Commencement of Petition
- Petitions must be filed as a verified initiatory pleading before the Regional Director (RD) with jurisdiction.
- A letter-request may be treated as a petition.
- Petitions filed in other Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) offices must be transmitted immediately to the RD.
- Petitions filed before June 30, 2014, in any DAR office are deemed timely filed.
Filing and Assessment in Central Office
- For petitions covering ten or more landholdings filed at DAR Central Office, the Bureau of Land Tenure and Improvement (BLTI) assesses involved landholdings.
- Lists of landholdings with valid Notices of Coverage or already covered by Emancipation Patents (EPs) or Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) are generated.
- Cases with valid Notices of Coverage are archived and dismissed upon confirmed proper service verification.
Docket Number Assignment
- RD directs the Chief, Regional Legal Division to assign docket number and create case title upon receipt.
- Docket number and title used consistently by all processing offices involved.
Disclosure Statement Requirements
- Petitioner must certify under oath that:
- They are a party-in-interest or authorized representative.
- No other case involving the land or issue is pending or filed elsewhere, or disclose status if otherwise.
- Will report new related cases within five days.
- Failure to comply or acts of forum shopping cause dismissal without prejudice.
Duties of Regional Office
- DAR Regional Office (DARRO) must remind petitioner of disclosure and verification requirements.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
- Failure or refusal to verify petition or submit disclosure after opportunity to comply leads to suspension and archiving of case.
- Case may be revived upon compliance.
Notice to Landowners and Interested Parties
- RD must notify landowners and interested persons in writing, including provincial and municipal agrarian officers.
- Notices include a copy of the petition and require a verified Comment within 15 days.
- Failure to comment is deemed waiver of objection rights.
- No notice sent to archived cases unless prior Notice of Coverage is deemed invalid.
Service of Notice
- Primary mode is personal service to authorized persons with signature or thumb mark and witness.
- Service handled by Bureau of Agrarian Legal Assistance (BALA) or Sheriff of the Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (PARAD).
- Substituted service includes leaving notices with appropriate persons at residence or place of business.
- Extraterritorial service via registered mail to last known foreign address, plus publication.
- Immediate publication required if address is unknown or unavailable.
Persons Authorized to Receive Notice
- Natural person landowner directly.
- Each co-owner unless one is expressly authorized.
- Minors: parents or legal guardian.
- Incompetents: legal guardian.
- Entities without juridical personality: any associated person or person in charge.
- Corporations or juridical persons: president, managing partner, general manager, corporate secretary, treasurer, or in-house counsel.
- Deceased landowners: executor or administrator if estate pending; otherwise, all known heirs and publication.
Publication of Notice
- Published in newspaper of general circulation by BALA.
- Publication on the 30th day of the month of receipt of notice by BALA.
- Publication includes essential particulars such as nature of petition, names of parties, landholding description, and comment period.
On-Site Inspection and Investigation (OSII)
- Conducted by PARPO, MARPO, investigating officers, or committees upon receipt of comment or lapse of comment period.
- Records proceedings as provided by relevant administrative orders.
- RD may dispense with OSII if case is straightforward.
Position Papers and Recommendations
- Parties may be required to submit position papers and replies.
- Draft decision may be submitted by parties.
- Investigating officer or committee submits report and recommendation to RD.
Motions for Reconsideration and Appeals
- Governed by Administrative Order No. 03, Series of 2003.
Immediate Coverage Upon Favorable Decision
- PARPO places landholding under coverage without prior Notice of Coverage issuance after favorable RD decision.
- Coverage remains during appeal up to issuance of Memorandum of Valuation unless suspended by Secretary.
- Landowners must be properly served with decision.
Prohibition Against Filing Exemption/Exclusion Petitions
- Landowners are barred from filing exemption or exclusion petitions after resolution of coverage.
- Exceptions for Petitions for Retention or related actions filed within 15 days after RD decision.
- Final and executory decisions allow continuation of acquisition and distribution.
Waiver of Filing Fees
- No filing fees for petitions covered by this Administrative Order.
Repealing and Separability Clauses
- Inconsistent orders or regulations are repealed or modified.
- Unconstitutional provisions do not affect other valid provisions.
Retroactive Application
- Applies retroactively to petitions filed from January 1 to June 30, 2014.
Effectivity Clause
- Takes effect ten (10) days after publication in two newspapers of general circulation.