RULES ON ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE

RULE 1 COVERAGE

SECTION 1. Scope. Unless otherwise provided herein, these R les sh!ll !ppl" whenever !n ele#troni# do# $ent or ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e, !s de&ined in R le ' hereo&, is o&&ered or sed in eviden#e.

SEC. '. Cases covered. These R les sh!ll !ppl" to !ll #ivil !#tions !nd pro#eedin%s, !s well !s ( !si)* di#i!l !nd !d$inistr!tive #!ses.

SEC. +.

Application of other rules on evidence. In !ll $!tters not

spe#i&i#!ll" #overed ," these R les, the R les o& Co rt !nd pertinent provisions o& st!t tes #ont!inin% r les on eviden#e sh!ll !ppl".

RULE '

-E.INITION O. TER/S AN- CONSTRUCTION

SECTION 1. Definition of Terms. .or p rposes o& these R les, the &ollowin% ter$s !re de&ined, !s &ollows0

1!2 3As"$$etri# or p ,li# #r"ptos"ste$4 $e!ns ! s"ste$ #!p!,le o& %ener!tin% ! se# re 5e" p!ir, #onsistin% o& ! priv!te 5e" &or #re!tin% ! di%it!l si%n!t re, !nd ! p ,li# 5e" &or veri&"in% the di%it!l si%n!t re.

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36 siness re#ords 4 in#l de re#ords o& !n" , siness, instit tion, !sso#i!tion, pro&ession, o## p!tion, !nd #!llin% o& ever" 5ind, whether or not #ond #ted &or pro&it, or &or le%iti$!te or ille%iti$!te p rposes.

1#2 7Certi&i#!te7 $e!ns !n ele#troni# do# $ent iss ed to s pport ! di%it!l si%n!t re whi#h p rports to #on&ir$ the identit" or other si%ni&i#!nt #h!r!#teristi#s o& the person who holds ! p!rti# l!r 5e" p!ir.

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3Co$p ter4 re&ers to !n" sin%le or inter#onne#ted devi#e or !pp!r!t s, whi#h, ," ele#troni#, ele#tro)$e#h!ni#!l or $!%neti# i$p lse, or ," other $e!ns with the s!$e & n#tion, #!n re#eive, re#ord, tr!ns$it, store, pro#ess, #orrel!te, !n!l"8e, pro*e#t, retrieve !nd9or prod #e in&or$!tion, d!t!, te:t, %r!phi#s, &i% res, voi#e, video, s"$,ols or other $odes o& e:pression or per&or$ !n" one or $ore o& these & n#tions.

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3-i%it!l Si%n!t re4 re&ers to !n ele#troni# si%n!t re #onsistin% o& ! tr!ns&or$!tion o& !n ele#troni# do# $ent or !n ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e sin% !n !s"$$etri# or p ,li# #r"ptos"ste$ s #h th!t ! person h!vin% the initi!l ntr!ns&or$ed ele#troni# do# $ent !nd the si%ner;s p ,li# 5e" #!n !## r!tel" deter$ine0

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whether the tr!ns&or$!tion w!s #re!ted sin% the priv!te 5e" th!t #orresponds to the si%ner;s p ,li# 5e"< !nd,

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whether the initi!l ele#troni# do# $ent h!d ,een !ltered !&ter the tr!ns&or$!tion w!s $!de.

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3-i%it!ll" si%ned4 re&ers to !n ele#troni# do# $ent or ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e ,e!rin% ! di%it!l si%n!t re veri&ied ," the p ,li# 5e" listed in ! #erti&i#!te.

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3Ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e4 re&ers to in&or$!tion %ener!ted, sent, re#eived or stored ," ele#troni#, opti#!l or si$il!r $e!ns.

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3Ele#troni# do# $ent4 re&ers to in&or$!tion or the represent!tion o& in&or$!tion, d!t!, &i% res, s"$,ols or other $odes o& written e:pression, des#ri,ed or however represented, ," whi#h ! ri%ht is est!,lished or !n o,li%!tion e:tin% ished, or ," whi#h ! &!#t $!" ,e proved !nd !&&ir$ed, whi#h is re#eived, re#orded, tr!ns$itted, stored, pro#essed, retrieved or prod #ed ele#troni#!ll". It in#l des di%it!ll" si%ned do# $ents !nd !n" print)o t or o tp t, re!d!,le ," si%ht or other $e!ns, whi#h !## r!tel" re&le#ts the ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e or ele#troni# do# $ent. .or p rposes o& these R les, the ter$ 3ele#troni# do# $ent4 $!" ,e sed inter#h!n%e!,l" with 3ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e4.

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3Ele#troni# 5e"4 re&ers to ! se#ret #ode whi#h se# res !nd de&ends sensitive in&or$!tion th!t #rosses over p ,li# #h!nnels into ! &or$ de#ipher!,le onl" with ! $!t#hin% ele#troni# 5e".

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3Ele#troni# si%n!t re4 re&ers to !n" distin#tive $!r5, #h!r!#teristi# !nd9or so nd in ele#troni# &or$, representin% the identit" o& ! person !nd !tt!#hed to or lo%i#!ll" !sso#i!ted with the ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e or ele#troni# do# $ent or !n" $ethodolo%" or pro#ed re e$plo"ed or !dopted ," ! person !nd e:e# ted or !dopted ," s #h person with the intention o& ! thenti#!tin%, si%nin% or !pprovin% !n ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e or ele#troni# do# $ent. .or p rposes o& these R les, !n ele#troni# si%n!t re in#l des di%it!l si%n!t res.

152 3Ephe$er!l ele#troni# #o$$ ni#!tion4 re&ers to telephone #onvers!tions, te:t $ess!%es, #h!troo$ sessions, stre!$in% ! dio, stre!$in% video, !nd other ele#troni# &or$s o& #o$$ ni#!tion the eviden#e o& whi#h is not re#orded or ret!ined.

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3In&or$!tion !nd Co$$ ni#!tion S"ste$4 re&ers to ! s"ste$ &or %ener!tin%, sendin%, re#eivin%, storin% or otherwise pro#essin% ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%es or ele#troni# do# $ents !nd in#l des the #o$p ter s"ste$ or other si$il!r devi#es ," or in whi#h d!t! !re re#orded or stored !nd !n" pro#ed re rel!ted to the re#ordin% or stor!%e o& ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%es or ele#troni# do# $ents.

1$2 3=e" >!ir4 in !n !s"$$etri# #r"ptos"ste$ re&ers to the priv!te 5e" !nd its $!the$!ti#!ll" rel!ted p ,li# 5e" s #h th!t the l!tter #!n veri&" the di%it!l si%n!t re th!t the &or$er #re!tes.

1n2 3>riv!te =e"4 re&ers to the 5e" o& ! 5e" p!ir sed to #re!te ! di%it!l si%n!t re.

1o2 3> ,li# =e"4 re&ers to the 5e" o& ! 5e" p!ir sed to veri&" ! di%it!l si%n!t re.

SEC. '. Construction. These R les sh!ll ,e li,er!ll" #onstr ed to !ssist the p!rties in o,t!inin% ! * st, e:peditio s, !nd ine:pensive deter$in!tion o& #!ses.

The interpret!tion o& these R les sh!ll !lso t!5e into #onsider!tion the intern!tion!l ori%in o& Rep ,li# A#t No. ?@A', otherwise 5nown !s the Ele#troni# Co$$er#e A#t.
RULE +

ELECTRONIC -OCU/ENTS

SECTION 1. Electronic Documents as functional equivalent of paper-based documents. Bhenever ! r le o& eviden#e re&ers to the ter$ writin%, do# $ent,

re#ord, instr $ent, $e$or!nd $ or !n" other &or$ o& writin%, s #h ter$ sh!ll ,e dee$ed to in#l de !n ele#troni# do# $ent !s de&ined in these R les.

SEC. '. Admissibility. An ele#troni# do# $ent is !d$issi,le in eviden#e i& it #o$plies with the r les on !d$issi,ilit" pres#ri,ed ," the R les o& Co rt !nd rel!ted l!ws !nd is ! thenti#!ted in the $!nner pres#ri,ed ," these R les.

SEC. +. Privileged communication. The #on&identi!l #h!r!#ter o& ! privile%ed #o$$ ni#!tion is not lost solel" on the %ro nd th!t it is in the &or$ o& !n ele#troni# do# $ent.

RULE C 6EST EVI-ENCE RULE

SECTION 1. riginal of an Electronic Document. An ele#troni# do# $ent sh!ll ,e re%!rded !s the e( iv!lent o& !n ori%in!l do# $ent nder the 6est Eviden#e R le i& it is ! printo t or o tp t re!d!,le ," si%ht or other $e!ns, shown to re&le#t the d!t! !## r!tel".

SEC. '.

Copies as equivalent of the originals . Bhen !

do# $ent is in two or $ore #opies e:e# ted !t or !,o t the s!$e ti$e with identi#!l #ontents, or is ! #o nterp!rt prod #ed ," the s!$e i$pression !s the ori%in!l, or &ro$ the s!$e $!tri:, or ," $e#h!ni#!l or ele#troni# re)re#ordin%, or ," #he$i#!l reprod #tion, or ," other e( iv!lent te#hni( es whi#h !## r!tel" reprod #es the ori%in!l, s #h #opies or d pli#!tes sh!ll ,e re%!rded !s the e( iv!lent o& the ori%in!l.

Notwithst!ndin% the &ore%oin%, #opies or d pli#!tes sh!ll not ,e !d$issi,le to the s!$e e:tent !s the ori%in!l i&0

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! %en ine ( estion is r!ised !s to the ! thenti#it" o& the ori%in!l< or

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in the #ir# $st!n#es it wo ld ,e n* st or ine( it!,le to !d$it the #op" in lie o& the ori%in!l.

RULE D

AUTEENTICATION O. ELECTRONIC -OCU/ENTS

SECTION 1. !urden of proving authenticity. The person see5in% to introd #e !n ele#troni# do# $ent in !n" le%!l pro#eedin% h!s the , rden o& provin% its ! thenti#it" in the $!nner provided in this R le.
SEC. '. "anner of authentication. 6e&ore !n" priv!te ele#troni# do# $ent o&&ered !s ! thenti# is re#eived in eviden#e, its ! thenti#it" $ st ,e proved ," !n" o& the &ollowin% $e!ns0

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," eviden#e th!t it h!d ,een di%it!ll" si%ned ," the person p rported to h!ve si%ned the s!$e<

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," eviden#e th!t other !ppropri!te se# rit" pro#ed res or devi#es !s $!" ,e ! thori8ed ," the S pre$e Co rt or ," l!w &or ! thenti#!tion o& ele#troni# do# $ents were !pplied to the do# $ent< or

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," other eviden#e showin% its inte%rit" !nd reli!,ilit" to the s!tis&!#tion o& the * d%e.

SEC. +.

Proof of electronically notari#ed document. A

do# $ent ele#troni#!ll" not!ri8ed in !##ord!n#e with the r les pro$ l%!ted ," the S pre$e Co rt sh!ll ,e #onsidered !s ! p ,li# do# $ent !nd proved !s ! not!ri!l do# $ent nder the R les o& Co rt.

RULE F ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES

SECTION 1. Electronic signature. An ele#troni# si%n!t re or ! di%it!l si%n!t re ! thenti#!ted in the $!nner pres#ri,ed here nder is !d$issi,le in eviden#e !s the & n#tion!l e( iv!lent o& the si%n!t re o& ! person on ! written do# $ent.

SEC. '.

Authentication of electronic signatures. An ele#troni#

si%n!t re $!" ,e ! thenti#!ted in !n" o& the &ollowin% $!nner0

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6" eviden#e th!t ! $ethod or pro#ess w!s tili8ed to est!,lish ! di%it!l si%n!t re !nd veri&" the s!$e<

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6" !n" other $e!ns provided ," l!w< or

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6" !n" other $e!ns s!tis&!#tor" to the * d%e !s est!,lishin% the %en ineness o& the ele#troni# si%n!t re.

SEC. +. Disputable presumptions relating to electronic signatures . Upon the ! thenti#!tion o& !n ele#troni# si%n!t re, it sh!ll ,e pres $ed th!t0

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The ele#troni# si%n!t re is th!t o& the person to who$ it #orrel!tes<

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The ele#troni# si%n!t re w!s !&&i:ed ," th!t person with the intention o& ! thenti#!tin% or !pprovin% the ele#troni# do# $ent to whi#h it is rel!ted or to indi#!te s #h person;s #onsent to the tr!ns!#tion e$,odied therein< !nd

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The $ethods or pro#esses

tili8ed to !&&i: or veri&" the

ele#troni# si%n!t re oper!ted witho t error or &! lt.

SEC. C. Disputable presumptions relating to digital signatures . Upon the ! thenti#!tion o& ! di%it!l si%n!t re, it sh!ll ,e pres $ed, in !ddition to those $entioned in the i$$edi!tel" pre#edin% se#tion, th!t0

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The in&or$!tion #ont!ined in ! #erti&i#!te is #orre#t<

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The di%it!l si%n!t re w!s #re!ted d rin% the oper!tion!l period o& ! #erti&i#!te<

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No #! se e:ists to render ! #erti&i#!te inv!lid or revo#!,le<

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The $ess!%e !sso#i!ted with ! di%it!l si%n!t re h!s not ,een !ltered &ro$ the ti$e it w!s si%ned< !nd,

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A #erti&i#!te h!d ,een iss ed ," the #erti&i#!tion ! thorit" indi#!ted therein.

RULE @ EVI-ENTIARG BEIGET O. ELECTRONIC -OCU/ENTS

SECTION 1. $actors for assessing evidentiary %eight . In !ssessin% the evidenti!r" wei%ht o& !n ele#troni# do# $ent, the &ollowin% &!#tors $!" ,e #onsidered0

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The reli!,ilit" o& the $!nner or $ethod in whi#h it w!s %ener!ted, stored or #o$$ ni#!ted, in#l din% , t not li$ited to inp t !nd o tp t pro#ed res, #ontrols, tests !nd #he#5s &or !## r!#" !nd reli!,ilit" o& the ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e or do# $ent, in the li%ht o& !ll the #ir# $st!n#es !s well !s !n" relev!nt !%ree$ent<

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The reli!,ilit" o& the $!nner in whi#h its ori%in!tor w!s identi&ied<

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The inte%rit" o& the in&or$!tion !nd #o$$ ni#!tion s"ste$ in whi#h it is re#orded or stored, in#l din% , t not li$ited to the

h!rdw!re !nd #o$p ter pro%r!$s or so&tw!re sed !s well !s pro%r!$$in% errors<

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The &!$ili!rit" o& the witness or the person who $!de the entr" with the #o$$ ni#!tion !nd in&or$!tion s"ste$<

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The n!t re !nd ( !lit" o& the in&or$!tion whi#h went into the #o$$ ni#!tion !nd in&or$!tion s"ste$ pon whi#h the ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e or ele#troni# do# $ent w!s ,!sed< or

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Other &!#tors whi#h the #o rt $!" #onsider !s !&&e#tin% the !## r!#" or inte%rit" o& the ele#troni# do# $ent or ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e.

SEC. '. &ntegrity of an information and communication system . In !n" disp te involvin% the inte%rit" o& the in&or$!tion !nd #o$$ ni#!tion s"ste$ in whi#h !n ele#troni# do# $ent or ele#troni# d!t! $ess!%e is re#orded or stored, the #o rt $!" #onsider, !$on% others, the &ollowin% &!#tors0

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Bhether the in&or$!tion !nd #o$$ ni#!tion s"ste$ or other si$il!r devi#e w!s oper!ted in ! $!nner th!t did not !&&e#t the inte%rit" o& the ele#troni# do# $ent, !nd there !re no other re!son!,le %ro nds to do ,t the inte%rit" o& the in&or$!tion !nd #o$$ ni#!tion s"ste$<

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Bhether the ele#troni# do# $ent w!s re#orded or stored ," ! p!rt" to the pro#eedin%s with interest !dverse to th!t o& the p!rt" sin% it< or

1#2 Bhether the ele#troni# do# $ent w!s re#orded or stored in the s !l !nd ordin!r" #o rse o& , siness ," ! person who is not ! p!rt" to the pro#eedin%s !nd who did not !#t nder the #ontrol o& the p!rt" sin% it.

RULE ?

6USINESS RECOR-S AS EHCE>TION

TO TEE EEARSAG RULE

SECTION 1. &napplicability of the hearsay rule. A $e$or!nd $, report, re#ord or d!t! #o$pil!tion o& !#ts, events, #onditions, opinions, or di!%noses, $!de ," ele#troni#, opti#!l or other si$il!r $e!ns !t or ne!r the ti$e o& or &ro$ tr!ns$ission or s ppl" o& in&or$!tion ," ! person with 5nowled%e thereo&, !nd 5ept in the re% l!r #o rse or #ond #t o& ! , siness !#tivit", !nd s #h w!s the re% l!r pr!#ti#e to $!5e the $e$or!nd $, report, re#ord, or d!t! #o$pil!tion ," ele#troni#, opti#!l or si$il!r $e!ns, !ll o& whi#h !re shown ," the testi$on" o& the # stodi!n or other ( !li&ied witnesses, is e:#epted &ro$ the r le on he!rs!" eviden#e.

SEC. '.

vercoming the presumption. The pres $ption provided &or in Se#tion

1 o& this R le $!" ,e over#o$e ," eviden#e o& the ntr stworthiness o& the so r#e o& in&or$!tion or the $ethod or #ir# $st!n#es o& the prep!r!tion, tr!ns$ission or stor!%e thereo&.

RULE A /ETEO- O. >ROO.

SECTION 1. Affidavit evidence. All $!tters rel!tin% to the !d$issi,ilit" !nd evidenti!r" wei%ht o& !n ele#troni# do# $ent $!" ,e est!,lished ," !n !&&id!vit st!tin% &!#ts o& dire#t person!l 5nowled%e o& the !&&i!nt or ,!sed on ! thenti# re#ords. The !&&id!vit $ st !&&ir$!tivel" show the #o$peten#e o& the !&&i!nt to testi&" on the $!tters #ont!ined therein.

SEC. '. Cross-e'amination of deponent. The !&&i!nt sh!ll ,e $!de to !&&ir$ the #ontents o& the !&&id!vit in open #o rt !nd $!" ,e #ross)e:!$ined !s ! $!tter o& ri%ht ," the !dverse p!rt".

RULE 1I EHA/INATION O. BITNESSES

SECTION 1. Electronic testimony. A&ter s $$!ril" he!rin% the p!rties p rs !nt to R le A o& these R les, the #o rt $!" ! thori8e the present!tion o& testi$oni!l eviden#e ," ele#troni# $e!ns. 6e&ore so ! thori8in%, the #o rt sh!ll deter$ine the ne#essit" &or s #h present!tion !nd pres#ri,e ter$s !nd #onditions !s $!" ,e ne#ess!r" nder the #ir# $st!n#es, in#l din% the prote#tion o& the ri%hts o& the p!rties !nd witnesses #on#erned.

SEC. '. Transcript of electronic testimony. Bhen e:!$in!tion o& ! witness is done ele#troni#!ll", the entire pro#eedin%s, in#l din% the ( estions !nd !nswers, sh!ll ,e tr!ns#ri,ed ," ! steno%r!pher, stenot"pist or other re#order ! thori8ed &or the p rpose, who sh!ll #erti&" !s #orre#t the tr!ns#ript done ," hi$. The tr!ns#ript sho ld re&le#t the &!#t th!t the pro#eedin%s, either in whole or in p!rt, h!d ,een ele#troni#!ll" re#orded.

SEC. +. Storage of electronic evidence. The ele#troni# eviden#e !nd re#ordin% thereo& !s well !s the steno%r!phi# notes sh!ll &or$ p!rt o& the re#ord o& the #!se. S #h tr!ns#ript !nd re#ordin% sh!ll ,e dee$edprima facie eviden#e o& s #h pro#eedin%s.

RULE 11 AU-IO, >EOTOGRA>EIC, VI-EO, AN- E>EE/ERAL EVI-ENCE

SECTION 1.

Audio( video and similar evidence. A dio, photo%r!phi# !nd

video eviden#e o& events, !#ts or tr!ns!#tions sh!ll ,e !d$issi,le provided it sh!ll ,e shown, presented or displ!"ed to the #o rt !nd sh!ll ,e identi&ied, e:pl!ined or ! thenti#!ted ," the person who $!de the re#ordin% or ," so$e other person #o$petent to testi&" on the !## r!#" thereo& .

SEC.

'. Ephemeral

electronic

communications. Ephe$er!l

ele#troni#

#o$$ ni#!tions sh!ll ,e proven ," the testi$on" o& ! person who w!s ! p!rt" to the s!$e or h!s person!l 5nowled%e thereo&. In the !,sen#e or witnesses, other #o$petent eviden#e $!" ,e !d$itted. n!v!il!,ilit" o& s #h

A re#ordin% o& the telephone #onvers!tion or ephe$er!l ele#troni# #o$$ ni#!tion sh!ll ,e #overed ," the i$$edi!tel" pre#edin% se#tion.

I& the &ore%oin% #o$$ ni#!tions !re re#orded or e$,odied in !n ele#troni# do# $ent, then the provisions o& R le D sh!ll !ppl". RULE 1' E..ECTIVITG

SECTION 1. Applicability to pending cases. These R les sh!ll !ppl" to #!ses pendin% !&ter their e&&e#tivit".

SEC. '. Effectivity. These R les sh!ll t!5e e&&e#t on the &irst d!" o& A % st 'II1 &ollowin% their p ,li#!tion ,e&ore the 'Ith o& J l" 'II1 in two newsp!pers o& %ener!l #ir# l!tion in the >hilippines.