BASIC CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Criminal Procedure - it is the method prescribed by law for the

apprehension and prosecution of persons accused of any criminal
offense, and for their punishment, in case of conviction
THE REVISED RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
(As amended, December 1, 2000)
RULE 110
Prosecution of Offenses
Section 1. Institution of criminal actions. Criminal actions shall
be instituted as follows:
(a) For offenses where a preliminary investigation is required
pursuant to section 1 of Rule 112, by filing the complaint with
the proper officer for the purpose of conducting the requisite
preliminary investigation.
(b) For all other offenses, by filing the complaint or
information directly with the Municipal Trial Courts and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, or the complaint with the office
of the prosecutor. In Manila and other chartered cities, the
complaint shall be filed with the office of the prosecutor
unless otherwise provided in their charters.
The institution of the criminal action shall interrupt the running
period of prescription of the offense charged unless otherwise
provided in special laws. (1a)

Section 2. The Complaint or information. The complaint or

information shall be in writing, in the name of the People of the
Philippines and against all persons who appear to be responsible for
the offense involved. (2a)
Section 3. Complaint defined. A complaint is a sworn written
statement charging a person with an offense, subscribed by the
offended party, any peace officer, or other public officer charged
with the enforcement of the law violated. (3)
Section 4. Information defined. An information is an accusation
in writing charging a person with an offense, subscribed by the
prosecutor and filed with the court. (4a)
Section 5. Who must prosecute criminal actions. All criminal
actions commenced by a complaint or information shall be
prosecuted under the direction and control of the prosecutor.
However, in Municipal Trial Courts or Municipal Circuit Trial Courts
when the prosecutor assigned thereto or to the case is not
available, the offended party, any peace officer, or public officer
charged with the enforcement of the law violated may prosecute
the case. This authority cease upon actual intervention of the
prosecutor or upon elevation of the case to the Regional Trial Court.
(This Section was repealed by A.M. No. 02-2-07-SC effective May 1, 2002)

RULE 112
Preliminary Investigation
Section 1. Preliminary investigation defined; when required.
Preliminary investigation is an inquiry or proceeding to determine
whether there is sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief

that a crime has been committed and the respondent is probably

guilty thereof, and should be held for trial.
Except as provided in section 7 of this Rule, a preliminary
investigation is required to be conducted before the filing of a
complaint or information for an offense where the penalty
prescribed by law is at least four (4) years, two (2) months and one
(1) day without regard to the fine. (1a)
Section 2. Officers authorized to conduct preliminary
investigations.
The following may conduct preliminary investigations:
(a) Provincial or City Prosecutors and their assistants;
(b) Judges of the Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit
Trial Courts;
(c) National and Regional State Prosecutors; and
(d) Other officers as may be authorized by law.
Their authority to conduct preliminary investigations shall include all
crimes cognizable by the proper court in their respective territorial
jurisdictions. (2a)
RULE 113
Arrest
Section 1. Definition of arrest. Arrest is the taking of a person
into custody in order that he may be bound to answer for the
commission of an offense. (1)

Section 2. Arrest; how made. An arrest is made by an actual

restraint of a person to be arrested, or by his submission to the
custody of the person making the arrest.
No violence or unnecessary force shall be used in making an arrest.
The person arrested shall not be subject to a greater restraint than
is necessary for his detention. (2a)
Section 3. Duty of arresting officer. It shall be the duty of the
officer executing the warrant to arrest the accused and to deliver
him to the nearest police station or jail without unnecessary delay.
(3a)
Section 4. Execution of warrant. The head of the office to whom
the warrant of arrest was delivered for execution shall cause the
warrant to be executed within ten (10) days from its receipt. Within
ten (10) days after the expiration of the period, the officer to whom
it was assigned for execution shall make a report to the judge who
issued the warrant. In case of his failure to execute the warrant, he
shall state the reasons therefor. (4a)
Section 5. Arrest without warrant; when lawful. A peace officer
or a private person may, without a warrant, arrest a person:
(a) When, in his presence, the person to be arrested has
committed, is actually committing, or is attempting to commit
an offense;
(b) When an offense has just been committed, and he has
probable cause to believe based on personal knowledge of
facts or circumstances that the person to be arrested has
committed it; and
(c) When the person to be arrested is a prisoner who has
escaped from a penal establishment or place where he is
serving final judgment or is temporarily confined while his

case is pending, or has escaped while being transferred from

one confinement to another.
In cases falling under paragraph (a) and (b) above, the person
arrested without a warrant shall be forthwith delivered to the
nearest police station or jail and shall be proceeded against in
accordance with section 7 of Rule 112. (5a)

Section 10. Officer may summon assistance. An officer making a

lawful arrest may orally summon as many persons as he deems
necessary to assist him in effecting the arrest. Every person so
summoned by an officer shall assist him in effecting the arrest when
he can render such assistance without detriment to himself. (10a)

Section 11. Right of officer to break into building or enclosure.

An officer, in order to make an arrest either by virtue of a warrant,
Section 6. Time of making arrest. An arrest may be made on any or without a warrant as provided in section 5, may break into any
day and at any time of the day or night. (6)
building or enclosure where the person to be arrested is or is
reasonably believed to be, if he is refused admittance thereto, after
Section 7. Method of arrest by officer by virtue of warrant. When announcing his authority and purpose. (11a)
making an arrest by virtue of a warrant, the officer shall inform the
person to be arrested of the cause of the arrest and of the fact that Section 12. Right to break out from building or
a warrant has been issued for his arrest, except when he flees or
enclosure. Whenever an officer has entered the building or
forcibly resists before the officer has opportunity to so inform him,
enclosure in accordance with the preceding section, he may break
or when the giving of such information will imperil the arrest. The
out therefrom when necessary to liberate himself. (12a)
officer need not have the warrant in his possession at the time of
the arrest but after the arrest, if the person arrested so requires, the Section 13. Arrest after escape or rescue. If a person lawfully
warrant shall be shown to him as soon as practicable. (7a)
arrested escapes or is rescued, any person may immediately pursue
or retake him without a warrant at any time and in any place within
Section 8. Method of arrest by officer without warrant. When
the Philippines. (13)
making an arrest without a warrant, the officer shall inform the
person to be arrested of his authority and the cause of the arrest,
Section 14. Right of attorney or relative to visit person arrested.
unless the latter is either engaged in the commission of an offense, Any member of the Philippine Bar shall, at the request of the person
is pursued immediately after its commission, has escaped, flees or
arrested or of another acting in his behalf, have the right to visit and
forcibly resists before the officer has opportunity so to inform him,
confer privately with such person in the jail or any other place of
or when the giving of such information will imperil the arrest. (8a)
custody at any hour of the day or night. Subject to reasonable
regulations, a relative of the person arrested can also exercise the
Section 9. Method of arrest by private person. When making an same right. (14a)
arrest, a private person shall inform the person to be arrested of the
intention to arrest him and cause of the arrest, unless the latter is
RULE 114
either engaged in the commission of an offense, is pursued
immediately after its commission, or has escaped, flees, or forcibly Bail
resists before the person making the arrest has opportunity to so
inform him, or when the giving of such information will imperil the
Section 1. Bail defined. Bail is the security given for the release
arrest. (9a)
of a person in custody of the law, furnished by him or a bondsman,

to guarantee his appearance before any court as required under the

conditions hereinafter specified. Bail may be given in the form of
corporate surety, property bond, cash deposit, or recognizance. (1a)

(b) That he has previously escaped from legal confinement,

evaded sentence, or violated the conditions of his bail without
valid justification;

Section 4. Bail, a matter of right; exception. All persons in

custody shall be admitted to bail as a matter of right, with sufficient
sureties, or released on recognize as prescribed by law or this Rule
(a) before or after conviction by the Metropolitan Trial Court,
Municipal Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court in Cities, or Municipal
Circuit Trial Court, and (b) before conviction by the Regional Trial
Court of an offense not punishable by death, reclusion perpetua, or
life imprisonment. (4a)

(c) That he committed the offense while under probation,

parole, or conditional pardon;

Section 5. Bail, when discretionary. Upon conviction by the

Regional Trial Court of an offense not punishable by death, reclusion
perpetua, or life imprisonment, admission to bail is discretionary.
The application for bail may be filed and acted upon by the trial
court despite the filing of a notice of appeal, provided it has not
transmitted the original record to the appellate court. However, if
the decision of the trial court convicting the accused changed the
nature of the offense from non-bailable to bailable, the application
for bail can only be filed with and resolved by the appellate court.

(d) That the circumstances of his case indicate the probability

of flight if released on bail; or
(e) That there is undue risk that he may commit another
crime during the pendency of the appeal.
The appellate court may, motu proprio or on motion of any party,
review the resolution of the Regional Trial Court after notice to the
adverse party in either case. (5a)
Section 6. Capital offense defined. A capital offense is an
offense which, under the law existing at the time of its commission
and of the application for admission to bail, may be punished with
death. (6a)

Section 7. Capital offense of an offense punishable by reclusion

Should the court grant the application, the accused may be allowed perpetua or life imprisonment, not bailable. No person charged
to continue on provisional liberty during the pendency of the appeal with a capital offense, or an offense punishable by reclusion
under the same bail subject to the consent of the bondsman.
perpetua or life imprisonment, shall be admitted to bail when
evidence of guilt is strong, regardless of the stage of the criminal
If the penalty imposed by the trial court is imprisonment exceeding prosecution. (7a)
six (6) years, the accused shall be denied bail, or his bail shall be
cancelled upon a showing by the prosecution, with notice to the
RULE 115
accused, of the following or other similar circumstances:
Rights of Accused
(a) That he is a recidivist, quasi-recidivist, or habitual
delinquent, or has committed the crime aggravated by the
Section 1. Rights of accused at the trial. In all criminal
circumstance of reiteration;
prosecutions, the accused shall be entitled to the following rights:

(a) To be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved

beyond reasonable doubt.
(b) To be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation
against him.

otherwise unable to testify, given in another case or

proceeding, judicial or administrative, involving the same
parties and subject matter, the adverse party having the
opportunity to cross-examine him.

(g) To have compulsory process issued to secure the

(c) To be present and defend in person and by counsel at
attendance of witnesses and production of other evidence in
every stage of the proceedings, from arraignment to
his behalf.
promulgation of the judgment. The accused may, however,
waive his presence at the trial pursuant to the stipulations set
(h) To have speedy, impartial and public trial.
forth in his bail, unless his presence is specifically ordered by
(i) To appeal in all cases allowed and in the manner prescribed
the court for purposes of identification. The absence of the
by law. (1a)
accused without justifiable cause at the trial of which he had
notice shall be considered a waiver of his right to be present
thereat. When an accused under custody escapes, he shall be RULE 116 - Arraignment and Plea
deemed to have waived his right to be present on all
Section 1. Arraignment and plea; how made.
subsequent trial dates until custody over him is regained.
Upon motion, the accused may be allowed to defend himself
(a) The accused must be arraigned before the court where the
in person when it sufficiently appears to the court that he can
complaint or information was filed or assigned for trial. The
properly protect his right without the assistance of counsel.
arraignment shall be made in open court by the judge or clerk
by furnishing the accused with a copy of the complaint or
(d) To testify as a witness in his own behalf but subject to
information, reading the same in the language or dialect
cross-examination on matters covered by direct examination.
known to him, and asking him whether he pleads guilty or not
His silence shall not in any manner prejudice him.
guilty. The prosecution may call at the trial witnesses other
than those named in the complaint or information.
(e) To be exempt from being compelled to be a witness
against himself.
(f) To confront and cross-examine the witnesses against him at
the trial. Either party may utilize as part of its evidence the
testimony of a witness who is deceased, out of or can not with
due diligence be found in the Philippines, unavailable or

(b) The accused must be present at the arraignment and must

personally enter his plea. Both arraignment and plea shall be
made of record, but failure to do so shall not affect the validity
of the proceedings.

(c) When the accused refuses to plead or makes a conditional

plea, a plea of not guilty shall be entered for him. (1a)
(d) When the accused pleads guilty but presents exculpatory
evidence, his plea shall be deemed withdrawn and a plea of
not guilty shall be entered for him. (n)
(e) When the accused is under preventive detention, his case
shall be raffled and its records transmitted to the judge to
whom the case was raffled within three (3) days from the
filing of the information or complaint. The accused shall be
arraigned within ten (10) days from the date of the raffle. The
pre-trial conference of his case shall be held within ten (10)
days after arraignment. (n)
(f) The private offended party shall be required to appear at
the arraignment for purposes of plea bargaining,
determination of civil liability, and other matters requiring his
presence. In case of failure of the offended party to appear
despite due notice, the court may allow the accused to enter
a plea of guilty to a lesser offense which is necessarily
included in the offense charged with the conformity of the trial
prosecutor alone. (cir. 1-89)
(g) Unless a shorter period is provided by special law or
Supreme Court circular, the arraignment shall be held within
thirty (30) days from the date the court acquires jurisdiction
over the person of the accused. The time of the pendency of a
motion to quash or for a bill of particulars or other causes
justifying suspension of the arraignment shall be excluded in
computing the period. (sec. 2, cir. 38-98)

Section 2. Plea of guilty to a lesser offense. At arraignment, the

accused, with the consent of the offended party and the prosecutor,
may be allowed by the trial court to plead guilty to a lesser offense
which is necessarily included in the offense charged. After
arraignment but before trial, the accused may still be allowed to
plead guilty to said lesser offense after withdrawing his plea of not
guilty. No amendment of the complaint or information is necessary.
(sec. 4, circ. 38-98)
Section 3. Plea of guilty to capital offense; reception of evidence.
When the accused pleads guilty to a capital offense, the court
shall conduct a searching inquiry into the voluntariness and full
comprehension of the consequences of his plea and require the
prosecution to prove his guilt and the precise degree of culpability.
The accused may present evidence in his behalf. (3a)
Section 4. Plea of guilty to non-capital offense; reception of
evidence, discretionary. When the accused pleads guilty to a noncapital offense, the court may receive evidence from the parties to
determine the penalty to be imposed. (4)
Section 5. Withdrawal of improvident plea of guilty. At any time
before the judgment of conviction becomes final, the court may
permit an improvident plea of guilty to be withdrawn and be
substituted by a plea of not guilty. (5)
Section 6. Duty of court to inform accused of his right to counsel.
Before arraignment, the court shall inform the accused of his
right to counsel and ask him if he desires to have one. Unless the
accused is allowed to defend himself in person or has employed a
counsel of his choice, the court must assign a counsel de oficio to
defend him. (6a)

Section 7. Appointment of counsel de oficio. The court,

considering the gravity of the offense and the difficulty of the
questions that may arise, shall appoint as counsel de oficio only
such members of the bar in good standing who, by reason of their
experience and ability, can competently defend the accused. But in
localities where such members of the bar are not available, the
court may appoint any person, resident of the province and of good
repute for probity and ability, to defend the accused. (7a)
Section 8. Time for counsel de oficio to prepare for arraignment.
Whenever a counsel de oficio is appointed by the court to defend
the accused at the arraignment, he shall be given a reasonable time
to consult with the accused as to his plea before proceeding with
the arraignment. (8)
Section 9. Bill of particulars. The accused may, before
arraignment, move for a bill of particulars to enable him properly to
plead and to prepare for trial. The motion shall specify the alleged
defects of the complaint or information and the details desired.
(10a)
Section 10. Production or inspection of material evidence in
possession of prosecution. Upon motion of the accused showing
good cause and with notice to the parties, the court, in order to
prevent surprise, suppression, or alteration, may order the
prosecution to produce and permit the inspection and copying or
photographing of any written statement given by the complainant
and other witnesses in any investigation of the offense conducted
by the prosecution or other investigating officers, as well as any
designated documents, papers, books, accounts, letters,
photographs, objects or tangible things not otherwise privileged,
which constitute or contain evidence material to any matter

involved in the case and which are in the possession or under the
control of the prosecution, police, or other law investigating
agencies. (11a)
Section 11. Suspension of arraignment. Upon motion by the
proper party, the arraignment shall be suspended in the following
cases:
(a) The accused appears to be suffering from an unsound
mental condition which effective renders him unable to fully
understand the charge against him and to plead intelligently
thereto. In such case, the court shall order his mental
examination and, if necessary, his confinement for such
purpose;
(b) There exists a prejudicial question; and
(c) A petition for review of the resolution of the prosecutor is
pending at either the Department of Justice, or the Office of
the President; provided, that the period of suspension shall
not exceed sixty (60) days counted from the filing of the
petition with the reviewing office. (12a)
RULE 119 - Trial
Section 1. Time to prepare for trial. After a plea of not guilty is
entered, the accused shall have at least fifteen (15) days to prepare
for trial. The trial shall commence within thirty (30) days from
receipt of the pre-trial order. (sec. 6, cir. 38-98)
Section 2. Continuous trial until terminated; postponements.
Trial once commenced shall continue from day to day as far as

practicable until terminated. It may be postponed for a reasonable

period of time for good cause. (2a)

Section 10. Law on speedy trial not a bar to provision on speedy

trial in the Constitution. No provision of law on speedy trial and
no rule implementing the same shall be interpreted as a bar to any
The court shall, after consultation with the prosecutor and defense
charge of denial of the right to speedy trial guaranteed by section
counsel, set the case for continuous trial on a weekly or other short- 14(2), article III, of the 1987 Constitution. (sec. 15, cir. 38-98)
term trial calendar at the earliest possible time so as to ensure
speedy trial. In no case shall the entire trial period exceed one
Section 11. Order of trial. The trial shall proceed in the following
hundred eighty (180) days from the first day of trial, except as
order:
otherwise authorized by the Supreme Court. (sec. 8, cir. 38-98).
(a) The prosecution shall present evidence to prove the
The time limitations provided under this section and the preceding
charge and, in the proper case, the civil liability.
section shall not apply where special laws or circulars of the
(b) The accused may present evidence to prove his defense,
Supreme Court provide for a shorter period of trial. (n)
and damages, if any, arising from the issuance of a provisional
Section 9. Remedy where accused is not brought to trial within the
remedy in the case.
time limit. If the accused is not brought to trial within the time
(c) The prosecution and the defense may, in that order,
limit required by Section 1(g), Rule 116 and Section 1, as extended
present rebuttal and sur-rebuttal evidence unless the court, in
by Section 6 of this rule, the information may be dismissed on
furtherance of justice, permits them to present additional
motion of the accused on the ground of denial of his right of speedy
evidence bearing upon the main issue.
trial. The accused shall have the burden of proving the motion but
the prosecution shall have the burden of going forward with the
(d) Upon admission of the evidence of the parties, the case
evidence to establish the exclusion of time under section 3 of this
shall be deemed submitted for decision unless the court
rule. The dismissal shall be subject to the rules on double jeopardy.
directs them to argue orally or to submit written memoranda.
Failure of the accused to move for dismissal prior to trial shall
constitute a waiver of the right to dismiss under this section. (sec.
14, cir. 38-98)

(e) When the accused admits the act or omission charged in

the complaint or information but interposes a lawful defense,
the order of trial may be modified. (3a)
RULE 120
Judgment

Section 1. Judgment definition and form. Judgment is the

adjudication by the court that the accused is guilty or not guilty of
the offense charged and the imposition on him of the proper penalty
and civil liability, if any. It must be written in the official language,
personally and directly prepared by the judge and signed by him
and shall contain clearly and distinctly a statement of the facts and
the law upon which it is based. (1a)

confinement or detention upon request of the court which rendered

the judgment. The court promulgating the judgment shall have
authority to accept the notice of appeal and to approve the bail
bond pending appeal; provided, that if the decision of the trial court
convicting the accused changed the nature of the offense from nonbailable to bailable, the application for bail can only be filed and
resolved by the appellate court.

Section 2. Contents of the judgment. If the judgment is of

conviction, it shall state (1) the legal qualification of the offense
constituted by the acts committed by the accused and the
aggravating or mitigating circumstances which attended its
commission; (2) the participation of the accused in the offense,
whether as principal, accomplice, or accessory after the fact; (3) the
penalty imposed upon the accused; and (4) the civil liability or
damages caused by his wrongful act or omission to be recovered
from the accused by the offended party, if there is any, unless the
enforcement of the civil liability by a separate civil action has been
reserved or waived.

The proper clerk of court shall give notice to the accused personally
or through his bondsman or warden and counsel, requiring him to
be present at the promulgation of the decision. If the accused
tried in absentia because he jumped bail or escaped from prison,
the notice to him shall be served at his last known address.

In case the judgment is of acquittal, it shall state whether the

evidence of the prosecution absolutely failed to prove the guilt of
the accused or merely failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable
doubt. In either case, the judgment shall determine if the act or
omission from which the civil liability might arise did not exist. (2a)

In case the accused fails to appear at the scheduled date of

promulgation of judgment despite notice, the promulgation shall be
made by recording the judgment in the criminal docket and serving
him a copy thereof at his last known address or thru his counsel.
If the judgment is for conviction and the failure of the accused to
appear was without justifiable cause, he shall lose the remedies
available in these rules against the judgment and the court shall
order his arrest. Within fifteen (15) days from promulgation of
judgment, however, the accused may surrender and file a motion
for leave of court to avail of these remedies. He shall state the
reasons for his absence at the scheduled promulgation and if he
proves that his absence was for a justifiable cause, he shall be
allowed to avail of said remedies within fifteen (15) days from
notice. (6a)

Section 6. Promulgation of judgment. The judgment is

promulgated by reading it in the presence of the accused and any
judge of the court in which it was rendered. However, if the
conviction is for a light offense, the judgment may be pronounced in
the presence of his counsel or representative. When the judge is
RULE 121 - New Trial or Reconsideration
absent or outside of the province or city, the judgment may be
promulgated by the clerk of court.
Section 1. New trial or reconsideration. At any time before a
judgment of conviction becomes final, the court may, on motion of
If the accused is confined or detained in another province or city,
the accused or at its own instance but with the consent of the
the judgment may be promulgated by the executive judge of the
accused, grant a new trial or reconsideration. (1a)
Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction over the place of

Section 2. Grounds for a new trial. The court shall grant a new
trial on any of the following grounds:
(a) The errors of law or irregularities prejudicial to the
substantial rights of the accused have been committed during
the trial;
(b) The new and material evidence has been discovered which
the accused could not with reasonable diligence have
discovered and produced at the trial and which if introduced
and admitted would probably change the judgment. (2a)
Section 3. Ground for reconsideration. The court shall grant
reconsideration on the ground of errors of law or fact in the
judgment, which requires no further proceedings. (3a)
Section 6. Effects of granting a new trial or reconsideration. The
effects of granting a new trial or reconsideration are the following:
(a) When a new trial is granted on the ground of errors of law
or irregularities committed during the trial, all proceedings

and evidence affected thereby shall be set aside and taken

anew. The court may, in the interest of justice, allow the
introduction of additional evidence.
(b) When a new trial is granted on the ground of newlydiscovered evidence, the evidence already adduced shall
stand and the newly-discovered and such other evidence as
the court may, in the interest of justice, allow to be introduced
shall be taken and considered together with the evidence
already in the record.
(c) In all cases, when the court grants new trial or
reconsideration, the original judgment shall be set aside or
vacated and a new judgment rendered accordingly. (6a)