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Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.
AT A GLANCE:
A.M. No. 25-09-16-SC or the 2025 Transitory Rules on Electronic Filing and Service in the Supreme Court took effect on October 30, 2025, in preparation for the eventual establishment of an electronic filing paperless system in the Judiciary.
A.M. No. 25-09-16-SC or the 2025 Transitory Rules on Electronic Filing and Service in the Supreme Court took effect on October 30, 2025, in preparation for the eventual establishment of an electronic filing paperless system in the Judiciary.
Effectivity and Coverage
This covers all pleadings, motions, and other papers filed in the Supreme Court, whether initiatory or for a docketed case. (Section 1, Rule 1)
Excluded Cases
Except in the following cases which shall continue to be governed by existing rules of procedure (“excluded cases”):
- Appeals in all criminal cases pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, from the first- and second-level courts, the Court of Appeals, the Court of Tax Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan;
- Administrative complaints against personnel of the Supreme Court and its decentralized units, including the Presidential Electoral Tribunal;
- Administrative complaints and matters involving the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, the Court of Tax Appeals, and first- and second-level courts, its justices, judges, and personnel;
- Complaints against lawyers and other Bar matters; and
- All cases within the jurisdiction of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, the Senate Electoral Tribunal, and the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, which shall continue to be governed by their respective rules of procedure. (Section 1, Rule 1)
Who is a covered filer?
Section 2, Rule II of A.M. No. 25-09-16-SC provides for those who shall file electronically, who are called “Covered Filers.” It states that a covered filer shall electronically file, serve, and be served all pleadings, motions, and other papers, as well as Court-issued documents, except in excluded cases. Covered filers must have valid and existing registered accounts with the Philippine Judiciary Platform (https://portal.judiciary.gov.ph) before they may electronically file, serve, and be served in accordance with this Rules.
Members of the Philippine Bar shall automatically be deemed covered filers for cases in the Court, whether as party to a case or as counsel. Philippine Judiciary Platform accounts of members of the Philippine Bar must be fully verified by the Office of the Bar Confidant.
Covered filers shall not be permitted to file or serve any pleading, motion, or other paper with the Court using any other manner of filing or mode of service provided in the Rules of Civil Procedure, unless expressly authorized by the Court.
Who are non-covered filers?
Section 3, Rule I of A.M. No. 25-09-16-SC provides for Non-covered filers provides that the following shall be considered non-covered filers under this Rules:
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- All persons who are not members of the Philippine Bar;
- Amicus curiae appointed by the Court, including those who are members of the Philippine Bar; and
- Law student practitioners, even if the pleading, motion, or other paper is signed by a lawyer.
However, upon order of the Court, an amicus curiae who is a member of the Philippine bar may be permitted to file and serve electronically in the case for which they are appointed.
Who is a counsel of record?
For the purposes of this Rules, a “counsel of record” may be an individual member of the Philippine Bar, a partnership, a law firm, a legal aid office or organization, a government law office created by law for a particular purpose, or any other legal organization or lawyers’ group. (Section 2, Rule II)
Each counsel of record is entitled to one e-mail address on record for each case, which may be different from the registered e-mail address of their Philippine Judiciary Platform account. Such e-mail address on record shall be for the purpose of receiving notifications of service of pleadings, motions, or other papers, as well as Court-issued documents for a particular case. The e-mail address must be a valid and professional e-mail address and capable of receiving e-mails from the electronic filing application. (Section 2, Rule II)
In case of several lawyers appearing for one party in a case, each appearing lawyer shall be equally considered as the party’s counsel of record in the electronic filing application. (Section 2, Rule II)
Take note that no partnership, law firm, legal aid office or organization, government law office created by law for particular purposes, or any other legal organization or lawyers’ group shall be allowed to register as a filer separate from any individual member of the Philippine Bar in the electronic filing application. (Section 2, Rule II)
Who is the counsel of record in new cases?
The lawyer who electronically files the motion for extension of time to file a petition, or the initiatory petition or pleading, shall be deemed the counsel of record of the party on whose behalf the motion or initiatory petition or pleading is filed. All lawyers who signed the motion or petition, and those who are included as handling lawyers in the electronic filing application, shall likewise be deemed the party’s counsel of record. (Section 3, Rule II)
Who is the counsel of Record in docketed cases?
A counsel of record for a party who has entered their appearance in a docketed case before the Court prior to the effectivity of this Rules, whether individually or collectively, shall continue to be deemed the counsel of record in the electronic filing application under this Rules. (Section 4, Rule II)
Moreover, the covered filer who electronically files any pleading, motion, or other paper for a party in a case docketed prior to the effectivity of this Rules shall likewise be considered a counsel of record for that party even if they did not sign the pleading, motion, or other paper, unless they are filing as collaborating counsel or counsel by special appearance. (Section 4, Rule II)
Withdrawal of Entry of Appearance
Upon the Court’s approval, a withdrawal of entry of appearance in a docketed case filed with the Court and served upon all parties shall have the effect of removing the filing lawyer’s status as counsel of record for that case in the electronic filing application. A lawyer who has not been automatically removed from a case in the electronic filing application upon the approval of their withdrawal must immediately inform the administrators of the electronic filing application of their non-removal. (Section 4, Rule II)
Prohibition Against Account Sharing
Take note that, under Section 7, Rule II of A.M. No. 25-09-16-SC, the filing and service of any document by a person using the account of another is strictly prohibited.
Any lawyer who deliberately allows, or through negligence in the safekeeping or security of their account credentials makes it possible for, another person to file or serve any document using their account shall be subject to disciplinary action.
The person who files or serves using another’s account shall be penalized under relevant laws and regulations. If they are a lawyer, they shall additionally be subject to disciplinary action. Under no circumstances should any covered filer disclose the password of their Philippine Judiciary Platform account in any filing before the Court or to any Judiciary office, official, or employee.
In Part II of this Article, we will take a closer look at the technical details and walk through the form and format prescribed under A.M. No. 25-09-16-SC.
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Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices specializes in business law and labor law consulting. For inquiries regarding legal services, you may reach us at info@alburolaw.com, or dial us at (02)7745-4391/ 09175772207/ 09778050020.
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