RULE 28

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXAMINATION OF PERSONS

Section 1. When examination may be ordered.
In an action in which the mental or physical condition of a
party is in controversy, the court in which the action is
pending may in its discretion order him to submit to a
physical or mental examination by a physician.
Sec. 2. Order for examination.
The order for examination may be made only on motion for
good cause shown and upon notice to the party to be
examined and to all other parties, and shall specify the
time,
place,
manner,
conditions
and
scope
of
the
examination and the person or persons by whom it is to be
made.
Sec. 3. Report of findings.
If requested by the party examined, the party causing the
examination to be made shall deliver to him a copy of a
detailed written report of the examining physician setting
out his findings and conclusions. After such request and
delivery, the party causing the examination to be made
shall be entitled upon request to receive from the party
examined a like report of any examination, previously or
thereafter made, of the same mental or physical condition.
If the party examined refuses to deliver such report, the
court on motion and notice may make an order requiring
delivery on such terms as are just, and if a physician
fails or refuses to make such a report the court may
exclude his testimony if offered at the trial.
Sec. 4. Waiver of privilege.
By requesting and obtaining a report of the examination so
ordered or by taking the deposition of the examiner, the
party examined waives any privilege he may have in that
action or any other involving the same controversy,
regarding the testimony of every other person who has
examined or may thereafter examine him in respect of the
same mental or physical examination.

RULE 29
REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH MODES OF DISCOVERY
Section 1. Refusal to answer.
If a party or other deponent refuses to answer any question
upon oral examination, the examination may be completed on
other matters or adjourned as the proponent of the question
may prefer. The proponent may thereafter apply to the
proper court of the place where the deposition is being
taken, for an order to compel an answer. The same procedure
may be availed of when a party or a witness refuses to
answer any interrogatory submitted under Rules 23 or 25.
If the application is granted, the court shall require the
refusing party or deponent to answer the question or
interrogatory and if it also finds that the refusal to
answer was without substantial justification, it may
require the refusing party or deponent or the counsel
advising the refusal, or both of them, to pay the proponent
the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining
the order, including attorneys fees.
If the application is denied and the court finds that it
was filed without substantial justification, the court may
require the proponent or the counsel advising the filing of
the application, or both of them, to pay to the refusing
party or deponent the amount of the reasonable expenses
incurred in opposing the application, including attorneys
fees.
Sec. 2. Contempt of court.
If a party or other witness refuses to be sworn or refuses
to answer any question after being directed to do so by the
court of the place in which the deposition is being taken,
the refusal may be considered a contempt of that court.
Sec. 3. Other consequences.
If any party or an officer or managing agent of a party
refuses to obey an order made under section 1 of this Rule
requiring him to answer designated questions, or an order
under Rule 27 to produce any document or other thing for
inspection, copying, or photographing or to permit it to be
done, or to permit entry upon land or other property, or an
order made under Rule 28 requiring him to submit to a
physical or mental examination, the court may make such

orders in regard to the refusal as are just, and among

others
the
following:
(a) An order that the matters regarding which the questions
were asked, or the character or description of the thing or
land, or the contents of the paper, or the physical or
mental condition of the party, or any other designated
facts shall be taken to be established for the purposes of
the action in accordance with the claim of the party
obtaining the order;
(b) An order refusing to allow the disobedient party to
support or oppose designated claims or defenses or
prohibiting him from introducing in evidence designated
documents or things or items of testimony, or from
introducing evidence of physical or mental condition;
(c) An order striking out pleadings or parts thereof, or
staying further proceedings until the order is obeyed, or
dismissing the action or proceeding or any part thereof, or
rendering a judgment by default against the disobedient
party; and
(d) In lieu of any of the foregoing orders or in addition
thereto, an order directing the arrest of any party or
agent of a party for disobeying any of such orders except
an order to submit to a physical or mental examination.
Sec. 4. Expenses on refusal to admit.
If a party after being served with a request under Rule 26
to admit the genuineness of any document or the truth of
any matter of fact, serves a sworn denial thereof and if
the party requesting the admissions thereafter proves the
genuineness of such document or the truth of any such
matter of fact, he may apply to the court for an order
requiring the other party to pay him the reasonable
expenses
incurred
in
making
such
proof,
including
attorneys fees. Unless the court finds that there were
good reasons for the denial or that admissions sought were
of no substantial importance, such order shall be issued.
Sec. 5. Failure of party to attend or serve answers.
If a party or an officer or managing agent of a party
wilfully fails to appear before the officer who is to take
his deposition, after being served with a proper notice, or
fails to serve answers to interrogatories submitted under
Rule 25 after proper service of such interrogatories, the

court on motion and notice, may strike out all or any part
of any pleading of that party, or dismiss the action or
proceeding or any part thereof, or enter a judgment by
default against that party, and in its discretion, order
him to pay reasonable expenses incurred by the other,
including attorneys fees.
Sec. 6. Expenses against the Republic of the Philippines.
Expenses and attorneys fees are not to be imposed upon the
Republic of the Philippines under this Rule.

RULE 30
TRIAL
Section 1. Notice of trial.
Upon entry of a case in the trial calendar, the clerk shall
notify the parties of the date of its trial in such manner
as shall ensure his receipt of that notice at least five
(5) days before such date.
Sec. 2. Adjournments and postponements.
A court may adjourn a trial from day to day, and to any
stated time, as the expeditious and convenient transaction
of business may require, but shall have no power to adjourn
a trial for a longer period than one month for each
adjournment, nor more than three months in all, except when
authorized in writing by the Court Administrator, Supreme
Court.
Sec. 3. Requisites of motion to postpone trial for absence
of evidence.
A motion to postpone a trial on the ground of absence of
evidence can be granted only upon affidavit showing the
materiality or relevancy of such evidence, and that due
diligence has been used to procure it. But if the adverse
party admits the facts to be given in evidence, even if he
objects or reserves the right to their admissibility, the
trial shall not be postponed.
Sec. 4. Requisites of motion to postpone trial for illness
of party or counsel.
A motion to postpone a trial on the ground of illness of a
party or counsel may be granted if it appears upon
affidavit or sworn certification that the presence of such
party or counsel at the trial is indispensable and that the
character of his illness is such as to render his nonattendance excusable.
Sec. 5. Order of trial.
Subject to the provisions of section 2 of Rule 31, and
unless the court for special reasons otherwise directs, the
trial shall be limited to the issues stated in the pre-

trial

order

and

shall

proceed

as

follows:

(a) The plaintiff shall adduce evidence in support of his

complaint;
(b) The defendant shall then adduce evidence in support of
his defense, counterclaim, cross-claim and third-party
complaint;
(c) The third-party defendant, if any, shall adduce
evidence of his defense, counterclaim, cross-claim and
fourth-party complaint;
(d) The fourth-party, and so forth, if any, shall adduce
evidence of the material facts pleaded by them;
(e) The parties against whom any counterclaim or crossclaim has been pleaded, shall adduce evidence in support of
their defense, in the order to be prescribed by the court;
(f) The parties may then respectively adduce rebutting
evidence only, unless the court, for good reasons and in
the furtherance of justice, permits them to adduce evidence
upon their original case; and
(g) Upon admission of the evidence, the case shall be
deemed submitted for decision, unless the court directs the
parties to argue or to submit their respective memoranda or
any further pleadings.
If several defendants or third-party defendants, and so
forth, having separate defenses appear by different
counsel, the court shall determine the relative order of
presentation of their evidence.
Sec. 6. Agreed statement of facts.
The parties to any action may agree, in writing, upon the
facts involved in the litigation, and submit the case for
judgment on the facts agreed upon, without the introduction
of evidence.
If the parties agree only on some of the facts in issue,
the trial shall be held as to the disputed facts in such
order as the court shall prescribe.
Sec. 7. Statement of judge.
During the hearing or trial of a case any statement made by
the judge with reference to the case, or to any of the
parties, witnesses or counsel, shall be made of record in
the stenographic notes.

Sec. 8. Suspension of actions.

The suspension of actions shall
provisions of the Civil Code.

be

governed

by

the

Sec. 9. Judge to receive evidence; delegation to clerk of

court.
The judge of the court where the case is pending shall
personally receive the evidence to be adduced by the
parties. However, in default or ex parte hearings, and in
any case where the parties agree in writing, the court may
delegate the reception of evidence to its clerk of court
who is a member of the bar. The clerk of court shall have
no power to rule on objections to any question or to the
admission of exhibits, which objections shall be resolved
by the court upon submission of his report and the
transcripts within ten (10) days from termination of the
hearing.