RULES OF PROCEDURE IN THE GARMENTS AND TEXTILE EXPORT BOARD
Executive Order No 537, as amended by Executive Order Nos. 823 and 952,
and pursuant to the authority vested upon the Garments & Textile
Export Board thereunder, the following Rules and Procedure in
actions/proceedings before said Board are hereby adopted:
RULE I
DEFINITION OF TERMS, CONSTRUCTION AND SCOPE
SECTION 1. Definition of Terms . —
a. Board and GTEB — shall refer interchangeably, to the Garments and Textile Export Board.
b. Hearing Panel or Investigating Panel — shall refer to the committee duly designated and authorized by the Board to hear and evaluate cases before the Board.
c. Respondent — shall refer to the garment
exporter against whom a case is filed before the Board for violation of
the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board.d. Order — shall refer to any directive of the Board/Hearing Panel which is not included in the final decision.
SECTION 2. Construction . — These Rules
shall be liberally construed in order to attain and carry out the
objectives of Executive Order No. 537, as amended, as well as the rules
and regulations promulgated by the Board.SECTION 3. Scope . — These Rules shall govern hearings in cases involving violations of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board.
RULE II
NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS
SECTION 1. Nature . — The proceedings
herein provided shall be summary in character without necessarily
adhering to or following the technical rules of evidence/procedure under
the Rules of Court. Due regard shall, however, be given to the merits
of the case and the substantial requirements of due process of law.
RULE III
COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIONS
SECTION 1. How commenced. — An action may
be commenced by the GTEB upon its own initiative, or upon the
recommendation of any other government agency for alleged violation of
the rules and regulations of the Board.
RULE IV
SHOW CAUSE ORDER
SECTION 1. Show Cause Order. — Upon any
report or findings for possible violation(s) of the GTEB rules and
regulations, the Board shall direct the respondent to show cause why no
action should be taken by the Board against the respondent for such
violation.SECTION 2. Respondent’s Answer/Explanation.
— The answer/explanation of the respondent to the show cause order must
be in writing under oath, and submitted within five (5) days from
receipt of the Board’s directive. Said period is non-extendible.SECTION 3. Respondent’s Admission. — If
from the answer/explanation submitted, the respondent admits having
committed the violations stated in the show cause order, the Board shall
render judgment based on the aforesaid report or findings of violation
by the respondent.
RULE V
HEARINGS
SECTION 1. Who Conducts Hearings . —
Hearings shall be conducted by the Hearing Panel duly constituted by the
Board. The Hearing Panel shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2)
members. All decisions, orders, or recommendations of the Hearing Panel
shall be approved by a majority vote.SECTION 2. Notice of Hearing . — If the respondent fails to file an answer/explanation in accordance with Section 2, Rule IV
hereof, or should the Board find the respondent’s answer/explanation,
unsatisfactory, the Board shall order that the respondent and its
witnesses be called to an administrative hearing. Whereupon, the Hearing
Panel shall set the case for hearing and the corresponding subpoena
and/or subpoena duces tecum shall be sent to the respondent and all its
witnesses concerned, directing them to personally attend and testify at
the hearing to be conducted by the Hearing Panel or at any meeting
thereof, or for the taking of their deposition, or to bring or produce
any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records under
their supervision and control; provided that the appearance of counsel
in such hearing shall not exempt the respondent or witnesses from the
duty to personally appear before the Hearing Panel when so directed.SECTION 3. Ex- Parte Hearing . — Upon
failure to appear by the respondent and the principal officers and
directors thereof, whom the Board may specifically require to be
personally present to represent the respondent, said hearings may
proceed ex parte which shall consist in the presentation of the reports
on the investigation/inquiry ordered by the Board and the findings of
the different Divisions in the GTEB, the certification/affidavit of
shipping companies, banks, suppliers of materials, subcontractors, etc.,
after which the Hearing Panel shall evaluate the evidence and make its
report to the Board.SECTION 4. Order of Presentation of Evidence . — As soon as the parties have entered their appearances, the hearing shall proceed as follows:
a. The representative of the GTEB or of the government
agency, as complainant, shall inform the respondent of the findings of
violation against it, and shall present evidence in support thereof.b. Respondent shall thereafter, explain and support its explanation with its own evidence.
c. The parties shall then make their formal offer of
evidence. All documents or exhibits for the GTEB or the complainant
government agency shall be properly and consecutively marked by
alphabetical letters, and those of the respondent by Arabic numerals.In the presentation of evidence, the Hearing Panel may, in its sole
discretion, dispense with a court-type hearing and the
question-and-answer testimony.The Hearing Panel may at any stage of the proceedings, propound clarificatory questions to the respondent and the witnesses.
SECTION 5. Postponement . — A motion for
postponement of hearing shall be filed with the Hearing Panel at least
three (3) days prior to the scheduled date of Hearing, which may be
granted or denied by the Hearing Panel. No more than one postponement
shall be allowed by the Hearing Panel and only in meritorious cases, and
for a period of not more than seven (7) days to be reckoned from the
date the postponement was granted.SECTION 6. Admission of Evidence . — The
Hearing Panel shall receive all evidence material and relevant to the
case. All documents forming part of the records of the case, whether
marked as exhibits or not, shall be deemed admitted as evidenced and may
be considered in the resolution of the case.SECTION 7. Transcript of Stenographic Notes
. — It shall be the duty of the one designated to take stenographic
notes of the hearing to submit his transcript of stenographic notes to
the Hearing Panel, duly certified, and this shall form part of the
record of the case.SECTION 8. Service of Subpoena, Notices, Orders, and Decisions
. — Subpoenas, notices, orders, and decisions shall be served by
registered mail or by handing a copy thereof to the respondent/addressee
in person. If the respondent/addressee is a corporation or a
partnership, service may be made on the President, Manager, Secretary,
Cashier or agent or any of its directors.If the respondent/addressee cannot be served within a reasonable
time, service may be affected (a) by leaving a copy of the order,
subpoena, notice, or decision at the respondent’s/addressee’s dwelling
house or residence with a person of suitable discretion who is residing
therein; or (b) by leaving said copy at respondent’s/addressee’s
principal place or regular place of business with a competent person in
charge thereof.
RULE VI
DECISIONS OR ORDERS
SECTION 1. Hearing Panel’s Recommendation . — At the conclusion of the hearing, the Hearing Panel shall make its report and recommendations to the Board.
SECTION 2. Board’s Decision . — Upon
receipt of the Hearing Panel’s report and recommendations, the Board
shall render a decision as the law and evidence may warrant, stating
clearly and distinctly the facts, the laws, and rules and regulations on
which it is based.. The Board may adopt the findings of facts and
recommendations of the Hearing Panel as its own, or modify the same as
the evidence may warrant, without prejudice to the production of
additional information as it may require for a complete determination of
the case.SECTION 3. Finality of Decision . — The
decision of the Board shall become final and executory after the lapse
of fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of copy thereof by the
respondent, unless a motion for reconsideration of the decision is filed
within the said fifteen (15) day period.The order/decision of the Board on said motion for reconsideration shall be final and executory.
RULE VII
CONTEMPT
SECTION 1. Direct Contempt. — A person
guilty of misbehavior in the presence of or so near the Board, or the
Hearing Panel or any member thereof, as to obstruct or interrupt the
proceedings before the same, including disrespect toward the Board, the
Hearing Panel or any member thereof; offensive personalities toward
others, or refusal to be sworn to or to answer as witness; or to
subscribe an affidavit or deposition when lawfully required so to do,
may be summarily adjudged in contempt by the Board, or the Hearing Panel
or any member thereof, and punished by a fine not exceeding two
thousand pesos (P2,000.00), provided, however, that failure to obey a
subpoena/subpoena duces tecum, or any other orders of the Board or the
Hearing Panel shall constitute direct contempt.SECTION 2. Indirect Contempt . — The Board
may, in its discretion, file an action in the proper court against any
person for contempt on any of the following grounds:a. Disobedience or resistance to a lawful order or decision of the Board or the Hearing Panel, or a member thereof;
b. Abuse of or any unlawful interferences with the process
or proceedings of the Board or the Hearing Panel not constituting direct
contempt under Section 1 of this rule.c. Any improper conduct tending, directly or indirectly, to
impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice or the
performance of the Board’s or the Hearing Panel’s proper function.
RULE VIII
EFFECTIVITY
The foregoing Rules of Procedure shall take effect immediately.
Approved this 23 rd day of July 1987.
Adopted: 23 July 1987
(SGD.) GLORIA Macapagal. ARROYO
Executive Director