Supreme Court Complaint Format in the Philippines

A comprehensive guide for practitioners, law students, and self-represented parties

Key take-away: The Supreme Court of the Philippines does not ordinarily entertain “complaints” in the ordinary civil-procedure sense. What is commonly filed before it are (1) verified petitions (e.g., a “petition for review on certiorari” under Rule 45, a “petition for certiorari” under Rule 65, special writs of amparo/habeas data/kalikasan, etc.) and (2) verified administrative complaints (disciplinary cases against judges, lawyers, or court personnel, Bar admissions matters, contempt, and similar “A.M.” proceedings).

Nevertheless, both documents follow one harmonized template imposed by the Rules of Court, the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court (IRSC), and a series of administrative circulars—most notably the Efficient Use of Paper Rule (A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC) and Bar Matter No. 850 (Uniform Format of Pleadings).

The outline below stitches together those sources so you can confidently produce a Supreme Court-ready piece of work.

1. Foundational authorities

Instrument	Core mandate for format
1987 Constitution Art. VIII	Gives the Court original and appellate jurisdiction; requires that pleadings be sworn where law or rules so provide.
Rules of Court (as amended 2020)	Part III (Civil Procedure): Rules 45 & 65 are the models for petitions (not “complaints”). Rule 7 (Parts of a pleading) and Rule 13 (Service & proof) govern form and service.
Internal Rules of the Supreme Court (IRSC)	Regulates docket numbering (G.R. No. ____ for judicial cases; A.M. No. ____ for administrative matters) and number of copies.
A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC (Efficient Use of Paper Rule)	Standardizes paper size, margins, font, spacing, copies, annex-tabbing.
Bar Matter No. 850	Introduces the two-column “digest” format and index-of-authorities for lengthy petitions.
Specific Special Rules	E.g., A.M. 07-9-12-SC (Amparo), A.M. 08-1-16-SC (Habeas Data), A.M. 09-6-8-SC (Kalikasan & CEPA complaints), A.M. 17-03-09-SC (Revised Rules on Notarial Practice 2020) for notarization nuances.

2. Physical & typographical requirements

Requirement	Detail
Paper	8 ½ × 13 in (“legal”), white bond.
Margins	Left 1.5 in; top, right & bottom 1 in.
Font & size	Readable serif (Times New Roman, Bookman Old Style) 14-pt text; Footnotes 12-pt.
Spacing	Single-space text; one-and-a-half between paragraphs.
Page numbering	Bottom-center, Arabic numerals; first page unnumbered but counted.
Two-column rule	For petitions >20 pages or raising pure questions of law. Left column: “Digest/Quicklook” ≤ ⅓ page width; Right column: full text.
Blue-book tabbing	Annexes letter-tabbed A, B, C… on right-hand side.
Electronic filing	Mandatory in Manila; PDF plus bookmarked annexes uploaded via eSC Portal and emailed to efile@sc.judiciary.gov.ph within 24 h of physical filing.

3. Number of copies & binding

Case type	Original + Copies	Where filed
En Banc petition / complaint	1 original (properly marked) + 18 copies (total 19)
Division petition / complaint	1 original + 4 copies (total 5)
Administrative matter (A.M.)	Same as Division unless the Court orders En Banc.
Electronic copy	Always 1 (+ PDF for every annex).

Bind with sturdy plastic or book-type fastener; do not staple thick bundles.

4. Content outline (judicial petitions)

Caption & title
- Republic of the Philippines, Supreme Court, Manila
- G.R. No. ___ (leave blank)
- Name of Petitioner vs. Name of Respondent
- “Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45” (or appropriate rule/writ).
Prefatory statement / questions presented (optional but recommended).
Material dates
- When judgment/assailed order was received, when motion for recon. denied, when this petition is filed—jurisdictional.
Statement of facts / antecedents.
Issues of law clearly numbered.
Arguments & authorities
- Headings follow issues; cite SC and CA reports, statutes, constitutional provisions.
- Digest column mirrors headings.
Prayer (specific relief sought).
Verification & certification against forum shopping
- Sworn before notary/public officer with commission expiring; indicate competent evidence of identity under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice.
- If a juridical entity, attach secretary’s certificate or board resolution.
MCLE & IBP compliance (counsel’s roll, IBP receipt, PTR, MCLE cert. number).
Notice of service & personal mailing plus Proof of service (Rule 13 § 12).
Annexes
- Ordered, letter-tabbed, chronologically arranged; include certified true copies of assailed judgment, pleadings, pieces of evidence as needed.

5. Content outline (administrative complaints)

Caption
- “Republic of the Philippines, Supreme Court, Manila”
- A.M. No. ____ (to be docketed).
Title
- “Verified Complaint for Disbarment” (or “Administrative Complaint against Judge X for Gross Misconduct,” etc.).
Parties & personalities (full names, positions, addresses).
Factual narrative with numbered paragraphs; attach supporting documents and affidavits.
Charges / legal basis (cite Code of Judicial Conduct, Code of Professional Responsibility, Civil Service rules, etc.).
Prayer (disciplinary sanction sought).
Verification by complainant’s affidavit.
MCLE / IBP numbers (if complainant is a lawyer).
Signature & addresses.
Proof of service on respondent and OSG/IBP, as applicable.

6. Fees & docketing

Item	Amount (2025 Schedule)	Notes
Petition under Rule 45	₱ 4,000 docket + ₱ 20 k legal research fund + ₱ 50 bar matter fund	Pay to “Supreme Court, Judiciary Fund” via SC Cashier or Land Bank O.R.
Rule 65 original action	Same as Rule 45 (unless indigent).
Administrative complaint	No filing fee (disciplinary matters).
Ex parte motions	₱ 500.
Engrossed certified true copies	₱ 50 per page.

Official receipts (O.R.) must be stapled to the first page of the original.

7. Jurisdictional checkpoints

Checkpoint	When relevant	Consequence if absent
Timeliness	Rule 45: 15 days from notice of judgment; extendable for 30 days with proper motion & P1,000.	Petition dismissed.
Verified pleading	All SC petitions & complaints.	Dismissal; may be re-filed if period still open.
Certification against forum shopping	All except special civil actions for writs (e.g., habeas corpus, amparo).	Dismissal.
Proof of authority (corporate, attorney-in-fact)	If petitioner is corporation/association or via SPA.	Dismissal.
Payment of docket & other fees	Simultaneous with filing (Rule 141).	Dismissal; but Court sometimes allows completion within a non-extendible period.

8. Service & modes of filing

Personal filing/service (preferred).
Registered mail (Rule 13 § 5)—date of mailing = filing date.
Accredited courier (same effect as registered mail).
Electronic filing—upload to eSC Portal and email within 24 hours of physical filing; electronic timestamp counts only if accompanied by proof of e-payment.
Substituted service is generally unavailable for SC filings.

9. Common drafting mistakes to avoid

Mistake	Why fatal	Fix
Treating a petition as a “complaint” and using forms meant for trial courts.	SC is a court of review, not of evidence-taking, except in limited instances.	Follow Rule 45 format.
Failure to concise issues; mixing facts with arguments.	Violates brevity rule; risks dismissal for verbosity (A.M. No. 11-9-4-SC).	Use numbered issue headings.
Missing table of authorities in lengthy briefs.	Non-compliance with Bar Matter 850.	Auto-generate or manually prepare.
Attaching uncertified photocopies of assailed judgment.	SC requires certified true copy.	Secure clerk-certified copy from the lower court.
Notarization defects (expired commission, no competent-evidence details).	Verification becomes void.	Check 2020 Notarial Rules compliance checklist.

10. Specialized “complaints” the Supreme Court directly entertains

Proceeding	Nature & governing rule	Unique formatting twist
Quo warranto against impeachable officers (Rule on Quo Warranto A.M. 18-03-06-SC)	Verified petition by Solicitor General or a citizen in exceptional cases.	Roll of Attorneys No. included if citizen-petitioner.
Contempt of court (Rule 71)	Verified petition/complaint; attaches judgment/order allegedly violated.	Caption says “In Re: ______”.
Citizens’ suit for the environment (Kalikasan)	Verified petition; no docket fees; includes ecological resume.	Attach actual photographs with captions as annexes.
Writ of Amparo / Habeas Data	Sworn petition; personal circumstances; attaches supporting affidavits.	Caption must state that the action is “For the Writ of Amparo”.

11. Lifecycle after filing

Initial docketing by Clerk of Court; O.R. validated.
Raffle to a Division (except En Banc matters).
Compliance check by Office of the Reporter & Judicial Records Office.
Action: (a) outright dismissal for formal defects; (b) require comment; (c) give due course.
Oral argument (rare; separate Guidelines 2023-09-SC).
Decision or Resolution; entry of judgment after 15 days unless reconsideration filed.

12. Quick drafting template (Rule 45)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
                      SUPREME COURT
                        Manila

G.R. No. __________                              (To be supplied)
_____________,
     Petitioner,

        vs.                              PETITION FOR REVIEW
                                          ON CERTIORARI
_____________,
     Respondent.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

                       PETITION

DIGEST COLUMN (questions presented)
I. Whether the CA erred in holding...

----------------------------------------------------------------
**I. THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED...**

1. Antecedents. — On 1 Feb 2025 the RTC...

2. Issues...

3. Arguments...

**PRAYER**

WHEREFORE, premises considered...

**VERIFICATION & CERTIFICATION AGAINST FORUM SHOPPING**

(standard jurat)

______________                         __________________
Counsel for Petitioner                 Roll No. ____
MCLE Compliance V, valid until...      IBP Receipt No. ____
PTR No. ____ / Date & Place            Address & e-mail

13. Practical checklist before lodging

Correct rule invoked (45, 65, special writ).
Paid exact fees / attached O.R.
Certified true copy of assailed rulings appended.
Verified, notarized, forum-shopping certification.
Digested column & table of authorities (if ≥ 20 pages).
Proper number of copies + PDF & e-copies.
Annexes letter-tabbed and chronologically arranged.
Proof of service on lower court/ adverse party/ OSG.
Clear, concise issues -- each argument capped at 10 pages max if possible.

14. Final reminders

Form defects are fatal in the Supreme Court; curative motions rarely prosper.
Always verify the latest administrative circulars; the Court occasionally updates copy quotas and e-filing protocols.
Professional tone & respect—do not impute ill motives to lower tribunals.
Substance still trumps form—but only after perfect compliance with form.

This article synthesizes official rules and long-standing practice as of July 15, 2025. It is offered for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. When in doubt, consult the current Rules of Court, Supreme Court A.M. circulars, or qualified counsel.