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PRELIMINARIES

1. Jurisdiction is determined by the extent of the penalty which the law imposes
, on the basis of the facts as recited in the complaint or information constitut
ive of the offense charged.
* Not determined by:
> what may be meted out to the offender after trial
> the result of the evidence that would be presented during the trial
* Jurisdiction is retained regardless of:
> whether the evidence proves a lesser offense than that charged in the informat
ion,
> the subsequent happening of events, although of a character which would have p
revented jurisdiction from attaching in the first instance.
2. General Rule: Jurisdiction of a court to try criminal action is to be determ
ined by the law at the time of the institution of the action.
* Exception: where the statute expressly provides, or is construed that it is in
tended to operate to actions pending before its enactment, in which case, the co
urt where the criminal action is pending is ousted of jurisdiction and the pendi
ng action will have to be transferred to the other tribunal which will continue
the proceeding.
3. Venue is jurisdictional.
* Thus: Action must be instituted and tried in the municipality or territory whe
re the offense has been committed or where any one of the essential ingredients
thereof took place.
4. General Rule: the question of jurisdiction may be raised at any stage of the
proceedings.
* Exception: may not be raised for the first time on appeal, where there has bee
n estoppel and laches on the party who raises the question.
RULE 110 PROSECUTION OF OFFENSES
Institution of Criminal Actions
1. For offenses which require preliminary investigation:
* By filing the complaint with the proper officer for preliminary investigation.
> Refers to a complaint-affidavit, and is different from the complaint defined i
n Section 3 of Rule 110.
> These offenses are those where the penalty prescribed by law is at least 4 yea
rs, 2 months and 1 day of imprisonment without regard to the fine.
2. For all other offenses, or for offenses which are penalized by law with lower
than at least 4 years, 2 months and 1 day without regard to the fine:
* Instituted directly with the MTC and MCTC, or the complaint is filed with the
Office of the Prosecutor.
* In Manila and other chartered cities, the complaint shall be filed with the O
ffice of the Prosecutor unless otherwise provided in their charters.
3. Take Note: A complaint for offenses cognizable by the RTC is NOT filed direct
ly with the RTC either for purposes of preliminary investigation or for commence
ment of the criminal prosecution.
4. The institution of the criminal action interrupts the running of the period o
f prescription of the offense charged
* Unless: otherwise provided in special laws.
* Act No. 3323 governs the prescriptive periods of violations of special laws, o
r offenses other than those penalized under the Revised Penal Code.
5. The filing of a complaint for purposes of preliminary investigation starts th
e prosecution process.
The complaint or information
1. Requisites:
* in writing
* in the name of the People of the Philippines
* Against all persons who appear to be responsible for the offense involved.
2. Who is the real offended party? The People of the Philippines, but since the
crime is also an outrage against the offended party, he is entitled to intervene
in its prosecution in cases where the civil action is impliedly instituted ther
ein.
Complaint
1. Definition: A complaint is a sworn written statement charging a person with a
n offense, subscribed by the offended party, any peace officer, or other public
officer charged with the enforcement of the law violated.
2. The complaint as defined under Section 3 is different from the complaint file
d with the Prosecutor s Office.
3. The complaint filed with the Prosecutor s Office, from which the latter may ini
tiate a preliminary investigation, refers to:
* any written complaint
* filed by an offended party or not
* not necessarily under oath, except in 2 instances:
> complaint for commission of an offense which cannot be prosecuted de officio o
r is private in nature
> where the law requires that it is to be started by a complaint sworn to by the
offended party, or when it pertains to those which need to be enforced by speci
fied public officers.
4. Under the Rule on Summary Procedure:
* a complaint may be directly filed in the MTC, provided that in Metro Manila an
d in chartered cities, the criminal action may only be commenced by the filing o
f information, which means by the prosecutor, except when the offense cannot be
prosecuted de officio as in private crimes.
Information
1. Definition: An accusation in writing a person with an offense, subscribed by
the prosecutor and filed with the court.
2. How is an Information different from a Complaint? Unlike a complaint, which r
equires that it be under oath and is filed either in the MTC or with the provinc
ial/city prosecutor s office, the information does not have to be under oath and i
s always filed in court. All that is required is that it be subscribed or signe
d by the fiscal or prosecutor, which is an indispensable requirement.
Who must prosecute criminal actions
1. May a criminal prosecution be restrained by injunction?
* General Rule: No.
* Reason: Public interest requires that criminal acts be immediately investigate
d and prosecuted for the protection of society.
* Exceptions:
> where injunction is justified by the necessity to afford protection to the con
stitutional rights of the accused
> when necessary for the orderly administration of justice or to avoid oppressio
n or multiplicity of actions
> when there is a prejudicial question which is sub judice
> when the acts of the officer are without or in excess of authority
> where the prosecution is under an invalid law, ordinance or regulation
> when double jeopardy is clearly apparent
> where the court has no jurisdiction over the offense
> where it is a case of persecution rather than prosecution
> where the charges are manifestly false and motivated by the lust for vengeance
> when there is clearly no prima facie case against the accused and the motion t
o quash on that ground has been denied
> preliminary injunction has been issued by the Supreme Court to prevent the thr
eatened unlawful arrest of petitioners.
2. Prior to the filing of the information in court, the prosecutor has full cont
rol of the case. He decides who should be charged in court and who should be ex
cluded from the information.
* However: His decision on the matter is subject to review by:
> the Secretary of Justice who exercises supervision and control over his actio
ns and who may sustain, modify or set aside his resolution on the matter
> in appropriate cases, by the courts when he acts with grave abuse of discretio
n amounting to lack of jurisdiction.
3. Private Prosecutor Participation:
* May a public prosecutor allow a private prosecutor to actively handle the cond
uct of the trial? Yes, where the civil action arising from the crime is deemed i
nstituted in the criminal action.
* Public Prosecutor must be present during the proceedings and must take over th
e conduct of the trial from the private prosecutor at any time the cause of the
prosecution may be adversely affected.
> Thus, where the prosecutor has turned over the active conduct of the trial to
the private prosecutor who presented testimonial evidence even when the public p
rosecutor was absent during the trial, the evidence presented could not be consi
dered valid evidence of the People.
> However: this rule applies only to courts which are provided by law with prose
cutors, and not to municipal courts which have no trial prosecutors, in which ca
se the evidence presented by the private prosecutor can be considered as evidenc
e for the People.
*However, under an amendment made by the SC effective May 1, 2002, Rule
110 Section 5 now provides that All criminal actions either commenced by complain
t or by information shall be prosecuted under the direction and control of a pub
lic prosecutor. In case of heavy work schedule of the public prosecutor or in th
e event of lack of public prosecutors, the private prosecutor may be authorized
in writing by the Chief of the Prosecution Office or the Regional State Prosecut
or to prosecute the case subject to the approval of the court. Once so authorize
d to prosecute the criminal action, the private prosecutor shall continue to pro
secute the case up to the end even in the absence of a public prosecutor, unless
the authority is revoked or otherwise withdrawn."
4. General Rule: In appeals, the Sol. Gen. has control. He may abandon or disco
ntinue the prosecution of the case in the exercise of his sound discretion and m
ay even recommend the acquittal of an accused when he believes that the evidence
does not warrant his conviction.
* Exception: provided for in RA 8249 which states in part that in all cases eleva
ted to the Sandiganbayan and from the SB to the SC, the Office of the Ombudsman,
through its special prosecutor, shall represent the People of the Philippines,
except in cases filed pursuant to EO Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986.
5. When it is said that the requirement of Art. 344 of RPC is jurisdictional, wh
at is meant is that it is the complaint that starts the prosecutory proceeding.
It is not the complaint which confers jurisdiction on the court to try the case
.
6. Once the complaint is filed, does death of the complainant in a crime of adul
tery extinguish the criminal liability of the accused? No. The participation of
the offended party in private crimes is essential not for the maintenance of th
e criminal action but solely for the initiation thereof. Any pardon given by th
e complainant or her death after the filing of the complaint would not deprive t
he court of the jurisdiction to try the case.
7. The desistance of complainant:
* Does not bar the People from prosecuting the criminal action
* But: it does operate as a waiver of the right to pursue civil indemnity.
Sufficiency of complaint or information
1. A complaint is sufficient if it states:
* the name of the accused
* the designation of the offense by a statute
* the acts or omission complained of as constituting the offense
* the name of the offended party
* the approximate time of the commission of the offense
* the place where the offense was committed.
2. Purpose: to safeguard the constitutional right of an accused to be informed o
f the nature and cause of the accusation against him.
Name of the accused
1. If name is known: the name and surname of the accused or any appellation or n
ickname by which he has been or is known.
2. If name cannot be ascertained: a fictitious name with a statement that his tr
ue name is unknown.
* If true name thereafter disclosed: such true name shall be inserted in the com
plaint or information and record.
3. While one or more persons, along with specified and named accused, may be sue
d as John Does, an information against all accused described as John Does is void, a
nd an arrest warrant against them is also void.
Designation of the offense
1. In case of a conflict between the designation of the crime and the recital of
facts constituting the offense, the latter prevails over the former.
2. The real question is not, did he commit a crime given in the law some technic
al and specific name, but did he perform the acts alleged in the body of the inf
ormation. If he did, it is of no consequence to him, either as a matter of proc
edure or of substantive right, how the law denominates the crime.
Cause of accusation
1. If one or more elements of the offense have not been alleged in the informati
on, the accused cannot be convicted of the offense charged, even if the missing
elements have been proved during the trial.
* Even the accused s entering a plea of guilty to such defective information will
not cure the defect, nor justify his conviction of the offense charged.
2. Important: The new rule requires that the qualifying and aggravating circumst
ances be alleged in the information.
3. Where the law alleged to have been violated:
* prohibits generally acts therein defined
* is intended to apply to all persons indiscriminately,
* but prescribes certain limitations or exceptions from its violation
the information is sufficient if it alleges facts which the offender did as cons
tituting a violation of law, without explicitly negating the exception, as the e
xception is a matter of defense which the accused has to prove.
4. Where the law alleged to have been violated
* applies only to specific classes of persons and special conditions
* the exemptions from its violation are so incorporated in the language defining
the crime that the ingredients of the offense cannot be accurately and clearly
set forth if the exemption is omitted,
the information must show that the accused does not fall within the exemptions.
5. Where what is alleged in the information is a complex crime and the evidence
fails to support the charge as to one of the component offenses, the defendant c
an only be convicted of the offense proven.
Place of commission of the offense
May conviction be had even if it appears that the crime was committed not at the
place alleged in the information? Yes, provided the place of actual commission
was within the jurisdiction of the court.
* Unless: the particular place of commission is an essential element of the offe
nse charged.
Date of the commission of the offense
What is the determinative factor in the resolution of the question involving a v
ariance between the allegation and proof in respect of the date of the crime? Th
e element of surprise on the part of the accused and his inability to defend him
self properly.
Name of the offended party
To constitute larceny, robbery, embezzlement, obtaining money by false pretenses
, malicious mischief, etc., the property obtained must be that of another person
, and indictment for such offense must name the owner and a variance in this res
pect between the indictment and the proof will be fatal.
Duplicity of the offense
1. Waiver:
* When the accused fails, before arraignment, to move for the quashal of the inf
ormation which charges 2 or more offenses, he thereby waives the objection and m
ay be found guilty of as many offenses as those charged and proved during the tr
ial.
2. Where the law with respect to an offense may be committed in any of the diffe
rent modes provided by law, the indictment in the information is sufficient if t
he offense is alleged to have been committed in one, two or more modes specified
therein. The various ways of committing the offense should be considered as a
description of only one offense and the information cannot be dismissed on the g
round of multifariousness.
3. Exceptions to the rule on duplicity: continuous crimes and complex crimes
Amendment or substitution
1. Before the accused enters his plea, the prosecutor may:
* upgrade the offense
* allege qualifying and aggravating circumstances or
* change the offense charged
without leave of court, provided there is evidence thereon which has been presen
ted during the preliminary investigation.
2. However, prosecutor cannot:
* downgrade the offense charged
* exclude from the information a co-accused
without filing a motion to that effect, with notice to the offended party, and s
ubject to the approval of the court. The court shall state the reasons in resol
ving the motion and copies thereof furnished all parties, especially the offende
d party.
3. Technically, paragraph 2 of Section 14 does not refer to amendment, but to su
bstitution of the complaint or information by a new one. If the substitution is
made before the accused enters his plea, the question of double jeopardy does n
ot arise. If the filing of new information is done after the plea and before ju
dgment on the ground that there has been a mistake in charging the proper offens
e, the filing thereof may only be allowed if it will not place the accused twice
in jeopardy.
4. Test as to whether a defendant is prejudiced by an amendment:
* whether a defense under the information as it originally stood would be availa
ble after the amendment is made, and
* whether any evidence defendant might have would be equally applicable to the
information in the new form as in the other.
5. General Rule: after arraignment, the prosecutor may no longer amend the infor
mation which changes the nature of the crime, as it will prejudice the substanti
al rights of the accused.
* Exception: when a fact supervenes which changes the nature of the crime charge
d in the information or upgrades it to a higher crime, the prosecutor, with leav
e of court, may amend the information to allege such supervening fact and upgrad
e the crime charged to the higher crime brought about by such supervening fact.
* However: if the supervening event which changes the nature of the crime to a m
ore serious one occurred after the accused has been convicted, which makes the a
mendment of the information no longer the remedy of the prosecution, the prosecu
tion can and should charge the accused for such more serious crime, without plac
ing the accused in double jeopardy, there being no identity of the offense charg
ed in the first information and in the second one.
6. Section 14 applies only to original case and not to appealed case.
Place where action is to be instituted
1. Venue in criminal case is jurisdictional, being an essential element of juris
diction.
2. General Rule: Penal laws are territorial; hence Philippine courts have no jur
isdiction over crimes committed outside the Philippines.
* Exceptions: those provided in Article 2 of the Revised Penal Code. Those who c
ommit any of the crimes contemplated therein can be tried by Philippine courts.
Intervention of the offended party in criminal action
1. Where the offended party withdrew a reservation to file a separate civil acti
on, the private prosecutor may still intervene in the prosecution of the crimina
l case, by conducting the examination of witnesses under the control of the pros
ecutor.
* However: once the offended party has filed a separate civil action arising fro
m the crime, he may not withdraw such civil case in order to intervene in the cr
iminal prosecution. He loses the right to intervene. He no longer has any stan
ding in the criminal case, except to be a prosecution witness.
2. Where a criminal action has been provisionally dismissed upon motion of the p
rosecutor, can the case be revived upon motion of the offended party? No, becaus
e the offended party or complaining witness cannot act for the prosecutor.

RULE 111 PROSECUTION OF CIVIL ACTION


Institution of criminal and civil actions
1. General Rule: the institution or filing of the criminal action includes the i
nstitution therein of the civil action for recovery of civil liability arising f
rom the offense charged.
* Except in the following instances:
> the offended party waives the civil action;
> he reserves his right to institute the civil action separately; or
> he institutes the civil action prior to the criminal action.
2. The employer may not be held civilly liable for quasi-delict in the criminal
action as ruled in Maniago v. Court of Appeals since quasi-delict is not deemed
instituted with the criminal. If at all, the only civil liability of the employ
er in the criminal action would be his subsidiary liability under the Revised Pe
nal Code.
3. Two instances where no reservation shall be allowed:
* a criminal action for violation of BP 22
> unless a separate civil action has been filed before the institution of the cr
iminal action, no such civil action can be instituted after the criminal action
has been filed as the same has been included therein.
* A claim arising from an offense which is cognizable by the Sandiganbayan.
> a civil action filed prior to the criminal action has to be transferred to the
subsequently filed criminal action for joint hearing (Sec. 4 of PD1606 as amend
ed by RA 8249)
4. When the reservation of the right to institute the separate civil actions sha
ll be made: before the prosecution starts to present its evidence and under circ
umstances affording the offended party a reasonable opportunity to make such a r
eservation.
5. The rule requiring reservation to file a separate civil action does not apply
to civil actions which can be filed and prosecuted independently of the crimina
l action, namely, those provided in Arts. 32, 33, 34 and 2176 of the Civil Code.
6. Although the criminal and civil actions may be joined in the criminal case, t
hey are distinct from each other. The plaintiffs in the two actions are differe
nt.
* Thus: even if the accused started serving his sentence within the 15-day perio
d from the promulgation of the judgment of conviction by the lower court, thereb
y making the judgment against him final, the complainant may, within the 15-day
reglementary period, still ask that the civil liability be fixed by the court, i
f the judgment does not adjudicate any civil liability, as the judgment regardin
g civil liability has not become final and the court still has jurisdiction to a
djudge the civil liability.
7. Rules on Filing Fees:
* No filing fees are required for amounts of actual damages.
> Exception: criminal action for violation of BP 22 which is deemed to include t
he corresponding civil action. The offended party shall, upon the filing of the
criminal and civil actions, pay in full the filing fees based on the face value
of the check as the actual damages.
> Purpose of Exception: to prevent the offended party from using the prosecutor s
office and the court as vehicles for recovery of the face value of the check, wi
thout paying the corresponding filing fees therefor.
* With respect to damages other than actual, if these damages are specified in t
he complaint or information, the corresponding filing fees should be paid, other
wise, the trial court will not acquire jurisdiction over such other damages.
* Where moral, exemplary and other damages are not specified in the complaint or
information, the grant and amount thereof are left to the sound discretion of t
he trial court, the corresponding filing fees need not be paid and shall simply
constitute a first lien on the judgment.
8. In an appeal of a criminal case:
* The appellate court may impose additional damages or increase or decrease the
amounts of damages upon the accused-appellant.
* However, additional penalties cannot be imposed upon a co-accused who did not
appeal, but modifications of the judgment beneficial to him are considered in hi
s favor.
9. The offended party in a criminal case may appeal the civil aspect despite the
acquittal of the accused.
Where the trial court convicted the accused, but dismissed the civil action inst
ituted therein, the offended party may appeal the dismissal to the CA.
10. Compromise on civil aspect:
* The offended party may compromise the civil aspect of a crime, provided that i
t must be entered before or during the litigation, and not after final judgment.
A compromise on the civil aspect is valid even if it turns out to be unsatisfa
ctory either to one or both of the parties.
11. Important!: Section 1, Rule 111 now expressly provides that no counterclaim,
cross-claim or third-party complaint may be filed by the accused in the crimina
l case, but any cause of action which could have been subject thereof may be lit
igated in a separate civil action.
* Reasons:
> the counterclaim of the accused will unnecessarily complicate and confuse the
criminal proceedings;
> the trial court should confine itself to the criminal aspect and the possible
civil liability of the accused arising out of the crime.
When separate civil action is suspended
Take Note: Article 29 of the Civil Code merely emphasizes that a civil action fo
r damages is not precluded by the acquittal of an accused for the same criminal
act or omission. It does not state that the remedy can be availed of only in a
separate civil action.
When civil action may proceed independently
1. Prior reservation is not necessary to file separate civil action under Arts.
32, 33, 34 and 2176 of the Civil Code. The phrase which has been reserved that ha
s caused conflicting rulings in the past has now been deleted.
2. Actions based on quasi-delict may be filed independently of the criminal acti
on regardless of the result of the criminal action, except that a plaintiff cann
ot recover damages twice for the same act or omission of the defendant.
Effect of death of the accused on civil actions
1. After arraignment and during the pendency of the criminal action:
* General Rule: death extinguishes the civil liability arising from delict or th
e offense
* Except: where civil liability is predicated on other sources of obligations su
ch as law, contract, quasi-contract and quasi-delict.
> If such civil action which survives is impliedly instituted in the criminal ac
tion, the legal representative or heir of the deceased shall be substituted for
the deceased. The criminal case is reduced to a civil action.
> However, if the civil action has been reserved and subsequently filed or such
civil action has been instituted, when the accused died, then such civil action
will proceed and substitution of parties shall be ordered by the court pursuant
to Sec.16 Rule 3 of the Rules of Court.
2. Before arraignment:
* The civil action impliedly instituted in the criminal action shall be dismisse
d without prejudice to the offended party s filing a civil action against the admi
nistrator of the estate of the deceased.
3. Pending appeal of his conviction:
* extinguishes his criminal liability as well as the civil liability based solel
y thereon.
4. Prior to final judgment:
* terminates his criminal liability and only the civil liability directly arisin
g from and based solely on the offense committed.
Judgment in civil action not a bar
The judgment in civil actions based on Arts. 32, 33, 34 and 2176 absolving the d
efendant from civil liability does not bar the criminal action.
Prejudicial question
1. The prejudicial question may be raised during the preliminary investigation o
f the offense or in court before the prosecution rests its case.
2. The suspension of the criminal case due to a prejudicial question is only a p
rocedural matter, and is subject to a waiver by virtue of prior acts of the accu
sed.
3. There is no prejudicial question where one case is administrative and the oth
er is civil.
RULE 112 PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
Preliminary investigation defined; when required
1. Preliminary investigation is:
* not part of the trial of the criminal action in court. Nor is its record part
of the record of the case in the RTC.
* subject to the requirements of both substantive and procedural due process.
> The right of an accused to a preliminary investigation is not a constitutional
but merely a statutory right. Nonetheless, it is a component part of due proce
ss in criminal justice and is a substantive right.
* a personal right and may be waived expressly or by implication.
> Lack of PI is not a ground to quash or dismiss a complaint or information, nor
does it affect the court s jurisdiction. When there is no preliminary investigat
ion, the accused must invoke it at the first opportunity and the court should ho
ld in abeyance or suspend proceedings and remand the case to the office of the p
rosecutor for him to conduct PI.
2. The refusal of the court to remand the case for PI can be controlled by certi
orari and prohibition to prevent trial.
Officers authorized to conduct preliminary investigation
1. No longer authorized to conduct PI:
* By implication, MTC judges in Manila and in chartered cities have not been gra
nted the authority to conduct PI, as the officers authorized to do so are the pr
osecutors.
* Judges of RTCs
2. Two types of offenses may be filed in the MTC for preliminary investigation:
* a case cognizable by the RTC may be filed with the MTC for PI;
* even if it is cognizable by the MTC because it is an offense where the penalty
prescribed by law is at least 4 years 2 months and 1 day.
3. Regarding offenses falling within the original jurisdiction of the Sandiganba
yan:
* Prosecutors or municipal trial court judges conducting PI of offenses falling
within the original jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan shall, after their conclus
ion, transmit the records and their resolutions to the Ombudsman or his deputy f
or appropriate action.
* Moreover, the prosecutor or judge cannot dismiss the complaint without the pri
or written authority of the Ombudsman or his deputy, nor can the prosecutor file
an information with the Sandiganbayan without being deputized by, and without p
rior written authority of, the Ombudsman or his deputy.
4. Regarding election offenses:
* The exclusive jurisdiction of the Comelec to investigate and prosecute electio
n offenses inheres even if the offender is a private individual or public office
r or employee, and in the latter instance, irrespective of whether the offense i
s committed in relation to his official duties or not. In other words, it is th
e nature of the offense, namely, an election offense as defined in the Omnibus E
lection Code and in other election laws, and not the personality of the offender
that matters.
5. Regarding the Ombudsman:
* The power of the Ombudsman to make investigation extends to any illegal act or
omission of any public official, whether or not the same is committed in relati
on to his office.
* Preliminary investigation by the Ombudsman is limited to cases cognizable by t
he Sandiganbayan and must be conducted pursuant to Rule 11 of the Rules of Proce
dure of the Office of the Ombudsman.
* Section 4(d) of Administrative Order No. 07 disallows the filing of a motion t
o quash or dismiss a complaint filed with the Ombudsman, except on the ground of
lack of jurisdiction.
* Which remedy may an aggrieved party avail of against resolutions of the Ombuds
man in criminal or non-administrative cases? The law is silent. Hence, appeal i
s not available as a remedy because the right to appeal is a statutory privilege
and may be availed of only if there is a statute to that effect. However, an a
ggrieved party is not without remedy, as he can resort to the special civil acti
on of certiorari under Rule 65.
* The Ombudsman does not have the power:
> to prosecute before the Sandiganbayan any impeachable officers with any offens
e which carries with it the penalty of removal from office, or any penalty servi
ce of which would amount to removal from office because by constitutional mandat
e, they can only be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, c
ulpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, o
ther high crimes, or betrayal of public trust
> to prosecute public officers or employees who have committed election offenses
.
> to file an information for an offense cognizable by the regular courts.
6. Effect of an incomplete PI:
* does not warrant the quashal of the information
* does not affect the court s jurisdiction or the validity of the information.
Procedure
1. By reason of the abbreviated nature of PI, a dismissal of the charges as a re
sult thereof is not equivalent to a judicial pronouncement of acquittal.
2. The accused or respondent in a criminal prosecution may avail himself of disc
overy remedies either during preliminary investigation or when the information h
as already been filed in court.
3. A motion to dismiss is now a prohibited pleading during preliminary investiga
tion.
4. The respondent is now required to submit counter-affidavits and other support
ing documents relied upon by him for his defense.
5. The respondent now has the right to examine the evidence submitted by the com
plainant of which he may not have been furnished and to obtain copies thereof at
his expense.
Resolution of investigating prosecutor and its review
1. After having filed the information, the prosecutor is called upon to prosecut
e the case in court. It has been said that at this stage, unlike judges who are
mandated to display cold neutrality in hearing cases, the prosecutors are not r
equired to divest themselves of their personal convictions and refrain from exhi
biting partiality. But while he may strike hard blows, he is not at liberty to
strike foul ones.
2. Effect of exclusion of other persons from the information:
* If during the trial, evidence is shown that such persons should have been char
ged, the fact that they were not included in the information does not relieve th
em of criminal liability, and they can be subsequently prosecuted.
* The accused who has been charged with the offense is not allowed to escape pun
ishment merely because it develops in the course of the trial that there were ot
her guilty participants in the crime.
* It does not vitiate the validity of the information. Neither is the same a gr
ound for a motion to quash.
3. Role of Secretary of Justice:
* The Secretary of Justice is not prevented from entertaining an appeal from the
accused or from the offended party even after the information has been filed an
d the trial court has arraigned the accused. Section 4 of DOJ 223 should be con
strued as merely enjoining the Secretary of Justice to refrain, as far as practi
cable, from entertaining a petition for review or appeal from the action of the
prosecutor once the complaint or information is filed in court. If the Secretar
y reverses the ruling of the prosecutor, the latter has to file the necessary mo
tion to dismiss the complaint or information, the grant or denial of which is su
bject to the discretion of the trial court.
4. Effect if the information is filed by someone not authorized by law:
* The court does not acquire jurisdiction. The accused s failure to assert lack o
f authority on the part of the prosecutor in filing the information does not con
stitute a waiver thereof.
5. The prosecutor is required to resolve the complaint based on the evidence pre
sented by the complainant in the event that the respondent cannot be subpoenaed
or the respondent, if subpoenaed, does not submit a counter-affidavit within the
10-day period.
Resolution of investigating judge and its review
Non-judicial function:
* When a municipal judge conducts PI, he performs a non-judicial function. Cons
equently, the findings of the investigating judge are subject to review by the p
rovincial prosecutor whose findings in turn may also be reviewed by the Secretar
y of Justice in appropriate cases.
When warrant of arrest may issue
1. Invalid: A warrant issued by the judge solely on the basis of the report and
recommendation of the investigating prosecutor, without personally determining t
he existence of probable cause by independently examining sufficient evidence su
bmitted by the parties during the PI
2. Effect of a finding of probable cause:
* merely binds over the suspect to stand trial. It is not a pronouncement of gu
ilt.
3. What the accused who believes that there is no probable cause to hold him for
trial may do:
* to file with the trial court a motion to dismiss on such ground or for the det
ermination of probable cause.
* if the warrant of arrest has been issued, the accused may file a motion to qua
sh the arrest warrant or to recall the same on the ground of lack of probable ca
use.
4. Where an information has already been filed in court, and the Secretary of Ju
stice reversed the prosecutor s finding of probable cause, what should the trial c
ourt do upon the prosecutor s motion to dismiss? He must make his own assessment
of the evidence and not just rely on the conclusion of the prosecutor, otherwise
the court becomes a mere rubber stamp.
5. Regarding reinvestigation:
* Once the complaint or information is filed in court, any motion for reinvestig
ation is addressed to the sound discretion of the court.
* While the trial court judge has the power to order the reinvestigation of the
case by the prosecutor, he may not, before the prosecutor concluded the reinvest
igation, recall said order, set the case for arraignment and trial, without grav
ely abusing his discretion.
6. Municipal judge may issue arrest warrant before conclusion of preliminary inv
estigation if:
* he finds that probable cause exists and
* there is a necessity of placing respondent under immediate custody.
7. Important: The rule is now that the investigating judge s power to order the ar
rest of the accused is limited to instances in which there is a necessity for pl
acing him in custody in order not to frustrate the ends of justice. Thus, even i
f the judge finds probable cause, he cannot, on such ground alone, issue a warra
nt of arrest. He must further find there is a necessity of placing the accused u
nder immediate custody in order not to frustrate the ends of justice.
8. The investigating judge has no power to reduce or change the crime charged in
order to justify the grant of bail to the accused. The power belongs to the pr
osecutor.
9. After the conclusion of his PI, the judge has to transmit to the provincial p
rosecutor his resolution and entire records of the case, regardless of whether h
e finds a probable cause or sufficient ground to issue a warrant of arrest.
When accused lawfully arrested without warrant
1. General Rule: No complaint or information shall be filed for an offense which
is penalized by imprisonment of not less than 4 years, 2 months and 1 day witho
ut PI.
* Exception: when the accused has been lawfully arrested without warrant, in whi
ch case, an inquest must be conducted by an inquest prosecutor who will determin
e whether his arrest without warrant is lawful. The inquest prosecutor may orde
r the release of the arrested person if he finds no sufficient ground to hold hi
m without prejudice to conducting further investigation, or file complaint or in
formation within the period specified in Art. 125 of the RPC.
2. In case a person is arrested without a warrant, a complaint or information ma
y only be filed after an inquest conducted in accordance with existing rules.
* Provided: that in the absence or unavailability of an inquest prosecutor, the
complaint may be filed by the offended party or a peace officer directly with th
e proper court on the basis of the affidavit of the offended party or arresting
officer or person.
3. Before the filing of a complaint or information, the person arrested without
a warrant may ask for a preliminary investigation by a proper officer, but he mu
st sign a waiver of the provisions of Art. 125 of the RPC.
4. If the accused allows himself to be arraigned without asking for a preliminar
y investigation, he is deemed to have waived the right to such PI.
Cases not requiring preliminary investigation nor covered by the Rule on Summary
Procedure
The respondent or accused is not entitled to preliminary investigation in the fo
llowing cases:
* cases governed by the Rules on Summary Procedure;
* cases where the punishment does not exceed 4 years 2 months and 1 day.
RULE 113 ARREST
Definition of arrest
Application of actual force, manual touching of the body, physical restraint or
formal declaration of arrest is not required. Arrest includes submission to the
custody of the person making the arrest.
Execution of warrant
1. The judge issues a warrant of arrest in 2 instances:
* (1) Upon the filing of the information by the prosecutor.
> In issuing this kind of warrant, the judge does not personally examine the com
plainant and the witnesses he may produce, but he merely evaluates personally th
e report and supporting documents and other evidence adduced during the prelimin
ary investigation and submitted to him by the prosecutor, and if he finds probab
le cause on the basis thereof he issues the warrant for the arrest of the accuse
d.
* (2) Upon application of a peace officer.
> In this kind of warrant, the judge must personally examine the applicant and t
he witnesses he may produce, to find out whether there exists probable cause, ot
herwise the warrant issued is null and void. He must subject the complainant an
d the witnesses to searching questions. The reason for this is there is yet no
evidence on record upon which he may determine the existence of probable cause.
2. A warrant of arrest has no expiry date. It remains valid until arrest is eff
ected or the warrant is lifted.
* However, Sec. 4 of Rule 113 requires the head of the office who applied for wa
rrant to execute the same within 10 days from receipt thereof and for the arrest
ing officer assigned to execute the same to submit, within 10 days from the expi
ration of the first 10-day period, a report to the judge who issued the warrant.
Arrest without warrant; when lawful
1. In a citizen s arrest, the person may be arrested and searched of his body and
of his personal effects or belongings, for dangerous weapons or anything which m
ay be used as proof of the commission of an offense, without need of a search wa
rrant.
2. Sec. 5(a) refers to arrest in flagrante delicto while Sec. 5(b) refers to hot
pursuit.
3. Sec. 5(b) authorizes warrantless arrest when an offense has in fact just been
committed. The word just implies immediacy in point of time.
4. Delivery of the detained person to the proper judicial authorities means the
filing of the complaint or information with the municipal trial court or with th
e inquest fiscal or prosecutor who shall then decide either to order the release
of the detained person or to file the corresponding information in court.
Method of arrest by officer without warrant
1. Custodial investigation
* Involves any questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person
has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in an
y significant way.
* It is only after investigation ceases to be a general inquiry into an unsolved
crime and begins to focus on a particular suspect, the suspect is taken into cu
stody, and the police carries out a process of interrogations that lends itself
to eliciting incriminating statements that the rule begins to operate.
* Embraced in custodial investigation:
> invited for questioning
> re-enactment
* Not embraced in custodial investigation:
> police line-up
> ultraviolet ray examination
> normal audit examination by the COA of the accountability of a public officer
2. When the threat or promise was made by, or in the presence of, a person in au
thority, who has, OR is supposed by the accused to have power or authority to fu
lfill the threat or promise, the confession of the accused is inadmissible.
3. Presumption of regularity in the performance of duties:
* Does not apply during in-custody investigation, nor can it prevail over the co
nstitutional right of the accused to be presumed innocent.
4. The arresting officer may be held civilly liable for damages under Art. 32 of
the Civil Code. The very nature of Art. 32 is that the wrong may be civil or c
riminal. It is not necessary that there should be malice or bad faith.
5. On Civil Procedure:
* Section 20 Rule 14 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure provides in part that
the inclusion in a motion to dismiss of other grounds aside from lack of jurisdi
ction over the person of the defendant shall not be deemed a voluntary appearanc
e.
* Section 8 Rule 15 provides that subject to the provisions of Section 1 Rule 9,
a motion attacking a pleading, order, judgment or proceeding shall include all
objections then available, and all objections not so included shall be deemed wa
ived.
* These changes in the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure are applicable to criminal
cases as Section 3 Rule 1 thereof provides that these rules shall govern the proc
edure to be observed in actions, civil or criminal, and special proceedings. Mor
eover, the omnibus motion rule applies to motions to quash.
6. Section 26 of Rule 114 of the New Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that b
ail is not a bar to objection on illegal arrest, lack of or irregular preliminar
y investigation. This is an abandonment of the Cojuangco, Jr. v. Sandiganbayan
ruling.
RULE 114 BAIL
Bail defined
1. Purpose:
* to honor the presumption of innocence until his guilt is proven beyond reasona
ble doubt
* to enable him to prepare his defense without being subject to punishment prior
to conviction.
2. Upon assumption of the obligation of bail, the sureties become in law the jai
lers of their principal.
3. As bail is intended to obtain or secure one s provisional liberty, the same can
not be posted before custody over him has been acquired by the court.
* Rationale: it discourages and prevents resort to the pernicious practice where
by an accused could just send another in his stead to post his bail, without rec
ognizing the jurisdiction of the court by his personal appearance therein and co
mpliance with the requirements thereof.
Conditions of the bail; requirements
1. The surety s liability covers all these 3 stages:
* trial
* promulgation
* the execution of the sentence.
Unless the court directs otherwise, the bail bond posted by an accused remains i
n force at all stages of the case until its final determination.
2. If the accused presents his notice of appeal, the trial court will order the
accused to be taken into custody in the absence of a new bail bond on appeal dul
y approved by the court. If the accused does not appeal, the bondsman must prod
uce the accused on the 15th day from promulgation of sentence for service of sen
tence.
Bail, as a matter of right; exception
1. When bail is a matter of right:
* before or after conviction by the MTC
* before conviction, for all offenses punishable by lower than reclusion perpetu
a
> prosecution does not have the right to oppose or to present evidence for its d
enial.
2. When bail is a matter of discretion:
* before conviction, in offenses punishable by death, reclusion perpetua or life
imprisonment
* after conviction by the RTC of a non-capital offense
> prosecution is entitled to present evidence for its denial.
3. Right to bail may be waived.
4. Bail in court-martial offenses:
> The right to bail of an accused military personnel triable by courts-martial d
oes not exist, as an exception to the general rule that an accused is entitled t
o bail except in a capital offense where the evidence of guilt is strong.
> Rationale: The unique structure of the military justifies exempting military m
en from the constitutional coverage on the right to bail.
5. Notice of hearing required:
* Whether bail is a matter of right or of discretion, reasonable notice of heari
ng is required to be given to the prosecutor or fiscal or at least he must be as
ked for his recommendation because in fixing the amount of bail, the judge is re
quired to take into account a number of factors such as the applicant s character
and reputation, forfeiture of other bonds or whether he is a fugitive from justi
ce.
6. Summary of the evidence for the prosecution
* The court s order granting or refusing bail must contain a summary of the eviden
ce for the prosecution, otherwise the order granting or denying bail may be inva
lidated because the summary of the evidence for the prosecution which contains t
he judge s evaluation of the evidence may be considered as an aspect of procedural
due process for both the prosecution and the defense.
7. It would be premature, not to say incongruous, to file a petition for bail fo
r someone whose freedom has yet to be curtailed.
Bail, when discretionary
1. Not entitled to bail:
* An accused who has been convicted of an offense which carries a penalty of mor
e than 20 years is not entitled to bail during the pendency of his appeal.
* An accused who is convicted of a capital offense is no longer entitled to bail
on appeal since his conviction imports that the evidence of guilt is strong.
2. Trial court may grant bail before appeal is perfected
* Whether bail is a matter of right or discretion, the trial court may grant bai
l and approve the amount of the bail bond before the accused has perfected his a
ppeal, appeal being perfected upon filing of a written notice of appeal and furn
ishing the adverse party copy thereof.
* 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 ca
n only be filed with and resolved by the appellate court.
* Even if there is no notice of appeal, if the decision of the TC convicting the
accused changed the nature of the offense from non-bailable to bailable, the ap
plication for bail can only be filed with and resolved by the appellate court.
3. After appeal is perfected, the trial court loses jurisdiction to grant bail a
nd to approve bail bond.
* However, the accused may apply for bail or provisional liberty with the appell
ate court.
Capital offense defined
The capital nature of an offense is determined by the penalty prescribed by law,
and not by the penalty that may be imposed after trial and on the basis of the
evidence adduced and the presence of aggravating or mitigating circumstance.
Capital offense or an offense punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonm
ent, not bailable
1. Distinction between life imprisonment and reclusion perpetua, insofar as bail
is concerned, is not important.
* Why? because in both cases, the grant of bail before conviction by the trial c
ourt is a matter of discretion when evidence of guilt is strong.
2. The constitutional mandate makes the grant or denial of bail in capital offen
ses hinge on the issue of whether or not the evidence of guilt is strong.
3. Meaning of conviction
* The word conviction in Section 13, Article III of the 1987 Constitution refers t
o conviction by the trial court, which has not become final, as the accused stil
l has the right to appeal. After conviction by the trial court, the accused con
victed of a capital offense is no longer entitled to bail, and can only be relea
sed when the conviction is reversed by the appellate court.
Burden of proof in bail application
1. Evidence of guilt in the Constitution and the Rules refers to a finding of inno
cence or culpability, regardless of the modifying circumstances.
2. Regarding minors charged with a capital offense:
* If the person charged with a capital offense, such as murder, admittedly a min
or, which would entitle him, if convicted, to a penalty next lower than that pre
scribed by law, he is entitled to bail regardless of whether the evidence of gui
lt is strong. The reason for this is that one who faces a probable death senten
ce has a particularly strong temptation to flee. This reason does not hold wher
e the accused has been established without objection to be minor who by law cann
ot be sentenced to death.
3. Duty of judge to conduct hearing:
* Where the prosecution agrees with the accused s application for bail or foregoes
the introduction of evidence, the court must nonetheless set the application fo
r hearing.
* It is mandatory for the judge to conduct a hearing and ask searching and clar
ificatory questions for the purpose of determining the existence of strong evide
nce against the accused; and the order, after such hearing, should make a findin
g that the evidence against the accused is strong.
Corporate surety
The term of the bail bond is not dependent upon faithful payment of the bond pre
mium.
Justification of sureties
Before accepting a surety or bail bond, the following requisites must be complie
d with:
* photographs of the accused;
* affidavit of justification;
* clearance from the Supreme Court;
* certificate of compliance with Circular No. 66 dated September 19, 1996;
* authority of the agent; and
* current certificate of authority issued by the Insurance Commissioner with a f
inancial statement showing the maximum underwriting capacity of the surety compa
ny.
Deposit of cash as bail
The trial judge has no authority to strictly require that only cash bond, instea
d of a surety bond, be deposited for the provisional release of the accused.
Recognizance
1. The release of the accused may be on his own recognizance, which means that h
e has become his own jailer. It may be to a responsible person. Persons charge
d with offenses falling under the Rule on Summary Procedure may be released eith
er on bail or on recognizance of a responsible citizen acceptable to the court.
2. In Espiritu v. Jovellanos (280 SCRA 579, 1997), the Court held that the relea
se on recognizance of any person under detention may be ordered only by a court
and only in the following cases:
* when the offense charged is for violation of an ordinance, a light, or a crimi
nal offense, the imposable penalty of which does not exceed 6 months imprisonmen
t and/or P2000 fine, under the circumstances provided in RA No. 6036
* where a person has been in custody for a period equal to or more than the mini
mum of the imposable principal penalty, without application of the Indeterminate
Sentence Law or any modifying circumstance, in which case the court, in its dis
cretion, may allow his release on his own recognizance
* where the accused has applied for probation, pending resolution of the case bu
t no bail was filed or the accused is incapable of filing one
* in case of a youthful offender held for physical and mental examination, trial
, or appeal, if he is unable to furnish bail and under circumstances envisaged i
n PD No. 603 as amended.
Bail, where filed
A judge presiding in one branch has no power to grant bail to an accused who is
being tried in another branch presided by another judge who is not absent or una
vailable, and his act of releasing him on bail constitutes ignorance of law whic
h subjects him to disciplinary sanction.
Forfeiture of bail
1. When bail bond forfeited:
* only in instances where the presence of the accused is specifically required b
y the court or the Rules of Court and, despite due notice to the bondsmen to pro
duce him before the court on a given date, the accused fails to appear in person
as so required.
2. To justify exemption from liability on a bail bond or reduction thereof, two
requisites must be satisfied:
* production or surrender of the person of the accused within 30 days from notic
e of the order of the court to produce the body of the accused or giving reasons
for its non-production
* satisfactory explanations for the non-appearance of the accused when first req
uired by the trial court to appear.
> Compliance with the first requisite without meeting the second requisite will
not justify non-forfeiture of a bail bond or reduction of liability.
Arrest of accused out on bail
1. The bondsmen who put the bail bond for the accused become the jailers and the
y or the police officer to whom authority is endorsed may arrest the accused for
the purpose of surrendering him to the court. The accused cannot leave the cou
ntry without the permission of the bondsmen and the court.
2. Regarding hold-departure orders:
* Supreme Court Circular No. 39-97 dated June 19, 1997 limits the authority to i
ssue hold departure orders to the RTCs in criminal cases within their exclusive
jurisdiction. Consequently, MTC judges have no authority to issue hold-departur
e orders, following the maxim, express mention implies the exclusion. Neither d
oes he have authority to cancel one which he issued.
No bail after final judgment; exception
General Rule: no bail shall be allowed after the judgment has become final, as w
hat is left is for him to serve the sentence.
* Exception: when he has applied for probation before commencing to serve senten
ce, the penalty and the offense being within the purview of the Probation Law.
* Exception to the exception: the accused shall not be allowed to be released on
bail after he has commenced to serve his sentence.
Bail is not a bar to objections on illegal arrest, lack of or irregular prelimin
ary investigation
Important: An application for admission to bail shall not bar the accused from c
hallenging the validity of his arrest or the legality of the warrant issued ther
efore, or from assailing the regularity or questioning the absence of a prelimin
ary investigation of the charge against him, provided that he raises them before
entering his plea. The court shall observe the matter as early as practicable
but not later than the start of the trial of the case.
RULE 115 RIGHTS OF ACCUSED
Rights of the accused at the trial
1. Is the constitutional presumption of innocence violated by the presumption of
guilt established by law arising from certain facts proved and by shifting to t
he accused the burden of proof to show his innocence? No. The state having the r
ight to declare what acts are criminal, within certain defined limitations, has
a right to specify what act or acts shall constitute a crime, as well as what pr
oof shall constitute prima facie evidence of guilt. The constitutional presumpt
ion of innocence will not apply as long as there is some rational connection bet
ween the fact proved and the ultimate fact presumed, and the inference of one fa
ct from proof of another shall not be so unreasonable as to be purely arbitrary.
2. Equipoise rule:
* If the inculpatory facts and circumstances are capable of two or more explanat
ions, one of which is consistent with the innocence of the accused and the other
with his guilt, then the evidence does not fulfill the test of moral certainty
and is not sufficient to support a conviction of the accused. Hence, where the
evidence of the parties in a criminal case are evenly balanced, the constitution
al presumption of innocence should tilt the scales in favor of the accused and h
e must be acquitted.
3. If the judgment of conviction had become final and executory, it may still be
recalled, and the accused afforded the opportunity to be heard by counsel, wher
e he has been denied the right to counsel during the hearing.
4. Where an accused was represented in the RTC by a person who claimed to be a l
awyer and was thereafter convicted, but it was later discovered that his counsel
was not really a lawyer, he is entitled to have his conviction set aside and a
new trial undertaken.
5. Transactional and Use immunity distinguished:
* Transactional immunity is broader in the scope of its application. By its gra
nt, a witness can no longer be prosecuted for any offense whatsoever arising out
of the act or transaction.
* In contrast, by the grant of use-and-derivative-use immunity, a witness is on
ly assured that his or her particular testimony and evidence derived from it wil
l not be used against him or her in a subsequent prosecution.
6. The right against self-incrimination is a protection only against testimonial
compulsion.
7. The accused s right to meet the witnesses face to face is limited to proceeding
s before the trial court, during trial, and not during custodial or preliminary
investigation.
8. Requests by a party for the issuance of subpoenas do not require notice to ot
her parties to the action.
9. The sanctions of arrest and contempt in respect to disobedience to subpoena a
re not applicable to a witness who resides more than 100 kilometers from the res
idence to the place where he is to testify, or if he is a detention prisoner no
permission of the court in which his case is pending was obtained.
10. Public trial should not be confused with trial by publicity which is proscri
bed.
11. Requisites for valid waiver of right:
* existence of right
* knowledge of existence thereof
* intention to relinquish such right, which must be shown clearly and convincing
ly
* where the law or the Constitution so provides, the waiver must be with the ass
istance of counsel, to be valid.
RULE 116 ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEA
Arraignment and plea; how made
1. Definition: Arraignment is the stage where the issues are joined in criminal
action and without which the proceedings cannot advance further or, if held, wil
l otherwise be void.
2. No trial in absentia can be validly held without first arraigning the accused
, and he cannot be arraigned without his personal appearance in court.
3. Presence of offended party required
* The presence of the offended party is now required at the arraignment and also
to discuss the matter of accused s civil liability. In case the offended party f
ails to appear despite due notice, the trial court may allow the accused to plea
d guilty to a lower offense with solely the conformity of the trial prosecutor.
4. Accused under preventive detention
* While RA 8493, or the Speedy Trial Act, provides that the accused shall be arr
aigned within 30 days from the time a court acquires jurisdiction over his perso
n, Rule 116 section 1(e) provides for a shorter time within which an accused who
is under preventive detention should be arraigned. When an accused is detained
, his case should be raffled within 3 days from the filing of the information or
complaint against him, and the judge to whom his case is raffled shall have him
arraigned within 10 days from receipt by the judge of the records of the case.
The pre-trial conference shall be held within 10 days after the arraignment.
5. The arraignment shall be held within 30 days from the date the court acquires
jurisdiction over the person of the accused, unless a shorter period is provide
d by special law or by SC Circular.
* Certain laws and SC Circulars provide for a shorter time within which the accu
sed should be arraigned:
> RA 4908 in criminal cases where the complainant is about to depart from the Ph
ilippines with no definite date of return, the accused should be arraigned witho
ut delay and his trial should commence within 3 days from the arraignment and th
at no postponement of the initial hearing should be granted except on the ground
of illness on the part of the accused or other grounds beyond the control of th
e court.
> RA 7610 (Child Abuse Act) the trial shall be commenced within 3 days from arra
ignment
> Dangerous Drugs Law
> SC AO 104-96, i.e., heinous crimes, violations of the Intellectual Property Ri
ghts Law these cases must be tried continuously until terminated within 60 days
from commencement of the trial and to be decided within 30 days from the submiss
ion of the case
Plea of guilty to a lesser offense
1. The new rule provides that the accused may be allowed by the trial court to p
lead guilty to a lesser offense which is necessarily included in the offense cha
rged, and deleted the phrase, regardless of whether or not it is necessarily incl
uded in the crime charged, or is cognizable by a court of lesser jurisdiction th
an the trial court.
* It should be noted, however, that the amendment did not say that an accused ma
y be allowed to plead to a lesser offense only if the same is necessarily includ
ed in the offense charged. The provision employs the word may, which is permissiv
e and implies that the court may still allow an accused to plead guilty to a les
ser offense, even if the latter is not included in the offense charged.
2. Consent of offended party required:
* The consent of the offended party to allowing the accused to plead guilty to a
lesser offense is necessary. It has been held that if the plea of guilty to a
lesser offense is made without the consent of the prosecutor and the offended pa
rty, the conviction of the accused shall not be a bar to another prosecution for
an offense which necessarily includes the offense charged in the former informa
tion.
3. Change of plea
* After the prosecution has rested its case, a change of plea to a lesser offens
e may be granted by the judge, with the approval of the prosecutor and the offen
ded party and only when the prosecution does not have sufficient evidence to est
ablish the guilt of the crime charged. The judge cannot on its own grant the ch
ange of plea.
Plea of guilty to capital offense; reception of evidence
1. An improvident plea means a plea without proper information as to all the cir
cumstances affecting it; based upon a mistaken assumption or misleading informat
ion or advice.
2. Conviction in a capital offense cannot rest alone on a plea of guilty, a free
and intelligent plea. It is mandatory for the trial court to require the prose
cution to present its evidence and, if the accused so desires, to allow him to s
ubmit his evidence. This is so even if the accused formally manifests that he w
aives presentation of evidence by the prosecution.
Plea of guilty to non-capital offense; reception of evidence, discretionary
1. What a plea of guilty includes:
* The plea of guilty covers both the crime as well as its attendant circumstance
s alleged in the complaint or information, qualifying and/or aggravating the cri
me. Such plea removes the necessity of presenting further evidence and for all
intents and purposes the case is deemed tried on its merits and submitted for de
cision. It leaves the court with no alternative but to impose the penalty presc
ribed by law.
2. Mitigating circumstances:
* The trial court may allow an accused to plead guilty and at the same time allo
w him to prove other mitigating circumstances. However, if what the accused wou
ld prove is an exempting circumstance, which would amount to a withdrawal of his
plea of not guilty, the trial court may not allow him to take the witness stand
.
3. If the accused is permitted to present evidence after his plea of guilty to a
non-capital offense and such shows that the accused is not guilty of the crime
charged, the accused must be acquitted, for there is no rule which provides that
simply because the accused pleaded guilty to the charge that his conviction aut
omatically follows. Additional evidence independent of the plea may be consider
ed to convince the judge that it was intelligently made.
Withdrawal of improvident plea of guilty
1. When it may be done:
* at any time before the judgment of conviction becomes final.
2. Effect:
* change of the accused s plea from guilty to that of not guilty is the setting as
ide of the judgment of conviction and the re-opening of the case for new trial.
3. The withdrawal must at least have a rational basis. The accused should state
that he has a meritorious defense to the charge. The motion should be set for
hearing and the prosecution heard thereon.
Time for counsel de officio to prepare
Express demand:
* Counsel for the accused must expressly demand the right to be given reasonable
time to consult with the accused. Only when so demanded does denial thereof co
nstitute reversible error and a ground for new trial.
Bill of particulars
1. Rule 12 of Civil Procedure on bill of particulars is applicable in criminal p
roceedings.
2. It is not the office of the bill of particulars to:
* Supply material allegation necessary to the validity of a pleading
* Change a cause of action or defense stated in the pleading, or to state a caus
e of action or defense other than the one stated.
* Set forth the pleader s theory of his cause of action or a rule of evidence on w
hich he intends to rely
* Furnish evidentiary information whether such information consists of evidence
which the pleader proposes to introduce or of facts which constitute a defense o
r offset for the other party or which will enable the opposite party to establis
h an affirmative defense not yet pleaded.
3. The filing of a motion for bill of particulars suspends the period to file a
responsive pleading.
* If the motion is granted, the moving party has the remaining period or at leas
t 5 days to file his answer from service of the bill of particulars.
* If the motion is denied, he has the same period to file his responsive pleadin
g from receipt of the order denying the motion.
Suspension of arraignment
Tests to determine insanity:
* the test of cognition (which is used in this jurisdiction) or the complete dep
rivation of intelligence in committing the criminal act
* the test of volition or that there be a total deprivation of freedom of the wi
ll.
RULE 117 MOTION TO QUASH
Time to move to quash
1. Quashal and nolle prosequi distinguished:
* The quashal of complaint or information is different from a nolle prosequi, al
though both have one result, which is the dismissal of the case.
* A nolle prosequi is initiated by the prosecutor while a quashal of information
is upon motion to quash filed by the accused.
* A nolle prosequi is a dismissal of the criminal case by the government before
the accused is placed on trial and before he is called to plead, with the approv
al of the court in the exercise of its judicial discretion. It partakes of the
nature of a nonuser or discontinuance in a civil suit and leaves the matter in t
he same condition in which it was before the commencement of the prosecution. I
t is not an acquittal; it is not a final disposition of the case; and it does no
t bar a subsequent prosecution for the same offense.
2. General Rule: A MTQ may be filed by the accused at any time before the accuse
d enters his plea. Thereafter, no MTQ can be entertained by the court.
* Exception: under the circumstances mentioned in Sec. 9, Rule 117, which adopts
the omnibus motion rule. This means that a MTQ may still be filed after arraig
nment on the ground that the facts alleged in the information charge no offense,
that the offense or penalty has prescribed, or that the doctrine of double jeop
ardy precludes the filing of the information.
3. The right to file a MTQ belongs only to the accused. There is nothing in the
rules which authorizes the court or judge to motu propio initiate a MTQ by issu
ing an order requiring why the information may not be quashed on the ground stat
ed in said order.
Form and contents
Factual and legal grounds must be stated
* This provision requiring that the factual and legal grounds be stated in the mot
ion allows that facts outside the information itself may be introduced to prove
any of the grounds of a MTQ, enumerated in Sec. 3. Such inquiry into outside fa
cts may also be allowed even when the ground invoked is that the allegation in t
he information does not constitute the offense charged.
Grounds
1. In a MTQ based on the ground that the facts alleged in the information do not
constitute the offense charged, the trial court should limit its inquiry to:
* the averments in the information, as hypothetically admitted;
* facts admitted by the prosecution; and
* indubitable facts.
2. Where ground for MTQ is illegal arrest:
* If the accused believes that the arrest, with or without warrant, is illegal,
he should move to quash the information on such ground, along with other grounds
as otherwise such other grounds will be deemed waived if not included in the MT
Q, except no offense charged, lack of jurisdiction over the offense, prescriptio
n of offense or liability, or double jeopardy.
3. The prosecutor who signed the information must have territorial jurisdiction
to conduct the preliminary investigation of the offense, otherwise the informati
on filed by him would be invalid and can be quashed on such ground.
4. The fact that the allegations in the complaint or information are vague or br
oad, is not generally a ground for a motion to quash, the remedy being to file a
motion for bill of particulars.
6. The period of prescription of violation of special laws or offenses not penal
ized by the Revised Penal Code but by special laws, and municipal ordinances is
governed by Act No. 3326 which took effect on December 4, 1926.
7. Doctrine of Presidential Ad Hoc Fact-Finding Committee on Behest Loans v. Des
ierto, 317 SCRA 272 (1999):
* If the commission of the crime is known, the prescriptive period shall commenc
e to run on the day it was committed, otherwise on the date of its discovery.
* In the very nature of things, acts made criminal by special laws are frequent
ly not immoral or obviously immoral in themselves. For this reason, the applica
ble statute requires that if the violation of the special law is not known at th
e time, the prescriptive period begins to run only from the discovery thereof, t
hat is, discovery of the unlawful nature of the constitutive act or acts, in con
nection with which there should be evidence.
8. Regarding prescriptive periods:
* Where an accused has been found to have committed a lesser offense includible
within the offense charged, he cannot be convicted of the lesser offense if it h
as already prescribed. To hold otherwise would be to sanction the circumvention
of the law on prescription by the simple expedient of accusing the defendant of
the graver offense.
* The rule that if the last day falls on a Sunday or a holiday, the act can stil
l be done the following day does not apply to the computation of the period of p
rescription of a crime, in which the rule is that if the last day in the period
of prescription of a felony falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, the information
concerning said felony cannot be filed on the next working day, as the offense h
as by then already prescribed.
* The period of a continuing crime s prescription is counted from the latest or la
st act constituting the series of acts continuing the single crime.
* The prescriptive period of offenses penalized by special laws and ordinances i
s interrupted only by the filing of complaint or information in court. This is
without distinction as to whether the cases are covered by the Rule on Summary P
rocedure.
* The period of prescription does not run when the offender is absent from the P
hilippines.
9. Regarding pardon:
* Unless grounded on the person s innocence, a pardon by the President cannot brin
g back lost reputation for honesty, integrity and fair dealing. The pardoned of
fender regains his eligibility for appointment to public office which was forfei
ted by reason of the conviction of the offense. But since pardon does not neces
sarily result in automatic reinstatement because the offender has to apply for r
eappointment, he is not entitled to back wages.
10. Contentious motions:
* Contentious motions in criminal cases must comply with the requirements that t
hey be set for hearing at a specified date with prior notice to the adverse part
y or the prosecutor at least 3 days before the hearing, the notice of hearing sh
ould be addressed to adverse counsel or the prosecutor, and proof of service of
the motion upon the adverse party or prosecutor at least 3 days prior to such he
aring. This is mandatory.
11. Remedy of aggrieved party
* While an order granting a motion to quash, unlike a denial thereof, is appeala
ble, as the proper remedy, this rule does not preclude the aggrieved party from
filing a special civil action of certiorari, as a substitute for the remedy of a
lost appeal, where there is a patent, capricious and whimsical exercise of disc
retion by a trial judge or where an appeal will not promptly relieve the aggriev
ed party from the injurious effect of the disputed order, as in the quashal of a
n information for incomplete preliminary investigation.
Amendment of complaint or information
1. An information does not charge an offense if one or more of its essential ele
ments have not been alleged therein. The amendment of the information to allege
the element(s) not stated in the information is a material amendment, but the s
ame can be done because the accused has not been arraigned, nor can a dismissal
of the information on such ground put the accused twice in jeopardy.
2. A good tactical move may require that the accused should first plead to the i
nformation and thereafter file a motion to quash either before or after the pros
ecution has presented its evidence. Pursuant to Sec. 9 of Rule 117, an accused,
even after he has entered his plea, may still move to quash the information on
the ground that it does not charge an offense. If the case is dismissed on such
ground, the prosecution may not be permitted to correct the information because
the accused has already pleaded and to allow such amendment may place the accus
ed twice in jeopardy.
Former conviction or acquittal; double jeopardy
1. Double jeopardy will apply...
* when the complaint or information is dismissed by a court of competent jurisdic
tion after the prosecution has presented its evidence even if the dismissal is i
n the mistaken ground of lack of jurisdiction.
* even if the dismissal is made with the express consent of the accused, or upon
his own motion, if it is predicated on insufficiency of the prosecution evidence
or denial of the right to a speedy trial. In both instances, the dismissal has
the effect of acquittal.
2. Double jeopardy will not apply
* in case of a conviction of a crime under a special law, which also constitutes
an offense under the Revised Penal Code.
> Reason: the former is malum prohibitum, while the latter is malum in se.
> Thus, it has been held that conviction for the crime of illegal recruitment un
der the Labor Code does not preclude punishment for the offense of estafa under
the RPC.
* where 2 informations are filed charging the same accused with 2 different elem
ents, as in the issuance of bouncing check for estafa under the RPC and violatio
n of BP 22.
* where after trial of a charge of serious physical injuries, the municipal tria
l court dismissed the case to give way to the filing of a complaint for frustrat
ed murder, as it believed that what was proved was frustrated murder, the dismis
sal was null and void because the trial court should have rendered judgment base
d on the charge alleged in the information and the evidence adduced during the t
rial. Since the dismissal was null and void, it did not place the accused twice
in jeopardy for the continuation of the proceedings for serious physical injuri
es.
* where the accused has been sentenced to suffer a wrong penalty by the trial co
urt, the petition for certiorari filed by the prosecutor to correct the penalty
which should be lower than that imposed does not place the accused twice in jeop
ardy because it would shorten the penalty and is favorable to the accused.
* where one case is administrative in nature and the other criminal. Neither do
es it apply in preliminary investigations.
Provisional dismissal
1. Important!: A trial court may not order a provisional dismissal of the case w
ithout the express consent of the accused and prior notice to the offended party
. The trial court, cannot, on its own, provisionally dismiss the case, nor can i
t dismiss it provisionally without the express consent of the prosecutor.
2. Important!: The provisional dismissal of offenses punishable by imprisonment
not exceeding 6 years or a fine of any amount, or both, shall become permanent 1
year after issuance of the order without the case having been revived. With res
pect to offenses punishable by imprisonment of more than 6 years, their provisio
nal dismissal shall become permanent 2 years after issuance of the order without
the case having been revived.
Failure to move to quash or to allege any ground therefor
The accused may still file a motion to dismiss the information based on the foll
owing grounds even if he has already pleaded not guilty:
* the information charges no offense;
* the trial court has no jurisdiction over the offense charged;
* the penalty or the offense has been extinguished; and
* double jeopardy has attached.
RULE 118 PRE-TRIAL
1. Pre-trial Conference is mandatory in criminal cases.
2. In such pre-trial, the following are considered:
a. Plea bargaining
b. Stipulation of facts
c. Identification of evidence
d. Waiver of objections to admissibility of evidence
e. Modification of order of trial if accused admits the charge but interposes la
wful defense
f. Other matters which will promote a fair and expeditious trial
3. What are the requisites of pre-trial agreements and admissions (stipulation o
f facts)?
a. In writing
b. Signed by the accused and counsel
* The agreements covering matters referred to in section 1 of this Rule (plea ba
rgaining, etc.) need to be approved by the court.
* The purpose of requiring the accused to sign the stipulation of facts is to fu
rther safeguard his rights against improvident or unauthorized agreement or admi
ssion which his counsel may have entered into without his knowledge. (People vs.
Uy, 2000)
4. If the counsel for the accused or the prosecutor does not appear at the pre-t
rial and does not offer an acceptable excuse, he may be penalized by the court.
5. What is a pre-trial order? It is an order issued by the court reciting the a
ctions taken, the facts stipulated and the evidence marked during the pre-trial
conference. Such order binds the parties and limits the trial to those matters
not disposed of.
6. What if the accused believes that the pre-trial order contains mistakes or ma
tters which were not taken up during the pre-trial? He must move to correct the
mistake or modify the pre-trial order, otherwise, he will be deemed to have wai
ved, and be barred from questioning the same later.
RULE 119 TRIAL
1. From the day when the accused pleads not guilty upon arraignment, he shall ha
ve 15 days to prepare for trial which includes pre-trial. The trial shall comme
nce within 30 days from receipt of pre-trial order.
2. The trial shall be continuous (day to day as far as practicable) and the enti
re trial period shall not exceed 180 days except as otherwise authorized by the
Supreme Court.
3. The trial may be postponed for a reasonable period of time and for good cause
as may be granted by the court.
4. The trial judge does not lose jurisdiction to try the case after the 180-day
limit. He may, however, be penalized with disciplinary sanctions for failure to
observe the prescribed limit without proper authorization by the Supreme Court.
Trial in Absentia
1. Requisites of Trial in Absentia (if not present, there s denial of due process)
a. The accused has been arraigned
b. He has been notified of the trial
c. His failure to appear is unjustified
2. The purpose of trial in absentia is to speed up the disposition of criminal c
ases. (People vs. Agbulos, 1993)
3. What are the effects of trial in absentia? The accused waives the right to p
resent evidence and cross-examine the witnesses against him. (People vs. Landich
o, 1996)
The accused s waiver does not mean, however, that the prosecution is deprived of t
he right to require the presence of the accused for purposes of identification b
y the witnesses which is vital for conviction of the accused, except where he un
qualifiedly admits in open court after his arraignment that he is the person nam
ed as defendant in the case on trial.
Exclusions in the Computation of Time
1. The following periods shall not be included in the computation of time of tri
al:
a. Delay resulting from other proceedings concerning the accused including but n
ot limited to:
i. Delay resulting from physical or mental examination
ii. Delay resulting from other criminal proceedings against accused
iii. Delay resulting from extraordinary remedies against interlocutory orders
iv. Delay resulting from pre-trial proceedings provided not exceeding 30 days
v. Delay resulting from orders of inhibition or proceedings for change of venue
vi. Delay resulting from the existence of a prejudicial question
vii. Delay attributable to any period not exceeding 30 days and the accused is u
nder advisement
b. Delay resulting from absence or unavailability of an essential witness
c. Delay resulting from mental incompetence or physical inability of the accused
to stand trial
d. If the information is dismissed upon motion of the prosecution and thereafter
a charge is filed against the accused for the same offense, any period of delay
from the date the charge was dismissed to the date the time limitation would co
mmence to run as to the subsequent charge had there been no previous charge.
e. Reasonable period of delay when accused is joined for trial with co-accused
f. Delay resulting from continuance granted by the court motu propio
Factors for Granting Continuance
1. Whether the failure to grant continuance would make a continuation of the pro
ceeding impossible or result in a miscarriage of justice.
2. The case, as a whole, is novel, unusual and complex, or it is unreasonable to
expect adequate preparation within the periods of time established therein.
Time Limit Following an Order for New Trial
* General Rule: After an order for new trial is issued, the trial commences with
in 30 days from notice of the order.
* Exception: If the 30-day period becomes impractical due to unavailability of t
he witnesses and other factors, it may be extended by the court but in no case s
hould it exceed 180 days from notice of said order for new trial.
Public Attorney s Duties Where Accused is Imprisoned
1. If the accused is imprisoned, the public attorney has a duty to obtain the pr
esence of the prisoner for trial or cause notice to be served on the person havi
ng custody of the prisoner requiring such person to advise the prisoner of his r
ight to demand trial.
2. The custodian will then inform the prisoner of the latter s right to demand tri
al. If the prisoner demands trial, the custodian should then inform the public
attorney of such demand.
3. Upon notification, the public attorney should then seek to obtain the presenc
e of the prisoner for trial.
Sanctions Imposed on Private Counsel, Public Attorney or the Prosecutor
* Acts which will evoke the sanctions:
1. Knowingly allowing the case to be set on trial without disclosing that a nece
ssary witness would be unavailable;
2. Files a motion solely for delay, knowing it to be frivolous and without merit
;
3. Knowingly makes a false statement in order to obtain continuance;
4. Willfully fails to proceed to trial without justification.
* The Sanctions:
1. Private Defense Counsel fine not exceeding P20, 000 + criminal sanctions, if
any.
2. Counsel de officio, Public Attorney or Prosecutor fine not exceeding P5, 000
+ criminal sanctions, if any.
3. Defense Counsel or Prosecutor denial of the right to practice before the cour
t trying the case for a period not exceeding 30 days + criminal sanctions, if an
y.
* The sanctions are designed to speed up the trial and disposition of the cases
and to encourage the lawyers to go to court ready for trial and not ready to post
pone.
Speedy Trial
1. The accused should be brought to trial within 30 days from the date the court
acquires jurisdiction over the person of the accused (Rule 116, Section 1g). I
f he is not brought to trial within the period specified, he may quash the infor
mation on the ground of denial of his right to speedy trial. Failure to move fo
r dismissal prior to trial shall constitute a waiver of the right to dismiss und
er Section 9, Rule 120.
2. Arraignment must be set within 30 days from the date the court acquires juris
diction over the person of the accused, and within the same period, the court mu
st set the case for pre-trial, and within 30 days from the receipt of the pre-tr
ial order, the trial must be commenced.
Order of Trial
1. Order of Trial
* Prosecution presents evidence to prove the charge and, in the proper case, the
civil liability.
* The accused presents evidence to prove his defense and damages, if any.
* The prosecution, then the defense, may present rebuttal and sur-rebuttal evide
nce unless the court, in furtherance of justice, permits them to present additio
nal evidence.
* Upon admission of the evidence by the parties, the case is deemed submitted fo
r decision.
2. The order of the trial may be modified, at the discretion of the judge, if th
e accused admits the act or omission charged in the complaint or information but
interposes a lawful defense.
3. The order of trial is intended to safeguard the right of the accused to be pr
esumed innocent until the contrary is proved.
4. The accused has the right to demand from the prosecution the list of prosecut
ion witnesses, but the prosecution may call witnesses other than as listed even
when the latter heard the testimonies of other witnesses. Furthermore, the pros
ecution has the discretion to choose the order of its witnesses.
5. Due Process
* The prosecution is entitled to due process. This means that it must be allowe
d to completely present its evidence.
* Pervasive and prejudicial publicity may deprive an accused of his right to a f
air trial. To warrant such a finding, however, there must be allegation and pro
of that the judge has been unduly influenced.
* Judges must not only be impartial, but must also appear impartial. However, t
his does not mean that the judge must remain passive during the proceedings. It s
the judge s prerogative and duty to ask clarificatory questions to ferret out the
truth.
6. Undue Interference
* There is undue interference by the judge if he propounds questions to the witn
esses which will have the effect of or will tend to build or bolster the case fo
r one of the parties.
Application for Examination of Witness for Accused Before Trial
* The accused may have witnesses conditionally examined in his behalf. The moti
on shall state:
> Name and residence of the witness
> Substance of his testimony
> The witness is sick and cannot attend trial or he resides more than 100 km fro
m the place of trial and has no means to attend the same
* The motion should be supported by affidavit of the accused and such other evid
ence as the court may require.
Examination of Defense Witnesses
Deposition
* Definition: Deposition is the testimony of a witness taken upon oral questions
or written interrogatories, in open court, but in pursuance of a commission to
take testimony issued by a court, or under a general law or court rule on the su
bject, and reduced to writing and duly authenticated, and intended to be used in
preparation and upon the trial of a civil or criminal prosecution.
* Purpose: The purpose of taking depositions are to:
i. Greater assistance to the parties in ascertaining the truth and checking and
preventing perjury
ii. Provide an effective means of detecting and exposing false, fraudulent claim
s and defenses
iii. Make available in a simple, convenient and inexpensive way, facts which oth
erwise could not be proved except with greater difficulty
iv. Educate the parties in advance of trial as to the real value of their claims
and defenses thereby encouraging settlements
v. Expedite litigation
vi. Prevent delay
vii. Simplify and narrow the issues
viii. Expedite and facilitate both preparation and trial
* The court shall issue an order directing that the witness for the accused be e
xamined at a specific date, time and place.
* The said order should be served on the prosecutor at least 3 days before the s
cheduled examination.
* Who should make the examination? The examination should be taken before a jud
ge or a member of the Bar in good standing so designated by the judge. It may a
lso be made before an inferior court designated in the order of a superior court
.
Bail to Secure the Appearance of Material Witness
* If the court is satisfied upon proof or oath that a material witness will not
testify when required, it may order the witness to post bail in such sum as may
be deemed proper. If the witness refuses to post bail, the court shall imprison
him until he complies or is legally discharged after his testimony has been tak
en.
Examination of Witness for the Prosecution
1. The witness for the prosecution may be conditionally examined by the court wh
ere the case is pending if said witness is:
* Too sick to appear at the trial; or
* Has to leave the Philippines with no definite date of return.
2. Such examination should be in the presence of the accused or in his absence a
fter reasonable notice to attend the examination has been served on him.
3. Examination of child witnesses is tackled under the Rule on Examination of a
Child Witness which took effect on December 15, 2000.
Joint Trial
1. When two or more defendants are jointly charged with any offense, they shall
be tried jointly, unless the court in its discretion upon motion of the prosecut
ion or any of the defendants orders a separate trial.
2. Where the conditions are fulfilled, joint trial is automatic, without need fo
r the trial court to issue an order to that effect.
3. The grant of separate trial rests in the sound discretion of the court and is
not a matter of right to the accused, especially where it is sought after the p
resentation of the evidence of the prosecution. In such separate trial, only th
e accused presenting evidence has to be present. And the evidence to be adduced
by each accused should not be considered as evidence against the other accused.
State Witness
1. Requisites to be a state witness:
a. Two or more persons are jointly charged with the commission of an offense
b. The application for discharge is filed by the prosecution before it rests its
case
c. Absolute necessity for the testimony of the accused
d. There is no other direct evidence available for the proper prosecution of the
offense
e. Testimony of the accused can be substantially corroborated in its material po
ints
f. Accused does not appear to be the most guilty
* Means that he does not appear to have the highest degree of culpability in ter
ms of participation in the commission of the offense and not necessarily in the
severity of the penalty imposed.
* The fact that there was conspiracy does not preclude one from being discharged
as a state witness. What the court takes into account is the gravity or nature
of acts committed by the accused to be discharged compared to those of his co-a
ccused, and not merely the fact that in law the same or equal penalty is imposab
le on all of them.
g. Accused has not been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude.
2. The defense should be afforded opportunity to oppose the motion to discharge
an accused to be a state witness.
3. Any question against the order of the court to discharge an accused to be use
d as state witness must be raised in the trial court; it cannot be considered on
appeal. Where there is, however, a showing of grave abuse of discretion, the o
rder of the trial court may be challenged in a petition for certiorari and prohi
bition.
4. Two types of witness immunity
a. Transactional immunity witness can no longer be prosecuted for any offense wh
atsoever arising out of the act or transaction.
b. Use-And-Derivative-Use-Immunity witness is only assured that his or her parti
cular testimony and evidence derived from it will not be used against him or her
in a subsequent prosecution.
5. The discharge of an accused to be a state witness amounts to an acquittal and
is a bar to future prosecution for the same offense.
* Where an accused has been discharged to be utilized as state witness and he th
us testified, the fact that the discharge was erroneous as the conditions for di
scharge were not complied with did not thereby nullify his being precluded from
re-inclusion in the information or from being charged anew for the same offense
or for an attempt or frustration thereof, or for crimes necessarily included in
or necessarily including those offense.
Mistake in Charging the Proper Offense
1. When, at any time before judgment, it becomes manifest that a mistake has bee
n made in charging the proper offense and the accused cannot be convicted of the
offense charged or any other offense necessarily included therein, the said acc
used shall not be discharged if there appears to be good cause to detain him.
2. If there appears to be good cause to detain the accused, the court shall comm
it the accused and dismiss the original case upon the filing of the proper infor
mation.
Appointment of Acting Prosecutor
* When a prosecutor, his assistant or deputy is disqualified to act, the judge o
r the prosecutor shall communicate with the Secretary of Justice in order that t
he latter may appoint an acting prosecutor.
Exclusion of the Public
* The public may be excluded from the courtroom when evidence to be produced is
offensive to decency or public morals.
Consolidation of Trials of Related Offenses
1. Charges for offenses founded on the same facts or forming part of a series of
offenses or similar character may be tried jointly at the court s discretion.
2. The purpose of consolidation is to avoid multiplicity of suits, guard against
oppression or abuse, prevent delay, clear congested dockets, simplify the work
of the trial court, and save unnecessary cost or expense; in short, the attainme
nt of justice with the least expense and vexation to the parties litigant.
3. While consolidation of cases and joint trial of related offenses and the rend
ition of a consolidated decision are allowed, the court cannot convict an accuse
d of a complex crime constitutive of the various crimes alleged in the consolida
ted cases.
Demurrer to Evidence
1. Definition: Demurrer to evidence is an objection by one of the parties in an
action, to the effect that the evidence which his adversary produced is insuffic
ient in point of law, whether true or not, to make out a case or sustain the iss
ue.
2. After the prosecution shall have rested its case, the case may be dismissed i
n any of the following manner:
a. Court on its own initiative can dismiss the case after giving prosecution opp
ortunity to be heard
b. Accused files demurrer with or without leave of court
c. If the demurrer is denied:
* With leave of court, accused can present his evidence
* Without leave of court, accused waives right to present evidence
3. With or Without Leave of Court
* With leave if the motion is denied, he can still present evidence
* Without leave if the motion is denied, he loses the right to present evidence
and the case will be deemed submitted for decision
4. If there are two or more accused and only one of them presents a demurrer to
evidence, without leave of court, the trial court may defer resolution thereof u
ntil the decision is rendered on the other accused.
5. An order denying the motion for leave of court to file a demurer shall not be
reviewable by appeal or by certiorari before judgment. This is because demurre
r is merely interlocutory.
Reopening of Case
* At any time before finality of judgment of conviction, judge may, motu proprio
or upon motion, with hearing in either case reopen to avoid miscarriage of just
ice.
RULE 120 JUDGMENT
Judgment
1. Definition: Adjudication by the court that the accused is guilty or not guil
ty of the offense charged and the imposition of the proper penalty and civil lia
bility, if any. It is a judicial act which settles the issues, fixes the rights
and liabilities of the parties, and determines the proceeding, and is regarded
as the sentence of the law pronounced by the court on the action or question bef
ore it.
2. Requisites:
a. Written in official language
b. Personally and directly prepared by the judge
c. Signed by him
d. Contains clearly and distinctly a statement of the facts and the law upon whi
ch it is based
* A verbal order does not meet the requisites. As such, it can be rescinded wit
hout prejudicing the rights of the accused. It has no legal force and effect.
* Article VIII, Section 14, par. 1 of the Constitution requires that the decisio
ns of the court shall contain the facts and the law on which they are based. Th
e rationale is that the losing party is entitled to know why he lost, so he may
appeal to a higher court.
3. The judge who penned the decision need not be the one who heard the case. Th
e judge can rely on the transcript of stenographic notes taken during the trial.
Contents of Judgment
1. Legal qualification of the offense constituted by the acts committed by the a
ccused, and the aggravating or mitigating circumstances attending the commission
.
2. Participation of the accused in the commission of the offense, whether as pri
ncipal, accomplice or accessory
3. The penalty imposed upon the accused
4. Civil liability or damages caused by the wrongful act to be recovered from th
e 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.
Acquittal and Dismissal
1. Acquittal is a finding of not guilty based on the merits, that is, the accuse
d is acquitted because the evidence does not show that his guilt is beyond reaso
nable doubt, or a dismissal of the case after the prosecution has rested its cas
e and upon motion of the accused on the ground that the evidence produced fails
to show beyond doubt that the accused is guilty.
2. Acquittal vs. Dismissal
* Acquittal is always based on the merits while in dismissal, there is terminati
on not on the merits and no finding of guilt is made either because the court is
not a court of competent jurisdiction, or the evidence does not show that the o
ffense was committed within the territorial jurisdiction of the court, or the co
mplaint or information is not valid or sufficient in form and in substance.
3. Dismissal may amount to a acquittal:
a. Here the dismissal is based on a demurrer to evidence
b. Where the dismissal is based on the denial of the right to a speedy trial
4. Acquittal of an accused based on reasonable ground does not bar the offended
party from filing a separate civil action based on a quasi-delict. In fact, the
court may hold an accused civilly liable even when it acquits him.
Judgment for Two or More Offenses
* A complaint or information must charge only one offense. However, if the accu
sed does not object to the duplicity before he enters his plea, he is deemed to
have waived the defect. He may be found guilty for as many offenses as alleged
in the complaint or information as may have been duly proved.
Variance Between Allegation and Proof
1. General Rule: If the prosecution proves an offense included in the offense c
harged in the information, the accused may be validly convicted of such offense
proved.
2. Exception: The general rule does not apply where facts supervened after the
filing of the information which changes the nature of the offense.
3. An offense charged necessarily includes the offense proved when some of the e
ssential elements or ingredients of the former constitute the latter.
4. An offense charged is necessarily included in the offense proved, when the
essential ingredients of the former constitute or form part of those constitutin
g the latter.
Promulgation of Judgment
1. Definition: Promulgation of judgment in criminal cases is the reading of the
judgment or sentence in the presence of the accused and the judge of the court
who rendered it.
2. It is the filing of the decision or judgment with the clerk of court which gi
ves it validity and binding effect.
3. General Rule: Promulgation should be made in the presence of the accused and
the judge of the court who rendered the decision.
4. Exception to the Mandatory Presence of the Accused:
a. Where the conviction is for a light offense, in which case the accused may ap
pear through counsel or representative
5. If judgment is one of conviction and the accused is absent without justifiabl
e cause, the court shall order his arrest and he shall lose the remedies availab
le in the Rules against the judgment.
6. When the judge is absent or outside the province or city, the judgment may be
promulgated by the clerk of court.
7. A judgment promulgated at a time when the judge who rendered and signed it ha
d ceased to hold office is null and void.
Modification of Judgment
1. A judgment of conviction may be modified or set aside before it becomes final
or before appeal is perfected.
2. General Rule: A judgment becomes final:
a. after the lapse of the period for perfecting an appeal; or
b. when the sentence has been partially or totally satisfied or served; or
c. when the accused has waived in writing his right to appeal; or
d. accused has applied for probation.
3. Exception: When the Death Penalty is imposed by the trial court, the SC auto
matically reviews the decision.
Probation
1. The period to file an application for probation is after the accused shall ha
ve been convicted by the trial court and within the period for perfecting an app
eal.
2. Probation is a mere privilege and is revocable before final discharge of the
probationer by the court.
RULE 121 NEW TRIAL OR RECONSIDERATION
Filing of New Trial or Reconsideration
1. Filed by the accused.
2. Before final judgment of conviction or during appeal.
Grounds for New Trial
1. Errors of law or irregularities prejudicial to the substantial rights of the
accused
a. errors of law or irregularities committed during trial
b. errors/irregularities are prejudicial to the substantial rights of the accuse
d
The following are not considered as irregularities:
- Loss of records (remedy is reconstitution of missing evidence)
- Loss of stenographic notes (remedy is reconstruction of the testimony of the w
itness)
2. New and material evidence has been discovered
a. evidence discovered after trial
b. evidence could not have been discovered and produced at the trial even with t
he exercise of reasonable diligence
c. evidence is material and would probably change the judgment if admitted
The following are not considered as newly discovered evidence:
- Affidavit of desistance/recantation.
- Proposed testimonies of witnesses.
- Merely forgotten evidence.
Although the Rules of Court enumerates only the above two as the grounds for new
trial, the case of Navarra vs. CA states that if the negligence or mistake of c
ounsel is so gross as to deprive the client of his right to due process of law,
the accused may be entitled to a new trial.
Grant of a New Trial is not Appealable; Relief
* The grant of a New Trial is not appealable since it is not a final judgment.
To challenge such grant, a petition for certiorari and prohibition may be filed.
Grounds for Reconsideration
1. Errors of law in the judgment
2. Errors of fact in the judgment
Form of Motion and Notice to Prosecutor
* The motion must:
a. Be in writing
b. State the grounds on which it is based
c. Supported by affidavits of witnesses (if based on the ground of newly discove
red evidence)
d. Be given to the prosecutor
Effects of Granting a New Trial or Reconsideration
1. Original judgment shall be set aside.
2. The case shall be tried de novo and a new judgment be rendered accordingly.
3. When the new trial is granted on the ground of errors of law or irregularitie
s committed during trial, all proceedings and evidence affected thereby shall be
set aside and taken anew. The court may allow introduction of additional evide
nce.
4. When the new trial is granted on the ground of newly discovered evidence, the
latter shall be taken and considered together with the evidence already in the
record.
Erroneous Acquittal; Double Jeopardy Applies
* The case of People vs. Hernando states that erroneous acquittal of the accused
remains as the final verdict. Errors or irregularities, which do not render th
e proceedings a nullity, will not defeat a plea of antrefois acquit.
RULE 122 APPEAL
Who may appeal
Any party may appeal, unless accused will be placed in double jeopardy.
How to Appeal
* To the RTC
1. file a Notice of Appeal with the court which rendered the judgment
2. serve a copy of the notice upon the adverse party
* To the CA
When RTC exercised original jurisdiction:
1. File a Notice of Appeal with the RTC
3. Serve a copy of the notice upon the adverse party
When RTC exercised appellate jurisdiction:
- Follow Rule 42 on Petition for Review
* Sandiganbayan
1. when RTC exercised original jurisdiction:
2. file a Notice of Appeal with the RTC
a. serve a copy of the notice upon the adverse party
b. when RTC exercised appellate jurisdiction:
c. follow Rule 42 on Petition for Review
* SC
1. where RTC imposes reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment
a. file a Notice of Appeal with the RTC.
b. Serve a copy of the Notice upon the adverse party
2. where RTC imposes death penalty
a. automatic review of SC as provided by sec. 10 of Rule 122
3. for CA decisions
a. file an ordinary appeal
b. for questions of facts and law
c. follow Rule 42 on Petition for Review
d. for questions of law (all other appeals)
e. follow Rule 45 on Petition for Review on Certiorari
When appeal to be taken
* Appeal is taken within 15 days from promulgation of the judgment. This period
shall be suspended from the time a motion for new trial or reconsideration is fi
led until notice of overruling the motion has been served upon the accused at wh
ich time the balance of the period begins to run.
Effect of appeal by any of several accused
* An appeal taken by one or more of several accused shall not affect those who d
id not appeal, except if the judgment is favorable and applicable to the latter.
* The appeal of the offended party from the civil aspect shall not affect the cr
iminal aspect of the judgment.
* Upon perfection of the appeal, the execution of the judgment appealed from sha
ll be stayed as to the appealing party.
Withdrawal of appeal
* The courts may allow the appellant to withdraw his appeal before the record ha
s been forwarded by the clerk of court to the proper appellate court, in which c
ase the judgment shall be final.
RULE 123 PROCEDURE IN THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS
1. General Rule
* The procedure in the Regional Trial Court shall be applicable to the procedure
in Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Tri
al Court.
2. Exceptions
* Particular provision is made applicable only to such courts
* In cases governed by the Rule on Summary Procedure
A) - criminal case where the penalty prescribed does not exceed 6 months impriso
nment or a fine of P1,000 or both
B) - complaint or information filed directly in court without need of a prior pr
eliminary investigation or preliminary examination
C) - case decided based on affidavits submitted by the parties
RULE 124 PROCEDURE IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
Court of Appeals
* The Court of Appeals has no jurisdiction without judgment of conviction.
* The Court of Appeals shall give precedence in the disposition of appeals of ac
cused who are under detention. It shall hear and decide the appeal at the earli
est practicable time with due regard to the rights of the parties.
* Judgment of the lower courts shall be reversed or modified only when the Court
of Appeals is of the opinion that error was committed which injuriously affecte
d the substantial rights of the appellant after it examined the record and evide
nce adduced by the parties.
* Although not often done in the judicial system, the case of People vs. Calayca
states that the appellate court may reverse the trial court s decision on the bas
is of grounds other than those that the parties raised as errors.
Power of the Court of Appeals
* The Court of Appeals may reverse, affirm, or modify the judgment; increase or
reduce the penalty imposed; remand the case for new trial or re-trial; or dismis
s the case. It is discretionary on its part whether or not to set a case for or
al argument.
* It shall have the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence an
d perform any and all acts necessary to resolve factual issues raised in cases:
a. falling within its original jurisdiction
b. involving claims for damages arising from provisional remedies, or
c. where the court grants a new trial based only on the ground of newly discove
red evidence.
Quorum and Voting of the Court of Appeals
* Three Justices constitute a quorum for the sessions of a division
* Unanimous vote of the 3 Justices of a division shall be necessary to pronounce
a judgment or a final resolution. In the event that there is no unanimous vote
, the Presiding Justice shall direct the raffle committee of the Court to design
ate two additional Justices in the division hearing the case and the concurrence
of a majority of such division shall be necessary for the pronouncement pf a ju
dgment or final order.
* Should the Court of Appeals impose the penalty of death, reclusion perpetua, o
r life imprisonment after discussing the evidence and law involved, the case is
certified and immediately elevated to the Supreme Court for review.
Accused Appellant
* An accused-appellant may change his theory on appeal; thus the case opens the
whole action for review on any questioning including those not raised by the par
ties.
* When the accused appeals a judgment of conviction, he waives the constitutiona
l safeguard against double jeopardy; but every circumstance in favor of the accu
sed should be considered.
* Upon the death of an accused pending appeal from his conviction, the criminal
action is extinguished, and the civil aspect instituted therewith for recovery o
f civil liability ex delicto is ipso facto extinguished. The other party may ju
st file a separate civil case against the estate of the accused who died.
Appointment of Counsel de Officio
A counsel de officio is a court appointed lawyer to the accused.
1. He is appointed if it appears from the record of the case that:
a. The accused is confined in prison,
b. The accused is without counsel de parte on appeal, or
c. The accused signed the notice of appeal himself.
2. He may be appointed upon the request of an appellant, 10 days from recei
pt of the notice to file brief and the latter establishes his right to have one.
Dismissal of Appeal for Abandonment or Failure to Prosecute
* Requirement
a. upon motion of the appellee or motu propio
b. with notice to the appellant
* Grounds
a. Appellant fails to file his brief within the time prescribed, except whe
n he is represented by a counsel de oficio.
b. Appellant escapes from prison or confinement, jumps bail, or flees to a
foreign country during pendency of the appeal.
* Effect
- Appealed judgment becomes final.
Judgment of the Court of Appeals/New Trial/Reconsideration
* When the entry of judgment of the Court of Appeals is issued, a certified true
copy of the judgment shall be attached to the original record which shall be re
manded to the clerk of court from which the appeal was taken.
* The appellant may move for a new trial any time after the appeal from the lowe
r court has been perfected and before the judgment of the Court of Appeals convi
cting him becomes final.
* A motion for reconsideration shall be made within 15 days after notice of the
decision or final order of the Court of Appeals.
RULE 125 PROCEDURE IN THE SUPREME COURT
1. Procedure in the SC in appealed cases is the same as in the CA, unless otherw
ise provided by the Constitution or law
2. A case may reach the SC for final adjudication in the following manner:
* Automatic review
> In all cases where death penalty is imposed by the trial court
> Records shall be forwarded to the SC for automatic review and judgment
* Ordinary appeal
> Where penalty imposed is life imprisonment
> Applicable also where a lesser penalty is imposed but involving offenses commi
tted on the same occasion or arising out of the same occurrence that gave rise t
o the more serious offense for which the penalty of death or life imprisonment i
s imposed
> In both cases, case is directly appealable to the SC by filing a notice of app
eal
* Petition for review on certiorari
> General Rule: judgments of RTCs may be appealed to the SC only by petition fo
r review on certiorari in accordance with Rule 45 of the Rules of Court
> Exception: Criminal cases where penalty imposed is life imprisonment or reclu
sion perpetua
3. A direct appeal to the SC on questions of in criminal cases in which penalty
imposed is not death or life imprisonment precludes the review of the facts
4. Questions of law and fact come within the jurisdiction of the CA
5. When a criminal case is appealed to the SC, the whole case is then thrown ope
n for review
* It becomes the duty of the SC to correct errors found in the judgment appealed
from
* SC may correct errors whether they are made the subject of assignments or erro
r or not
6. Effect of appeal on the bail of the accused:
* When accused is charged with offense which under the existing law at the time
of its commission and time of application for bail is punishable by a PENALTY LO
WER THAN RECLUSION PERPETUA and is out on bail, and after trial is convicted by
the trial court of the offense charges or of a lesser offenses than that charged
in the complaint or information, he is allowed to remain free on his original b
ail pending the resolution of appeal unless the proper court directs otherwise
* When accused is charged with CAPITAL OFFENSE or which under the law at the tim
e of its commission and at the time of the application for bail is punishable by
reclusion perpetua and is out on bail, and after trial is convicted by the tria
l court of a lesser offense than that charged in the complaint or info same rule
set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be applied;
* When accused is charged with CAPITAL OFFENSE of an offense which under the law
at the time of its commission and at the time of the application for bail is pu
nishable by reclusion perpetua and is out on bail and after trial is convicted b
y the trial court of the offense charged, -- bond is cancelled and accused shall
be placed in confinement pending resolution of his appeal
When, in criminal cases pending appeal before the SC, accused is still on provis
ional liberty, the ff. rules are laid down:
i. Court shall order the bondsman to surrender the accused within 10 days from n
otice, to the court of origin. Bondsman shall inform this court of fact of surr
ender. Then the court shall cancel the bond;
ii. RTC shall order the transmittal of the accused to the National Bureau of Pri
sons thru the PNP as the accused shall remain under confinement pending resoluti
on of his appeal;
iii. If accused appellant is not surrendered within the aforesaid period of ten
(10) days, his bond shall be forfeited and an order of arrest shall be issued by
this court.
* Appeal taken by the accused shall also be dismissed under Sec. 8 Rule 124 of R
ules of Court as he shall be deemed to have jumped his bail
REHEARING OF CRIMINAL CASE IN THE SUPREME COURT
1. A case is reheard when the court en banc is equally divided in opinion or nec
essary majority cannot be had.
2. If rehearing en banc no decision is reached, judgment of conviction of lower
court shall be reversed and accused is acquitted.
* If division of opinion or lack of required votes refers to the propriety of im
posing the death penalty, the penalty next lower in degree shall be imposed
RULE 126 SEARCH AND SEIZURE
1. Elements of a search warrant
* An order in writing;
* Signed by judge in the name of the People of the Philippines;
* Commanding a peace officer to search for personal property; and
* Bring it before the court
2. Nature of a search warrant
* It is in the nature of criminal processes and may be invoked only in furtheran
ce of public prosecutions
* Have no relation to civil processes or trials
* It is not available to individuals in the course of civil proceedings; it is n
ot for the maintenance of any private right.
* It is INTERLOCUTORY in character it leaves something more to be done, the dete
rmination of the guilt of the accused
General warrant:
* A process which authorizes the search and seizure of things, in a general mann
er
* This does not specify or describe with particularity the things searched and s
eized
* This kind of warrant is constitutionally objectionable therefore VOID
3. Object of a search warrant to obtain the goods, and bring the person in whose
custody they are found, either to be recognized as a witness or to be subject t
o such further proceedings as the ends of justice may require
4. A search warrant must conform strictly to the requirements of the constitutio
nal and statutory provisions under which it is issued
* Otherwise, it is VOID
* The proceedings upon search warrants must be absolutely legal
* It will always be construed strictly without going the full length of requirin
g technical accuracy.
* No presumptions of regularity are to be invoked in aid of the process when an
officer undertakes to justify under it.
5. Search distinguished from seizure
* Search
> it is an examination of a man s house, buildings or other premises, or of his pe
rson, with a view of some evidence of guilt to be used in the prosecution of a c
riminal action for some offense with which he is charged
> Ordinarily implies a request by an officer of the law
* Seizure
> it is the physical taking of a thing into custody
> Contemplates a forcible disposition of the owner
6. A good and practical rule of thumb to measure the nearness of time given in t
he affidavit as to the date of the alleged offense, and the time of making the a
ffidavit The nearer the time at which the observation of the offense is alleged
to have been made, the more reasonable the conclusion of establishment of probab
le cause
7. PERSONAL PROPERTY TO BE SEIZED
A. Kinds of personal property to be seized:
* Subject of the offense;
* Proceeds or fruits of the offense; and
* The means used or intended to be used for committing an offense
* Search warrants have been allowed to search for the ff:
> Stolen goods
> Those supposed to have been smuggled into the country in violation of the reve
nue laws
> Implements of gaming and counterfeiting
> Lottery tickets
> Prohibited liquors kept for sale contrary to law
> Obscene books and papers kept for sale or circulation
> Powder and other explosive and dangerous materials so kept as to endanger publ
ic safety
> Slot machines, being gambling devices
B. Property seized is not required to be owned by the person against whom t
he search warrant is directed
C. It s not necessary that there be arrest or prosecution before seizure co
uld be affected
D. The fact that a thing is a corpus delicti of a crime does not justify the se
izure without a warrant
8. Section 2 Article III of the 1987 Constitution is the constitutional basis of
the rule on search and seizure
9. Requisites for the issuance of a valid search warrant
a. Probable cause
* It is such facts and circumstances antecedent to the issuance of the warrant,
that are in themselves sufficient to induce a cautious man to believe that the p
erson against whom the search warrant is applied, had committed, or is about to
commit, a crime
* Probable cause for a search is defined as such facts and circumstances which w
ould lead a reasonably discreet and prudent man to believe that an offense has b
een committed and that the objects sought in connection with the offense are in
the place sought to be searched.
* Probable cause presupposes the introduction of competent proof that the party
against whom it is sought has performed particular acts or committed specific om
issions violating a given provision of our criminal laws (Stonehill v. Diokno)
* Probable cause is determined in the light of the conditions obtaining in given
situations, but there is no general formula or fixed rule for the determination
of the existence of probable cause.
> Existence depends of a large degree upon the finding or of the opinion of the
judge conducting the examination.
b. Which must be determined personally by the judge himself, and not by the appl
icant or any other person;
* A judge may reverse his finding of probable cause, provided that the rectifica
tion is based on sound and valid grounds
* This requirement does not extend to deportation proceedings (Morano vs. Vivo)
* Immigration Commissioner has authority to determine probable cause ONLY for th
e purpose of issuing a warrant of arrest.
c. The judge must, before issuing the warrant, personally examine in the form of
searching questions and answers, in writing and under oath, the complainant and
any witness he may produce, on facts personally known to them;
* Application for a search warrant is heard ex-parte, there is neither a trial n
or a part of the trial
* Examination must be under oath and may not be in public
* Examination of witnesses to determine probable cause:
> Judge must examine witnesses personally
> Examination must be under oath; and
> Examination must be reduced to writing in the form of searching questions and
answers
* The test in determining whether the allegations in an application for a search
warrant are based on personal knowledge should not be based on mere hearsay, no
r mere suspicion or belief
d. The probable cause must be in connection with one specific offense;
* This is to outlaw general warrants
* Otherwise, this would place the sanctity of the domicile and the privacy of co
mmunication and correspondence at the mercy of the whims, caprice or passion of
peace officers.
e. The warrant issued must particularly describe the place to be searched and th
e persons or things to be seized; and
* This requirement is sufficient if the officer to whom the warrant is directed
is enabled to locate the same definitely and with certainty.
* This does not require the true legal description to be given in a required for
m
* The constitution requires that it be a description which particularly points t
o a definitely ascertainable place, so as to exclude all others.
* The description must be so particular that the officer charged with the execut
ion of the warrant will be left with no discretion respecting the property to be
taken.
* It may be said that the person to be searched is particularly described in the
search warrant when his name is stated in the search warrant, or if name is unk
nown, he is designated by words sufficient to enable the officer to identify him
without difficulty
f. The sworn statements together with the affidavits submitted by witnesses must
be attached to the record.
10. If the officer follows the command of the warrant, he is protected, but if h
e exceeds the command, he is not protected by the warrant and he only assumes to
act without process
* If the officer acts within the command of his warrant, he is protected even if
the complaint is proven to have been unfounded.
* Obeying strictly the command of his warrant, he may break open outer or inner
doors, and his justification does not depend upon his discovering that for which
he is to make the search
* If officer is refused admittance to the place of directed search after giving
notice of his purpose and authority, he may break open any outer or inner door o
r window of a house or any part of a house or anything to execute the warrant or
liberate himself or any person lawfully aiding him when unlawfully detained the
rein.
* Demand is necessary prior to a breaking in of the doors, only where some perso
n is found in charge of the building to be searched.
11. In searching a house, room or other premises, such shall be done in the pres
ence of a lawful occupant or any member of his family, or in the presence of at
least 2 witnesses of sufficient age and discretion, residing in the same localit
y
* The searching officer should also be considerate of the premises searched; he
should mar the premises as little as possible, and should carefully replace anyt
hing he finds necessary to remove.
12. Warrant must be direct and served in the day time
* Exception: if affidavit asserts that the property is on the person or in the
place ordered to be searched here, warrant may be served anytime of the day or n
ight.
* The general rule prohibits search in the night because sometimes robberies hap
pen, under the pretense of searches
13. A warrant is valid for ten days from its date. After such time, it is VOID
* A search warrant cannot be used everyday for 10 days, and for a different purp
ose each day warrant used to seize one thing cannot be used as authority to make
another search
* This rule is NOT APPLICABLE when the search for a property mentioned in the wa
rrant was not completed on the day when the warrant was issued and had to be con
tinued the next day
14. Officer seizing the property under the warrant must give a detailed receipt
for the same to the lawful occupant or any member of the family or at least 2 wi
tnesses of sufficient age and discretion residing in the same locality.
15. Officer must also deliver the property seized to the judge who issued the wa
rrant, with the true inventory, all under oath
16. Searches incident to lawful arrest
* This is the most important exception to the necessity for a search warrant
* This right includes in both instances that of searching the person who is arre
sted, in order to find and seize the things connected with the crime as its frui
ts or as the means by which it was committed
* Search made without a warrant cannot be justified as an incident of arrest unl
ess the arrest itself was lawful
* Search must be made at the place of the arrest and contemporaneous with the ar
rest, otherwise it is not an incident to the arrest. In other words, a search i
s not incidental to the arrest unless the search is made at the place of arrest,
contemporaneously with the arrest.
* The right is limited to the time and place of the arrest
17. Other cases where warrantless searches and seizures are valid
* Search of moving vehicles
> Checkpoints are valid (Valmonte case)
> Warrantless search of aircrafts as well as fishing vessels breaching our fishe
ry laws
* Consented search without a warrant
* Seizure of evidence in plain view
* Enforcement of custom laws
> Exception: in a dwelling house
> Vessel can be quickly moved out of the locality or jurisdiction in which the s
earch warrant must be sought before such warrant could be secured
* When search is based on probable cause under extraordinary circumstances
18. Unreasonable search and seizure is such where it is not authorized by statut
e, or where the conditions prescribed by the stature have not been met
* What constitutes a reasonable or unreasonable search or seizure in any particu
lar case is purely a judicial question
* Such is determinable from a consideration of the circumstances involved, inclu
ding the ff:
> The purpose of the search
> Presence or absence of probable cause
> Manner in which the search and seizure was made
> Place or thing searched
> Character of the articles procured.
* Searches and seizure inside a home are presumptively unreasonable
* Constitutional prohibition against unlawful searches and seizure applies as a
restraint directed only against the government and its agencies tasked with the
enforcement of the law. It could thus only be invoked against the State.
19. The legality of a seizure can be contested only by the party whose rights ha
ve been impaired thereby
* The objection to an unlawful search and seizure is purely personal and cannot
be availed by third parties
* The remedy for questioning the validity of a search warrant can only be sought
in the court that issued it, not the sala of another judge of concurrent jurisd
iction this is done through a motion to quash warrant of arrest
* Objections to the legality of the search warrant and to the admissibility of t
he evidence obtained are deemed waived when no objection to the legality of the
search warrant was raised during the trial.
20. The Moncado Ruling, that illegally seized documents, papers and things are a
dmissible in evidence, is already ABANDONED
* The exclusion of such evidence is the only practical means of enforcing the co
nstitutional injunction against unreasonable searches and seizures.
* The Non-exclusionary rule is contrary to the letter and spirit of the prohibit
ion against unreasonable searches and seizures
21. Through RA No. 4200 or the Anti-Tapping Law, tapping of phone wires of the p
remises of an accused, wherein persons accused of violation criminal laws are en
gaged in conversation constitutes a violation of the Constitutional provision on
the right of the people to secure in their persons, papers and effects.
* RA No. 4200 was approved on 19 June 1965
* It also penalizes other acts similar to wire-tapping. Some similar acts are t
aping or recording conversations of people, by others who are not authorized by
the former to record or tape.
RULE 127 PROVISIONAL REMEDIES IN CRIMINAL CASES
1. Provisional remedy is one provided for present need or for the occasion that
is one adopted to meet a particular exigency;
2. The following are the provisional remedies under the Rules of Court:
* Attachment (Rule 57)
* Injunction (Rule 58)
* Receivership (Rule 59)
* Delivery of personal property or Replevin(Rule 60) and
* Support Pendente Lite (Rule 61)
3. Purpose of provisional remedies
* Provisional remedies are applied pending litigation, to secure the judgment or
preserve the status quo
* If provisional remedies are applied to after judgment, it is in order to prese
rve or dispose of the subject matter.
4. Although civil action is suspended until final judgment in the criminal case,
the court is not deprived of its authority to issue preliminary and auxiliary w
rits which do not go into the merits of the case.
* Preliminary writs and auxiliary writs referred to are those such as the ff:
> Preliminary injunction
> Attachment
> Appointment of receiver
> Fixing amounts of bonds
5. Attachment is a remedy afforded to the offended party to have the property of
the accused attached as security for the satisfaction of any judgment that may
be recovered from the accused
* This remedy is available in the following cases:
> When action for recovery is on a cause of action arising from law, contract, q
uasi-contract, delict, or quasi-delict and accused is about to abscond from the
Philippines;
> When the criminal action is based on a claim for money or property embezzled o
r fraudulently misapplied or converted to the use of the accused who is a public
officer, or any officer of a corporation, or an attorney, factor, broker, agent
, or clerk, in the course of his employment as such, or by any person in a fiduc
iary capacity, or for a willful violation of duty;
> When the accused has concealed, removed or disposed of his property or is abou
t to do so;
> When action is against a party guilty of fraud in contracting the debt upon wh
ich action is brought, or in the performance of incurred obligation;
> When action is against a party who removed or disposed of his property or is a
bout to do so, with intent to defraud his creditors; and
> When the accused resides outside the Philippines
* This may be filed at the commencement of a criminal action or at any time befo
re entry of judgment as security for the satisfaction of any judgment that may b
e recovered in the aforementioned cases.
6. Public prosecutor has the authority to apply for preliminary attachment as ma
y be necessary to protect the interest of the offended party
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Remedial Law (Criminal Procedure)
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