Butwarrants
once the criminal action is filed, aggrieved party may
file a motion for amparo reliefs before the court where
the criminal case is pending.
• Such filing bars the institution of an amparo action
Rule on Separate
Actions
• Nonetheless, a different rule governs when a criminal
action and a separate civil action are filed
subsequent to the filing of the petition for a writ of
amparo.
• When a criminal action is filed subsequent to
the filing of a petition for a writ of amparo, the
latter shall be consolidated with the criminal
action. When a criminal action and a separate
civil action are filed subsequent to a petition for
a writ of amparo, the latter shall be
consolidated with the criminal action. [Sec. 23]
6.
Reliefs
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 Interim
Reliefs
• The Rule on the Writ of Amparo provides for interim
or provisional reliefs that the courts may grant in
order to, inter alia, protect the witnesses and the
rights of the parties, and preserve all relevant
evidence. These are intended to assit the court
before it arrives at a judicious determination of the
amparo petition.
Interim
Reliefs
• Being interim reliefs, they can only be granted
before a final adjudication of the case is made. In
any case, it must be underscored that the privilege
of the writ of amparo, once granted, necessarily
entails the protection of the aggrieved party.

• There are four interim reliefs available to the

petitioner
1.
(a) Temporary Protection Order- The court, justice or
judge, upon motion or motu proprio, may order that the
petitioner or the aggrieved party and any member of the
immediate family be protected in a government agency or
by an accredited person or private institution capable of
keeping and securing their safety. If the petitioner is an
organization, association or institution referred to in Section
3(c) of this Rule, the protection may be extended to the
officers involved.
 
The Supreme Court shall accredit the persons and private
institutions that shall extend temporary protection to the
petitioner or the aggrieved party and any member of the
immediate family, in accordance with guidelines which it
shall issue.
 
The accredited persons and private institutions shall comply
2.
(b) Inspection Order- The court, justice or judge, upon verified motion and
after due hearing, may order any person in possession or control of a
designated land or other property, to permit entry for the purpose of
inspecting, measuring, surveying, or photographing the property or any
relevant object or operation thereon.
 
The motion shall state in detail the place or places to be inspected. It shall
be supported by affidavits or testimonies of witnesses having personal
knowledge of the enforced disappearance or whereabouts of the aggrieved
party.
 
If the motion is opposed on the ground of national security or of the
privileged nature of the information, the court, justice or judge may conduct
a hearing in chambers to determine the merit of the opposition.
 
The movant must show that the inspection order is necessary to establish
the right of the aggrieved party alleged to be threatened or violated.
 
The inspection order shall specify the person or persons authorized to make
the inspection and the date, time, place and manner of making the
inspection and may prescribe other conditions to protect the constitutional
3. (c) Production Order- The court, justice or judge, upon
verified motion and after due hearing, may order any person
in possession, custody or control of any designated
documents, papers, books, accounts, letters, photographs,
objects or tangible things, or objects in digitized or electronic
form, which constitute or contain evidence relevant to the
petition or the return, to produce and permit their
inspection, copying or photographing by or on behalf of the
movant.
 
The motion may be opposed on the ground of national
security or of the privileged nature of the information, in
which case the court, justice or judge may conduct a hearing
in chambers to determine the merit of the opposition.
 
The court, justice or judge shall prescribe other conditions to
4.
(d) Witness Protection Order- The court, justice
or judge, upon motion or motu proprio, may refer
the witnesses to the Department of Justice for
admission to the Witness Protection, Security and
Benefit Program, pursuant to Republic Act No.
6981. The court, justice or judge may also refer
the witnesses to other government agencies, or to
accredited persons or private institutions capable
of keeping and securing their safety.
 Reliefs
Available to
Respondent
• Upon verified motion of the
respondent and after due
hearing, the court, justice or
judge may issue an inspection
order or production
 must order.by
be supported
affidavit or testimonies
of witnesses having
personal knowledge of
the defense of
respondent
• These interim reliefs will ensure
fairness in the proceedings, since
there may be instances in which
the respondent would need to
avail of these reliefs to protect his
rights or prove defenses
SEC. 16. Contempt- The court, justice or judge may
order the respondent who refuses to make a return, or
who makes a false return, or any person who otherwise
disobeys or resists a lawful process or order of the
court to be punished for contempt. The contemnor may
be imprisoned or imposed a fine.
SEC. 7. Penalty for Refusing to Issue or Serve the
Writ- A clerk of court who refuses to issue the writ after
its allowance, or a deputized person who refuses to
serve the same, shall be punished by the court, justice
or judge for contempt without prejudice to other
disciplinary actions.
 Secretary of National Defense vs. Manalo
G.R. No. 180906 October 7, 2008

Respondent’s Raymond Manalo and his brother, suspected members

of the NPA was abducted by Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit
(CAFGU) members.
After 18 months of detention and torture, the brothers escaped.
Respondent’s initially filed an action for “Prohibition, Injunction and
Temporary Restraining Order” to stop petitioners and/ or their
officers and agents from depriving the respondents of their right to
liberty and other basic rights, this is on August 23, 2007, prior
to the promulgation of the Amparo Rule.
When the Amparo Rule came into effect on October 24, 2007, they
moved to have their petition treated as an Amparo petition. –
CA granted their motion
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 Whether the filing for Writ of Amparo is proper. YES

Respondents have been under concealment and protection by private

citizens because of the treat to their life, liberty and security. The
threat vitiates their free will as they are forced to limit their
movements or activities.

The circumstances of respondent’s abduction, detention, torture and

escape reasonably support a conclusion that there is an apparent
threat that they will again be abducted, tortured, and this time, even
executed. – These constitute threats to their liberty, security and life,
actionable through a petition for a writ of Amparo.

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Fr. Robert Reyes vs. Sec. Raul Gonzales
G.R. No. 182161 December 3, 2009

Fr. Robert Reyes was among those arrested in the Manila Peninsula
Hotel siege. He was brought to Camp Crame to await inquest
proceedings to ascertain whether or not there was probable cause
to hold petitioner for trial on charges of Rebellion and/ or Inciting to
Rebellion.

Respondent DOJ issued Hold Departure Order No. 45 ordering

Commissioner of Immigration to include the Hold Departure List
of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation the name of
petitioner in the interest of national security and public safety.

Petitioner argued that the writ of Amparo should be issued against

the respondents, violating the whole breadth of rights enshrined in
the Constitution, specifically, his right to travel.
47
Whether or not petitioner’s right to liberty has been violated or
threatened with violation by the issuance of the subject HDO,
which would entitle him to the privilege of the Writ of Amparo.
NO

The right to travel refers to the right to move from one place to
another.

Petitioner has also failed to establish that his right to travel was
impaired in the manner and to the extent that it amounted to a
serious violation of his right to life, liberty, and security, for
which there exists no readily available legal recourse or
remedy.

Additionally, petitioner is seeking the extraordinary writ of Amparo due

to his apprehension that DOJ may deny his motion to lift the HDO. He
has failed to show any clear threat to his right to liberty actionable
48
through a petition for a writ of Amparo.
In the matter of the Petition for the Writ of Amparo and Habeas Data in favor of Noriel
Rodriguez vs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
G.R. No. 191805 November 15, 2011

Rodriguez claims that the military tagged Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas

KMP as an enemy of the State under the Oplan Bantay Laya, making its
members targets of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

One day four men forcibly took Rodriguez, tortured and forced him to confess
to being a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), but he remained silent.

After his release, Rodriguez filed before this Court a Petition for the Writ of
Amparo and Petition for Writ of Habeas Data with Prayers for Protection
Orders, Inspection of Place and Production of Documents and Personal
Properties dates 2 December 2009.
49
Whether the interim reliefs prayed for by Whether the doctrine of command
Rodriguez may be granted after the writs responsibility can be used in Amparo and
of Amparo and habeas data have already habeas data cases.
been issued in his favor.
Yes. The doctrine of command responsibility
Being interim reliefs, they can only be may be used to determine whether
granted before a final adjudication of the respondents are accountable for and have
case is made. In any case, it must be the duty to address the abduction of
underscored that the privilege of the writ of Rodriguez in order to enable the courts to
Amparo, once granted, necessarily entails devise remedial measures to protect his
the protection of the aggrieved party. rights.

Thus, since we grant petitioner the privilege Clearly, nothing precludes this court from
of the writ of Amparo, there is no need to applying the doctrine of command
issue a temporary protection order responsibility in Amparo proceedings to
independently of the former. The order ascertain responsibility and accountability in
restricting respondents from going near extrajudicial killings and enforced
Rodriguez is subsumed under the privilege disappearances.
of the writ.

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 Castillo vs. Cruz
G.R. No. 182165 November 25, 2009
Respondent Cruz spouses leased a parcel of land situated at Barrio Guinhawa, Malolos.
They refused to vacate the property, despite demands by the lessor Provincial
Government of Bulacan which intended to utilize it for local projects.

A demolition order was issued.

In order to stop the demolition, the spouses parked container vans around the property.
Superintendent Castillo was told by the mayor to enter the property for maintaining its
possession.

Respondents refused. They filed for a Petition for a writ of Amparo in RTC of Malolos
The same people claimed that the respondents entered the property forcefully with heavy
equipment  and arrested them.
 Is the writ of Amparo and habeas data the correct remedy for the
spouses predicament? NO

There was no threat to the said rights by the petitioner’s use of force. They
were only protecting property rights. Their affidavit said: “Wala kaming
nagawa ipagtanggol ang aming karapatan sa lupa na 45 years naming “IN
POSSESSION.”

There must be a violation of these rights by means of an unlawful act. There

must be a connection between the acts and effects of the aforementioned
rights.

Sec of National Defense v Manalo- limitation of the Amparo was to extralegal

killings and enforced disappearances.
Edgardo Navia vs. Pardico
G.R. No. 184467

The petition was filed due to the mysterious disappearance of

respondent’s husband after he was arrested by the security of Asian
Land.

The petition does not contain any allegation of State complicity, and none
of the evidence presented tend to show that the government or any of
its agents orchestrated Ben’s disappearances.

In fact, none of its agents, officials, or employees were impleaded or

implicated in Virginia’s Amparo petition whether as responsible or
accountable persons.
Whether or not allegation and proof that the persons subject of the petition for
Writ of Amparo are missing are enough for such writ to issue. NO

SC ruled that in an Amparo petition, proof of disappearance alone is not

enough.

It is likewise essential to establish that such disappearances was carried out

with the direct or indirect authorization, support or acquiescence of the
State or a political organization.

Even if the allegations pertain to disappearances carried out by private

individuals or entities, the writ of Amparo will not prosper because of the
disappearances must be made by government or any of its agents and not
private individuals or entities.
References

• Special Proceedings: Essentials for Bench and

Bar by Magdangal M. De Leon & Dianna Louise
R. Wilwayco
• The Rule On The Writ Of Amparo by May
Hazel M. Tagupa