SEC speeds up corporate case resolution

The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued new procedural rules to resolve corporate and investor cases faster, cut delays, and shift filings online, allowing companies and investors to obtain regulatory decisions more quickly.

Citing a Memorandum Circular No. 08, series of 2026, issued on 11 February, the SEC said Wednesday that it introduced the 2026 Rules of Procedure, replacing the 2016 framework and updating processes under the Securities Regulation Code, Revised Corporation Code, and Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act. 

The rules will simplify adjudication, reduce case backlogs, and strengthen enforcement.

“The 2026 SEC Rules of Procedure of the SEC reflect the Commission’s continuing efforts to strengthen its adjudicative and administrative systems,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said.

“By clarifying processes and eliminating unnecessary procedural steps, the 2026 SEC ROP enhances regulatory certainty while reinforcing due process. With the new rules, the Commission is better positioned to exercise its expanded powers efficiently and consistently as the country’s corporate and securities regulator and investor champion.”

The new rules prohibit motions for extension of time and motions for reconsideration at the department level, requiring parties to appeal directly to the Commission En Banc. Hearing schedules agreed during preliminary conferences must also be followed, with postponements no longer allowed.

SEC departments and extension offices must issue decisions within 45 working days after cases are submitted for resolution. The regulator may also use corporate filings already in its records, such as financial statements and general information sheets, to reduce paperwork and speed up proceedings.

Email will now be the primary mode of filing and serving pleadings, with most submissions and SEC issuances sent electronically through registered corporate email addresses.

The updated procedures also strengthen enforcement, allowing cease and desist orders, license suspensions, and other directives to take effect immediately unless overturned by the Commission En Banc or the courts.