Position Paper Template Philippines: Free Format & Guide

A position paper is a formal written submission presented by a party in administrative or quasi-judicial proceedings in the Philippines, setting out the facts, issues, evidence, and legal arguments that support their claim or defense. It is most commonly required in cases before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and various regulatory agencies.

Legalia automates the drafting. This guide explains what a Philippine position paper must contain, when it is required, and how to generate a properly formatted one in five steps.

What you need before you start

A free Legalia account — sign up here
Names and addresses of both parties and their counsel
Tribunal or agency name and case number
Chronological statement of facts
Issues to be resolved and legal arguments
List of evidence and documents to be attached as annexes
Specific relief or award sought

Step 1: Log In and Open Your Dashboard

Sign in to your Legalia account at https://legalia.ph. After logging in you will land on the document library dashboard.

Legalia document library dashboard — Philippine legal document generator

Step 2: Select Position Paper

Under the Other Legal Documents category, click Position Paper. The two-panel editor opens — form on the left, live preview on the right.

Step 3: Fill In Party Details, Facts, and Arguments

Caption and Parties

Field	Notes
Tribunal / Agency	E.g., "National Labor Relations Commission — National Capital Region"
Case Number	As stated in the notice or order requiring the position paper
Complainant / Petitioner	Full legal name of the filing party
Respondent / Defendant	Full legal name of the opposing party
Counsel of Record	Name and roll number of the attorney signing the document

Body of the Position Paper

Section	What to Include
Statement of Facts	Chronological narrative of events — dates, transactions, communications relevant to the dispute
Issues	Specific questions to be resolved — e.g., "Whether the dismissal was for just cause" or "Whether respondent owes unpaid wages"
Arguments	Legal analysis per issue — cite the Labor Code, Civil Code, or applicable jurisprudence
Evidence / Annexes	List of attached documents numbered as Annex "A," "B," etc.
Prayer	Specific relief requested — dismissal of the complaint, reinstatement, payment of back wages, etc.

Step 4: Review the Live Preview

Review the caption, statement of facts, issues, arguments, and prayer. Verify the verification paragraph and certification against forum shopping at the end. Use Polish with AI to sharpen the legal language and ensure consistency in argument structure.

Step 5: Print or Save as PDF

Click the Print button and select Save as PDF. The party must sign the verification before a notary public. Counsel must sign the certification against forum shopping separately. Submit the position paper with all annexes to the tribunal within the deadline stated in the notice or order.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a position paper in Philippine legal proceedings?

A position paper is a formal written statement submitted by a party in administrative, quasi-judicial, or judicial proceedings, presenting their factual allegations, legal arguments, and evidence to support their claim or defense. It is commonly required in NLRC labor cases, DOLE administrative proceedings, BIR tax cases, and before various regulatory agencies.

When is a position paper required in an NLRC case?

In NLRC proceedings, both the complainant (employee) and the respondent (employer) are required to submit position papers after mandatory conciliation-mediation fails and the case is referred to a Labor Arbiter. The Labor Arbiter issues a notice directing both parties to submit their position papers within a specified period — typically within 10 days.

What should a position paper contain?

A complete position paper should contain: (1) a statement of facts in chronological order, (2) the specific issues to be resolved, (3) legal arguments and applicable laws or jurisprudence, (4) evidence in support of the claims (documents, affidavits), and (5) a prayer specifying the relief sought. For NLRC cases, the position paper must also include a verification and certification against forum shopping.

Does a position paper need to be verified?

Yes, in most Philippine proceedings. NLRC Rules of Procedure require position papers to be verified under oath. The verification is a sworn declaration by the affiant that the allegations are true and correct based on personal knowledge or authentic records. An unverified position paper may be disregarded by the tribunal.

What is the certification against forum shopping?

The certification against forum shopping is a sworn declaration by the party (or their authorized representative) that they have not filed any similar action in any other court, tribunal, or agency, and that they will promptly notify the tribunal of any similar action filed later. It is required in virtually all judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings in the Philippines.

Can a lawyer sign the position paper on behalf of the client?

The verification and certification against forum shopping must generally be signed by the party, not by counsel. However, if the party is a corporation or an entity, the authorized representative (officer or agent) may sign. Counsel may sign only if given specific authority and there are compelling reasons the party cannot personally sign.

Is Legalia free to use for generating a position paper?

Yes. You can generate, preview, and print a Position Paper on the Free plan with no credit card required. The template includes the verification block and certification against forum shopping required in NLRC and other proceedings.

Position Paper Template Philippines — Free Format & Guide