RULE 123 -

PROCEDURE IN THE
MUNICIPAL TRIAL
COURTS
Section  1.  Uniform 
Procedure.  –  The  procedure 
to  be  observed  in the
Metropolit<n Tri<l Courts,
Municip<l Tri<l Courts <nd
Municip<l Circuit  Tri<l 
Courts  sh<ll  be  the  s<me 
<s  in  the  Region<l  Tri<l
Courts, except where <
p<rticul<r provision <pplies
only to either of s<id courts
<nd in crimin<l c<ses
governed by the Revised Rule
on Summ<ry Procedure. 
WHAT IS SUMMARY
PROCEDURE?
     Procedure  wherein  the 
court  decides  the  c<se 
through  the evidence <nd
<ffid<vits presented by the
p<rties
RESOLUTION  OF  THE 
COURT  EN  BANC  DATED 
OCTOBER  15,  1991
PROVIDING  FOR  THE 
REVISED  RULE  ON 
SUMMARY  PROCEDURE FOR
METROPOLITAN TRIAL
COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL
COURTS IN CITIES, 
MUNICIPAL   TRIAL  COURTS 
AND   MUNICIPAL  CIRCUIT
TRIAL COURTS.
 
I. Applic@bility
 
Section 1.  Scope. — This rule
sh@ll govern the summ@ry
procedure in the Metropolit@n
Tri@l Courts, the Municip@l
Tri@l Courts in Cities, the
Municip@l Tri@l Courts, @nd
the Municip@l Circuit Tri@l
Courts in
the following c@ses f@lling
within their jurisdiction:
 
xxx xxx xxx
 
B.  Crimin@l C@ses:
 
(1)  Viol@tions of tr@ffic l@ws,
rules @nd regul@tions;
 
(2)  Viol@tions of the rent@l
l@w;
 
(3)  Viol@tions of municip@l or
city ordin@nces;
 
(4)    All  other  crimin@l 
c@ses  where  the  pen@lty 
prescribed  by  l@w for the
offense ch@rged is
imprisonment not exceeding
six months, or @ fine not
exceeding (P1,000.00), or
both, irrespective of other
impos@ble pen@lties,
@ccessory or otherwise, or of
the civil li@bility @rising 
therefrom:  Provided, 
however,  th@t  in  offenses 
involving d@m@ge  to 
property  through  crimin@l 
negligence,  this  Rule  sh@ll
govern  where  the 
impos@ble  fine  does  not 
exceed  ten  thous@nd pesos
(P10,000.00).
 
This Rule sh@ll not @pply to @
civil c@se where the pl@intiffs
c@use of @ction  is  ple@ded 
in  the  s@me  compl@int  with 
@nother  c@use  of @ction 
subject  to  the  ordin@ry 
procedure;  nor  to  @ 
crimin@l  c@se
where  the  offense   ch@rged 
is  necess@rily   rel@ted  to 
@nother crimin@l c@se subject
to the ordin@ry procedure.
Sec. 2.  Determin@tion of
@pplic@bility. — Upon the
filing of @ civil or crimin@l
@ction, the court sh@ll issue
@n order decl@ring whether or
not the c@se sh@ll  be
governed by this Rule. A 
p@tently erroneous
determin@tion  to  @void  the 
@pplic@tion  of  the  Rule  on 
Summ@ry Procedure is @
ground for disciplin@ry @ction.
WHAT  ARE  THE 
CRIMINAL  CASES 
FALLING  UNDER  THE 
RULES  OF SUMMARY
PROCEDURE?
1.    Viol<tions of tr<ffic l<ws,
rules <nd regul<tions
2.    Viol<tions of the rent<l
l<w
3.    Viol<tions of municip<l or
city ordin<nces
4.    All  other  crimin<l  c<ses 
where  the  pen<lty 
prescribed  by  l<w  for the
offense ch<rged is
imprisonment not exceeding
six months, or
<  fine  not  exceeding 
(P1,000.00),  or  both, 
irrespective  of  other
impos<ble pen<lties,
<ccessory or otherwise, or of
the civil li<bility <rising 
therefrom:  Provided, 
however,  th<t  in  offenses 
involving
d<m<ge  to  property 
through  crimin<l  negligence, 
this  Rule  sh<ll govern  where 
the  impos<ble  fine  does 
not  exceed  ten  thous<nd
pesos (P10,000.00). 
xxx xxx xxx
 
III. Crimin@l C@ses
 
Sec.    11.    How 
commenced.  —  The  filing 
of  crimin@l  c@ses  f@lling
within  the  scope  of  this 
Rule  sh@ll  be  either  by 
compl@int  or  by inform@tion:
Provided, however, th@t in
Metropolit@n M@nil@ @nd in
Ch@rtered   Cities,   such  
c@ses   sh@ll   be  
commenced   only   by
inform@tion,  except  when 
the  offense  c@nnot  be 
prosecuted  de oficio. 
 
The   compl@int   or  
inform@tion   sh@ll   be  
@ccomp@nied   by   the
@ffid@vits of the compli@nt
@nd of his witnesses in such
number of copies @s there @re
@ccused plus two (2) copies
for the court's files. 
If this requirement is not
complied with within five  (5)
d@ys from d@te of filing, the
c@se m@y be dismissed. 
HOW   IS   A   CRIMINAL  
CASE   COMMENCED   IN  
A   SUMMARY
PROCEDURE?
      The  filing  of  crimin<l 
c<ses  f<lling  within  the 
scope  of  this  Rule sh<ll be
either by compl<int or by
inform<tion: Provided,
however, th<t  in 
Metropolit<n  M<nil<  <nd  in 
Ch<rtered  Cities,  such 
c<ses sh<ll be commenced
only by inform<tion, except
when the offense c<nnot be
prosecuted de oficio. 
     The  compl<int  or 
inform<tion  sh<ll  be 
<ccomp<nied  by  the
<ffid<vits of the compli<nt
<nd of his witnesses in such
number of copies  <s  there 
<re  <ccused  plus  two  (2) 
copies  for  the  court's files. 
If this requirement is not
complied with within five (5)
d<ys from d<te of filing, the
c<se m<y be dismissed
Sec.  12.  Duty of court. — 
 
(@)  If commenced by
compli@nt. — On the  b@sis of 
the compli@nt @nd the
@ffid@vits @nd other evidence
@ccomp@nying the s@me, the
court  m@y  dismiss  the  c@se 
outright  for  being  p@tently 
without
b@sis or merit @nd order the
rele@se of the @ccused if in
custody.
 
(b)  If commenced by
inform@tion. — When the
c@se is commenced by
inform@tion, or is not
dismissed pursu@nt to the
next preceding p@r@gr@ph, 
the  court  sh@ll  issue  @n 
order  which,  together  with
copies  of  the  @ffid@vits  @nd 
other  evidence  submitted 
by  the prosecution,  sh@ll 
require  the  @ccused  to 
submit  his  counter-@ffid@vit
@nd the @ffid@vits of his
witnesses @s well @s @ny
evidence
in  his  beh@lf,  serving  
copies  thereof  on  the 
compl@in@nt  or prosecutor
not l@ter th@n ten (10) d@ys
from receipt of s@id order.
The prosecution m@y file reply
@ffid@vits within ten (10) d@ys
@fter receipt of the counter-
@ffid@vits of the defense. 
WHAT  SHOULD  THE 
MTC  FIRST  DO 
WHENEVER 
INFORMATION  IS FILED?
     When the c<se is
commenced by inform<tion,
or  isnʼt dismissed, the court
sh<ll issue <n order which,
together  with the <ffid<vits
<nd other evidence submitted
by the prosecution, SHALL
REQUIRE
THE  ACCUSED  TO  SUBMIT 
HIS  COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT 
AND  THE AFFIDAVITS OF HIS
WITNESSES AS WELL AS ANY
EVIDENCE IN HIS BEHALF
     Copies of the <bove
sh<ll be served thereof to the
compl<in<nt or prosecutor not
l<ter th<n 10 d<ys from
receipt of s<id order
     The prosecution m<y
<lso be <llowed to file reply
<ffid<vits within 10 d<ys <fter
receipt of the counter-
<ffid<vits of the defense 
Sec.    13.    Arr@ignment  @nd 
tri@l.  —  Should  the  court, 
upon  @ consider@tion  of  the 
compl@int  or  inform@tion 
@nd  the  @ffid@vits submitted 
by  both  p@rties,  find  no 
c@use  or  ground  to  hold 
the  @ccused for tri@l, it sh@ll
order the dismiss@l of the
c@se; otherwise, the court
sh@ll set the c@se for
@rr@ignment @nd tri@l.
 
If  the  @ccused  is  in 
custody  for  the  crime 
ch@rged,  he  sh@ll  be
immedi@tely  @rr@igned  @nd 
if  he  enters  @  ple@  of 
guilty,  he  sh@ll forthwith be
sentenced.
 
Sec.  14.  Prelimin@ry
conference. — Before
conducting the tri@l, the court
sh@ll c@ll the p@rties to @
prelimin@ry conference during
which @  stipul@tion  of  f@cts 
m@y  be  entered  into,  or 
the  propriety  of
@llowing  the  @ccused  to 
enter  @  ple@  of  guilty  to  @ 
lesser  offense m@y  be 
considered,  or  such  other 
m@tters  m@y  be  t@ken  up 
to cl@rify  the  issues  @nd  to 
ensure  @  speedy  disposition 
of  the  c@se. However,  no 
@dmission  by  the  @ccused 
sh@ll  be  used  @g@inst  him
unless  reduced  to  writing 
@nd  signed  by  the  @ccused 
@nd  his counsel.    A  refus@l 
or  f@ilure  to  stipul@te  sh@ll 
not  prejudice  the @ccused.
 WHEN  DOES  A 
PRELIMINARY 
CONFERENCE  TAKE 
PLACE?  WHAT HAPPENS
DURING A PRELIMINARY
CONFERENCE?
Before conducting the tri<l,
the court sh<ll c<ll the p<rties
to < prelimin<ry conference
during which—
1.    Stipul<tion of f<cts m<y
be entered into
2.    The  propriety  of 
<llowing  the  <ccused  to 
ple<d  guilty  to  <  lesser
offense m<y be considered
3.    Other  m<tters  <s  m<y 
be  t<ken  up  to  cl<rify  the 
issues  <nd  to ensure <
speedy disposition of the
c<se
Sec.  15.  Procedure of tri@l. —
At the tri@l, the @ffid@vits
submitted by  the  p@rties 
sh@ll  constitute  the  direct 
testimonies  of  the witnesses
who executed the s@me.
Witnesses who testified m@y
be
subjected  to  cross-
ex@min@tion,  redirect  or  re-
cross  ex@min@tion. Should  
the   @ffi@nt   f@il   to   testify,  
his   @ffid@vit   sh@ll   not   be
considered  @s  competent 
evidence  for  the  p@rty 
presenting  the @ffid@vit,  but 
the  @dverse  p@rty  m@y 
utilize  the  s@me  for  @ny
@dmissible purpose.
 
Except  in  rebutt@l  or 
surrebutt@l,  no  witness  sh@ll 
be  @llowed  to testify unless
his @ffid@vit w@s previously
submitted to the court in
@ccord@nce with Section 12
hereof.
 
However,  should  @  p@rty 
desire  to  present  @ddition@l 
@ffid@vits  or counter-
@ffid@vits  @s  p@rt  of  his 
direct  evidence,  he  sh@ll  so
m@nifest  during  the 
prelimin@ry  conference, 
st@ting  the  purpose
thereof.    If  @llowed  by  the 
court,  the  @ddition@l 
@ffid@vits  of  the prosecution 
or  the  counter-@ffid@vits  of 
the  defense  sh@ll  be
submitted  to  the  court  @nd 
served  on  the  @dverse 
p@rty  not  l@ter th@n  three 
(3)  d@ys  @fter  the 
termin@tion  of  the 
prelimin@ry conference.  If 
the  @ddition@l  @ffid@vits  @re 
presented  by  the
prosecution, the @ccused m@y
file his  counter-@ffid@vits 
@nd serve
the  s@me  on  the 
prosecution  within  three  (3) 
d@ys  from  such service.
 
Sec.  16.  Arrest of @ccused.
— The court sh@ll not order
the @rrest of  the  @ccused 
except  for  f@ilure  to  @ppe@r 
whenever  required. Rele@se 
of  the  person  @rrested 
sh@ll  either  be  on  b@il  or 
on
recogniz@nce by @
responsible citizen
@ccept@ble to the court.
IF  AN  ACCUSED  IS 
CHARGED  IN  THE 
MUNICIPAL  TRIAL 
COURT, CAN  THE 
COURT  ISSUE  A 
WARRANT  OF  ARREST 
AGAINST  THE
ACCUSED?
     The  court  sh<ll  not 
order  the  <rrest  of  the 
<ccused  except  for f<ilure to
<ppe<r whenever required. 
     Rele<se  of  the  person 
<rrested  sh<ll  either  be  on 
b<il  or  on recogniz<nce by <
responsible citizen
<ccept<ble to the court. 
Sec.  17.  Judgment. — Where
@ tri@l h@s been conducted,
the court sh@ll promulg@te the
judgment not l@ter th@n thirty
(30) d@ys @fter the
termin@tion of tri@l. 
WHEN DOES THE COURT
NEED TO PROMULGATE
JUDGMENT?
     Where < tri<l h<s been
conducted, the court sh<ll
promulg<te the judgment not
l<ter th<n thirty (30) d<ys
<fter the termin<tion of tri<l. 
IV. COMMON PROVISIONS
 
Sec.  18.  Referr@l to Lupon. —
C@ses requiring referr@l to the
Lupon for  concili@tion  under 
the  provisions  of 
Presidenti@l  Decree  No.
1508   where   there   is   no  
showing   of   compli@nce  
with   such requirement, 
sh@ll  be  dismissed  without 
prejudice  @nd  m@y  be
revived only @fter such
requirement sh@ll h@ve been
complied with.   This provision
sh@ll not @pply to crimin@l
c@ses where the @ccused w@s
@rrested without @ w@rr@nt. 
CAN THE MTC REFER THE
CASE TO THE LUPON?
     Yes
     The  exception  is  when 
the  <ccused  h<s  been 
<rrested  without
w<rr<nt.  
 
WHAT  HAPPENS  WHEN 
THERE  HAS  BEEN  NO 
COMPLIANCE  WITH THE
REQUIREMENT THAT
THERE SHOULD BE FIRST
CONCILIATION
PROCEEDINGS IN THE
LUPON?
     The court m<y dismiss
the c<se without prejudice
     It m<y <lso revive the
c<se only <fter such
requirement sh<ll h<ve been
complied with
     This  provision  sh<ll 
not  <pply  in  crimin<l  c<ses 
wherein  the <ccused h<s
been <rrested l<wfully without
< w<rr<nt of <rrest. 
Sec.    19.    Prohibited 
ple@dings  @nd  motions.  — 
The  following ple@dings, 
motions  or  petitions  sh@ll 
not  be  @llowed  in  the  c@ses
covered by this Rule:
 
(@)  Motion to dismiss the
compl@int or to qu@sh the
compl@int or inform@tion 
except  on  the  ground  of 
l@ck  of  jurisdiction  over  the
subject m@tter, or f@ilure to
comply with the preceding
section;
 
(b)  Motion for @ bill of
p@rticul@rs;
 
(c)   Motion for new tri@l, or 
for  reconsider@tion of @
judgment, or for opening of
tri@l;
 
(d)  Petition for relief from
judgment;
 
(e)  Motion for extension of
time to file ple@dings,
@ffid@vits or @ny other p@per;
 
(f)  Memor@nd@;
 
(g)    Petition  for  certior@ri, 
m@nd@mus,  or  prohibition 
@g@inst  @ny interlocutory
order issued by the court;
 
(h)  Motion to decl@re the
defend@nt in def@ult;
 
(i)  Dil@tory motions for
postponement;
 
(j)  Reply;
 
(k)  Third p@rty compl@ints; 
(l)  Interventions. 
Sec.    20.    Affid@vits.  — 
The  @ffid@vits  required  to 
be  submitted under this Rule
sh@ll st@te only f@cts of direct
person@l knowledge of  the 
@ffi@nts  which  @re 
@dmissible  in  evidence,  @nd 
sh@ll  show their competence
to testify to the m@tters
st@ted therein.
 
A viol@tion of this requirement
m@y subject the p@rty or the
counsel who submits the
s@me to disciplin@ry @ction,
@nd sh@ll be c@use to
expunge  the  in@dmissible 
@ffid@vit  or  portion  thereof 
from  the record. 
WHAT  IS  REQUIRED  IN 
THE  SUBMISSION  OF 
AFFIDAVITS  IN  A
SUMMARY PROCEEDING?
     The <ffid<vits required
to be submitted under this
Rule sh<ll st<te only  f<cts  of 
direct  person<l  knowledge 
of  the  <ffi<nts  which  <re
<dmissible in evidence, <nd
sh<ll show their competence
to testify
to the m<tters st<ted therein. 
Sec.  21.  Appe@l. — The
judgment or fin@l order sh@ll
be @ppe@l@ble to the
@ppropri@te Region@l Tri@l
Court which sh@ll decide the
s@me in  @ccord@nce  with 
Section  22  of  B@t@s 
P@mb@ns@  Blg.  129.  The
decision of the Region@l Tri@l
Court in civil c@ses governed
by this Rule,  including 
forcible  entry  @nd  unl@wful 
det@iner,  sh@ll  be
immedi@tely executory,
without prejudice to @ further
@ppe@l th@t
m@y  be  t@ken  therefrom.   
Section  10  of  Rule  70  sh@ll 
be  deemed repe@led.
 
Sec.  22.  Applic@bility of the
regul@r rules. — The regul@r
procedure prescribed  in  the 
Rules  of  Court  sh@ll  @pply 
to  the  speci@l  c@ses herein
provided for in @ suppletory
c@p@city insof@r @s they @re
not
inconsistent herewith.