Pursuant to the power of the Supreme Court of the Philippines to promulgate rules concerning practice and procedure in all courts, the Supreme Court has made the following issuances, among others:
- The Amendments to Rule 140 of the Rules of Court, which expanded the coverage of the Rule governing administrative disciplinary cases against members, officials, and employees of the Judiciary. Link: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/04-26-2022-6.pdf
Subsequently, the Supreme Court approved the following codes governing the conduct of lawyers, justices and judges and court personnel:
Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability
Link: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/22-09-01-SC-FINAL.pdf
2025 Code of Judicial Conduct and Accountability
Link: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/A.M.-NO.-25-04-04-SC.pdf
2025 Code of Conduct and Accountability for Court Officials and Personnel
Link: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/A.M.-NO.-25-06-11-SC.pdf
It also reorganized the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) into the Judicial Integrity Office to improve the handling of administrative disciplinary cases within the Judiciary. This move aims to streamline processes and strengthen accountability among judges, officials, and employees of the courts.
- The Rule on Facilitated Naturalization of Refugees and Stateless Persons, the first of its kind globally, which aims to simplify and reduce legal hurdles in obtaining Philippine citizenship, to facilitate the assimilation and naturalization of refugees and stateless persons into Philippine society.
Link: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/21-07-22-SC.pdf
- The Rules on Expedited Procedures in the First Level Courts, which were promulgated to simplify and expedite proceedings in the First Level Courts, the first tier in the Philippine hierarchy of courts, expanding its coverage and institutionalizing the one-step appeal system.
Link: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/08-8-7-SC-1.pdf
- The Benchbook for Family Courts, which provides all trial courts specialising in Family Cases targeted guidance in handling matters affecting women and children, protecting them from all forms of abuse and exploitation.
- The Benchbook for Commercial Courts, which responds to the needs of litigants with specific issues related to financial and commercial concerns falling within the cognizance of Special Commercial Courts.
- The Rule on International Child Abduction Cases, which provides an expeditious procedure to facilitate the prompt return of children, who have been wrongfully removed or retained across international boundaries.
The following are some of the notable Supreme Court issuances and decisions in 2025:
ACCESS TO JUSTICE
In A.M. No. 22-11-01-SC, the Supreme Court approved the Manual on the Rules on Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS), which guides the implementation of the ULAS Rules that took effect on February 3, 2025. The ULAS Rules require covered lawyers to provide at least 60 hours of free legal aid service every three years to individuals who cannot afford adequate legal representation.
In A.M. No. 21-12-04-SC, the Supreme Court approved the Rules on Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Interpreting in the Judiciary, a landmark measure implementing RA 11106, or The FSL Act. The Rules aim to ensure equal, relevant, and effective access to justice for d/Deaf Filipinos and facilitate their full participation in court proceedings.
MARRIAGE, FAMILY
The Supreme Court also ruled on foreign divorce. In Anido v. Republic, it clarified that a Filipino seeking recognition of a foreign divorce in a Philippine court only needs to prove the law of the country where the divorce was granted, not the law of their foreign spouse’s nationality.
ECONOMY, COMMERCE
Upholding the State policy favoring arbitration, the Supreme Court in William Golangco Construction Corporation v. Philippine Commercial and International Bank affirmed the authority of the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission to determine who should receive the judgment award it granted to a corporation that had already been dissolved. It also clarified that the parties have the option, but not the obligation, to settle disputes through arbitration when an arbitration clause is not strictly worded.
TAX
In CIR v. Estate of Romig, the Supreme Court held that foreign currency deposit accounts are exempt from estate tax under RA 6426 or the Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines.
ENHANCING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
The Supreme Court promulgated several rules to improve court processes. In A.M. No. 25-05-16-SC, the Supreme Court began transitioning to electronic filing (eFiling) for certain petitions and motions through the eCourt PH app, which is available on the Philippine Judiciary Platform, a unified online portal for court services accessible at https://portal.judiciary.gov.ph. The Supreme Court also directed that petitions for annulment and nullity of marriages must be filed and served electronically.
Consistent with the SC’s digital transformation, the Supreme Court approved the Rules on Electronic Notarization, a significant reform leveraging on technology to improve the accessibility and efficiency of notarial services nationwide. In A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC, the Supreme Court amended the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice to modernize and streamline notarial reporting in line with the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI).
In Re: 2025 Proposed Amendments to Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, the Supreme Court formally adopted electronic and regionalized bar examinations as the standard for admission to the practice of law.
In A.M. No. 24-02-06-SC, the Supreme Court approved the Rule on Family Mediation to address the emerging need for family mediation, both domestic and international, enhance the efficiency of family courts, reduce court backlogs, and promote the best interests of the child. The Rule also introduces innovations in dealing with family cases.
In A.M. No. 22-03-29-SC, the Supreme Court approved the Rules on Extradition Proceedings to make proceedings consistent, clear, and efficient, including applications for arrest warrants, hold departure orders, and bail.
The Supreme Court approved the Uniform Guidelines on the Suspension of Work and Court Operations in the Trial Courts, which sets clear procedures for suspending work and trial court operations during typhoons and other natural calamities, transport strikes, interruption of utility services, holidays, and similar situations.
The Supreme Court also designated several RTCs as special courts to handle corruption-related cases arising from infrastructure projects.
Source: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/yearender-supreme-court-highlights-major-rulings-and-reforms-in-2025/