COMMISSION OF AN

OFFENSE

RULE 113. Sec. 1 Arrest is the taking of a

person into custody in order that he may be
bound to answer for the commission of an
offense.

*Jurisdiction is acquired either through

voluntary submission to the court,
arrest, or through posting of bail.

INSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL ACTION

PENALTY IS AT
LEAST 4 YEARS, 2
MONTHS, 1 DAY

PRELIMINARY
INVESTIGATION
RULE 110. Sec. 1 Criminal actions
shall be instituted as follows:
(a) for offenses where a preliminary
investigation is required pursuant
to Section 1 of Rule 112, by filing
the complaint with the proper
officer for the purpose of
conducting
the
requisite
preliminary investigation.
(b) for all other offenses, by filing
the complaint or information
directly with the Municipal Trial
Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts, or the complaint with the
office of the prosecutor. In Manila
and other chartered cities, the
complaint shall be filed with the
office of the prosecutor unless
otherwise provided in their
charters.
The institution of the criminal
action shall interrupt the running
period of prescription of the
offense charged unless otherwise
provided in special laws.

WITH WARRANT

ARREST

CIVIL ACTION FOR CIVIL

LIABILITY DEEMED
INSTITUTED (RULE 111)

ALL OTHER OFFENSES NOT

UNDER RULE 112

COMPLAINT OR
INFORMATION FILED
WITH INFERIOR
COURTS OR OFFICE OF
PROSECUTOR

PROBABLE
CAUSE

CRIMINAL
INFORMATION
FILED IN COURT

JUDGE ISSUES WARRANT

OF ARREST UPON FINDING
OF PROBABLE CAUSE

RULE 113. Sec. 3 It shall be the duty of the officer

executing the warrant to arrest the accused and
to deliver him to the nearest police station or jail
without necessary delay.

RULE 112. Sec. 1 Preliminary investigation is an inquiry or

proceeding to determine whether there is sufficient
ground to engender a well-founded belief that a crime has
been committed and the respondent is probably guilty
thereof, and should be held for trial.

Rule 111. Sec. 1 When a criminal action is

instituted, the civil action for the recovery of civil
liability arising from the offense charged shall be
deemed instituted with the criminal action
unless the offended party waives the civil action,
reserves the right to institute it separately or
institutes the civil action prior to the criminal
action.

Except as provided in Section 6 of this Rule, a preliminary

investigation is required to be conducted before the filing
of a complaint or information for an offense where the
penalty prescribed by law is at least 4 years, 2 months and
1 day without regard to the fine.

WARRANTLESS
ARREST
RULE 113. Sec. 5 A peace officer or a private
person may, without a warrant, arrest a
person:

NO
an offense.
PROBABLE
CAUSE

DISMISSAL

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

NO PROBABLE
CAUSE

DISMISSAL

PROBABLE
CAUSE

ISSUE
SUBPOENA

(a) when, in his presence, the person to be

arrested has committed, is actually
committing, or is attempting to commit an
offense;
(b) when an offense has just been committed,
and he has probable cause to believe based on
personal knowledge of facts or circumstances
that the person to be arrested has committed
it; and
(c) when the person to be arrested is a
prisoner who has escaped from a penal
establishment or place where he is serving
final judgment or is temporarily confined while
his case is pending, or has escaped while being
transferred from one confinement to another.
In cases falling under paragraph (a) and (b)
above, the person arrested without a warrant
shall be forthwith delivered to the nearest
police station or jail and shall be proceeded
against in accordance with section 7 of Rule
112.

RESPONDENT FILES
COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT

RESOLUTION

MAY FILE
PETITION FOR
REVIEW WITH
DOJ / OP

Additional situations when warrantless

arrest is valid:

CRIMINAL INFORMATION
FILED IN COURT UPON
FINDING OF PROBABLE
CAUSE

a) where a person who has been lawfully

arrested escapes or is rescued (RULE 113,
Sec. 13)

POSTING OF BAIL

b) by the bondsmen for the purpose of

surrendering the accused (RULE 114, Sec. 23)

ARRAIGNMENT / PLEA

JUDGE ISSUES WARRANT

OF ARREST UPON FINDING
OF PROBABLE CAUSE

c) where the accused attempts to leave the

country without permission of the court
(RULE 114, Sec. 23)

PRE-TRIAL

TRIAL

NO PROBABLE
CAUSE

RULE 126. Sec. 13 A person lawfully

arrested may be searched for dangerous
weapons or anything which may have
been used or constitute proof in the
commission of an offense without a
search warrant.

ARRAIGNMENT / PLEA

PRE-TRIAL

JUDGMENT

NO PROBABLE
CAUSE

PROBABLE
CAUSE

DISMISSAL
DISMISSAL

TRIAL

JUDGE EVALUATES
RESOLUTION OF PUBLIC
PROSECUTOR

SEARCH AND SEIZURE

JUDGMENT
APPEAL

POSTING OF BAIL

CRIMINAL
INFORMATION
FILED IN COURT

APPEAL

ACCUSED MAY ASK FOR

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
DETAINED
WAIVER ART. 125

SUBMIT
ADDITIONAL
AFFIDAVIT

INQUEST
PROCEEDINGS
SUBMIT
ADDITIONAL
AFFIDAVIT

*Public prosecutor shall determine

whether or not warrantless arrest
was valid.

VALID ARREST

INVALID ARREST
WARRANT
OF ARREST

CRIMINAL
INFORMATION
FILED IN COURT

IMMEDIATE
RELEASE OF THE
ACCUSED

JUDGE ISSUES
COMMITMENT ORDER
JUDGE ISSUES WARRANT OF
ARREST UPON PROBABLE CAUSE

COMMITMENT
ORDER IF DETAINED
PRELIMINARY
INVESTIGATION

RULE 114. Sec. 1 Bail is the security given for the release of
a person in custody of the law, furnished by him or a
bondsman, to guarantee his appearance before any court
as required under the conditions hereinafter specified. Bail
may be given in the form of corporate surety, property
bond, cash deposit, or recognizance.

ACCUSED RELEASED
FROM CUSTODY

POSTING OF BAIL

CRIMINAL INFORMATION FILED

IN COURT UPON FINDING OF
PROBABLE CAUSE

ARRAIGNMENT
1987 CONSTITUTION, ART. III. SEC 2.

RULE 115. RIGHTS OF ACCUSED

Sec. 1 In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be entitled to the following
rights:

...No search warrant or warrant of arrest shall

issue except upon probable cause to be
determined personally by the judge after
examination under oath or affirmation of the
complainant and the witnesses he may produce,
and particularly describing the place to be
searched and the persons or things to be seized.

PRE-TRIAL

(a) to be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved beyond reasonable

doubt.
(b) to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him.
(c) to be present and defend in person and by counsel at every stage of the
proceedings, from arraignment to promulgation of the judgment. The accused
may, however, waive his presence at the trial pursuant to the stipulations set
forth in his bail, unless his presence is specifically ordered by the court for
purposes of identification. The absence of the accused without justifiable
cause at the trial of which he had notice shall be considered a waiver of his
right to be present thereat. When an accused under custody escapes, he shall
be deemed to have waived his right to be present on all subsequent trial dates
until custody over him is regained. Upon motion, the accused may be allowed
to defend himself in person when it sufficiently appears to the court that he
can properly protect his right without the assistance of counsel.
(d) to testify as a witness in his own behalf but subject to cross-examination on
matters covered by direct examination. His silence shall not in any manner
prejudice him.
(e) to be exempt from being compelled to be a witness against himself.
(f) to confront and cross-examine the witnesses against him at the trial. Either
party may utilize as part of its evidence the testimony of a witness who is
deceased, out of or cannot with due diligence be found in the Philippines,
unavailable or otherwise unable to testify, given in another case or proceeding,
judicial or administrative, involving the same parties and subject matter, the
adverse party having the opportunity to cross-examine him.

TRIAL

JUDGMENT
PROBABLE CAUSE
APPEAL

ISSUE WARRANT
OF ARREST
The judge may rely upon fiscals
certification of the existence of
probable cause whether or not the
case is cognizable only by the RTC. He
shall personally evaluate the report
and the supporting documents
submitted by the fiscal regarding the
existence of probable cause.

(g) to have compulsory process issued to secure the attendance of witnesses

and production of other evidence in his behalf.
(h) to have speedy, impartial and public trial.

NO PROBABLE CAUSE

SUBMIT
SUPPORTING
AFFIDAVITS
If on the face of the information he
finds no probable cause, he may
disregard the fiscals certification and
require the submission of supporting
affidavits of witnesses to aid him in
arriving at a conclusion as to the
existence of a probable cause.

POSTING OF BAIL

(i) to appeal in all cases allowed and in the manner prescribed by law.

ARRAIGNMENT

RULE 116. Sec. 1 ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEA

RULE 117. Sec. 3 The accused may move to quash the complaint or
information on any of the following grounds:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

g)
h)
i)

That the facts charged do not constitute an offense;

That the court trying the case has no jurisdiction over the
offense charged;
That the court trying the case has no jurisdiction over the
person of the accused;
That the officer who filed the information had no
authority to do so;
That it does not conform substantially to the prescribed
form;
That more than one offense is charged except when a
single punishment for various offenses is prescribed by
law;
That the criminal action or liability has been extinguished;
That it contains averment, which, if true, would constitute
a legal excuse or justification; and
That the accused has been previously convicted or
acquitted of the offense charged, or the case against him
was dismissed or otherwise terminated without his
express consent.

MAY FILE MOTION TO QUASH

RULE 117. Sec. 1 At any time before
entering his plea, an accused may move to
quash the complaint or information.

PRE-TRIAL
RULE 118. Sec. 1 In all criminal cases cognizable by the
Sandiganbayan, Regional Trial Court, Metropolitan Trial
Court, Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Municipal Trial Court
and Municipal Circuit Trial Court, the court shall, after
arraignment and within 30 days from the date the court
acquires jurisdiction over the person of the accused,
unless a shorter period is provided for in special laws or
circulars of the Supreme Court, order a pre-trial
conference to consider the following:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

TRIAL
f)
RULE 119. Sec. 1 After a plea of not guilty is entered, the accused shall
have at least 15 days to prepare for trial. The trial shall commence
within 30 days from receipt of the pre-trial order.
Sec 2. In no case shall the entire trial period exceed one hundred
eighty (180) days from the first day of trial, except as otherwise
authorized by the Supreme Court.
The time limitations provided under this section and the preceding
section shall not apply where special laws or circulars of the Supreme
Court provide for a shorter period of trial.

IF NOT WITHIN
THE TIME LIMIT

Plea bargaining
Stipulation of facts
Marking for identification of evidence of the
parties
Waiver of objections to admissibility of
evidence
Modification of the order of trial if the accused
admits the charge but interposes a lawful
defense
Such matters as will promote a fair and
expeditious trial of the criminal and civil
aspects of the case

Sec. 3 After the pre-trial conference, the court shall issue

an order reciting the actions taken, the facts stipulated,
and evidence marked. Such order shall bind the parties,
limit the trial to matters not disposed of and control the
course of the action during the trial, unless modified by
the court to prevent manifest injustice.

MOTION TO DISMISS

(a) the accused must be arraigned before the court where the
complaint or information was filed or assigned for trial. The
arraignment shall be made in open court by the judge or clerk by
furnishing the accused with a copy of the complaint or information,
reading the same in the language or dialect known to him, and asking
him whether he pleads guilty or not guilty. The prosecution may call
at the trial witnesses other than those named in the complaint or
information.
(b) the accused must be present at the arraignment and must
personally enter his plea. Both arraignment and plea shall be made of
record, but failure to do so shall not affect the validity of the
proceedings.
(c) when the accused refuses to plead or makes a conditional plea, a
plea of not guilty shall be entered for him.
(d) when the accused pleads guilty but presents exculpatory
evidence, his plea shall be deemed withdrawn and a plea of not guilty
shall be entered for him.
(e) when the accused is under preventive detention, his case shall be
raffled and its records transmitted to the judge to whom the case was
raffled within three 3 days from the filing of the information or
complaint. The accused shall be arraigned within 10 days from the
date of the raffle. The pre-trial conference of his case shall be held
within 10 days after arraignment.
(f) the private offended party shall be required to appear at the
arraignment for purposes of plea bargaining, determination of civil
liability, and other matters requiring his presence. In case of failure of
the offended party to appear despite due notice, the court may allow
the accused to enter a plea of guilty to a lesser offense which is
necessarily included in the offense charged with the conformity of the
trial prosecutor alone.
(g) unless a shorter period is provided by special law or Supreme
Court circular, the arraignment shall be held within 30 days from the
date the court acquires jurisdiction over the person of the accused.
The time of the pendency of a motion to quash or for a bill of
particulars or other causes justifying suspension of the arraignment
shall be excluded in computing the period.

RULE 119 Sec. 9 If the accused is not brought to trial within the time limit required by Section
1(g), Rule 116 and Section 1, as extended by Section 6 of this rule, the information may be
dismissed on motion of the accused on the ground of denial of his right of speedy trial. The
accused shall have the burden of proving the motion but the prosecution shall have the burden
of going forward with the evidence to establish the exclusion of time under section 3 of this
rule. The dismissal shall be subject to the rules on double jeopardy.

PROSECUTION
PRESENTS EVIDENCE

ACCUSED PRESENTS
DEFENSE

PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE PRESENT

REBUTTAL AND SUR-REBUTTAL EVIDENCE

RULE 119. Sec. 11 The trial shall proceed in the following order:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

the prosecution shall present evidence to prove the charge and, in the proper case, the civil liability.
the accused may present evidence to prove his defense, and damages, if any, arising from the issuance of a
provisional remedy in the case.
the prosecution and the defense may, in that order, present rebuttal and sur-rebuttal evidence unless the court,
in furtherance of justice, permits them to present additional evidence bearing upon the main issue.
upon admission of the evidence of the parties, the case shall be deemed submitted for decision unless the court
directs them to argue orally or to submit written memoranda.
when the accused admits the act or omission charged in the complaint or information but interposes a lawful
defense, the order of trial may be modified.

CASE SUBMITTED FOR

DECISION

JUDGMENT

APPEAL

TO TEST SUFFICIENCY OF
PROSECUTIONS EVIDENCE

ACCUSED MAY
FILE DEMURRER
TO EVIDENCE

MOTION WITH
LEAVE OF COURT

RULE 120. Sec. 1 Judgment is the adjudication by the court

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

GRANTED

ACCUSED SHALL FILE

DEMURRER

DENIED
ACCUSED PRESENTS
EVIDENCE

WITHOUT LEAVE
OF COURT

RULE 119. Sec. 23 DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE

After the prosecution rests its case, the court may dismiss the action on the ground of
insufficiency of evidence

GRANTED DEMURRER: DISMISSAL

ON THE GROUND OF
INSUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE

DEMURRER DENIED

(1) on its own initiative after giving the prosecution the opportunity to be heard or
(2) upon demurrer to evidence filed by the accused with or without leave of court.
If the court denies the demurrer to evidence filed with leave of court, the accused may
adduce evidence in his defense. When the demurrer to evidence is filed without leave of
court, the accused waives the right to present evidence and submits the case for
judgment on the basis of the evidence for the prosecution.
The motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence shall specifically state its
grounds and shall be filed within a non-extendible period of 5 days after the prosecution
rests its case. The prosecution may oppose the motion within a non-extendible period of
5 days from its receipt.

RULE 121. Sec. 1 NEW TRIAL OR RECONSIDERATION

ACCUSED BARRED FROM

PRESENTING EVIDENCE

Sec. 2 The court shall grant a new trial on any of the following grounds:
(a)

CASE SUBMITTED FOR

DECISION

If leave of court is granted, the accused shall file the demurrer to evidence within a nonextendible period of 10 days from notice. The prosecution may oppose the demurrer to
evidence within a similar period from its receipt.
The order denying the motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence or the
demurrer itself shall not be reviewable by appeal or by certiorari before judgment.

At any time before a judgment of conviction becomes final, the court

may, on motion of the accused or at its own instance but with the
consent of the accused, grant a new trial or reconsideration.

NEW TRIAL OR
RECONSIDERATION

(b)

the errors of law or irregularities prejudicial to the

substantial rights of the accused have been committed
during the trial;
the new and material evidence has been discovered which
the accused could not with reasonable diligence have
discovered and produced at the trial and which if
introduced and admitted would probably change the
judgment.

Sec. 3 The court shall grant reconsideration on the ground of errors of

law or fact in the judgment, which requires no further proceedings.

RULE 120. Sec. 6 PROMULGATION OF JUDGMENT

JUDGMENT

The judgment is promulgated by reading it in the presence of the

accused and any judge of the court in which it was rendered.
However, if the conviction is for a light offense, the judgment may
be pronounced in the presence of his counsel or representative.
When the judge is absent or outside of the province or city, the
judgment may be promulgated by the clerk of court

APPEAL
RULE 122. Sec. 1 Any party may appeal from
a judgment or final order, unless the accused
will be placed in double jeopardy.

Sec. 3 HOW APPEAL TAKEN

NOTICE OF APPEAL FILED WITH COURT

WHICH RENDERED JUDGMENT WITHIN
15 DAYS FROM PROMULGATION

STENOGRAPHER FILES TRANSCRIPTION OF

PROCEEDINGS WITH THE CLERK OF COURT

CLERK OF COURT TRANSMITS RECORD OF THE

CASE TO THE CLERK OF COURT OF THE APPELLATE
COURT WITHIN 5 DAYS FROM FILING OF NOTICE

*Appeals in criminal cases are perfected when the interested party or parties have
personally or through their counsel filed with the clerk of court a written notice
expressly stating the appeal. When an appeal has been perfected, the court a quo
loses jurisdiction.

shall be taken by filing a notice of appeal with the court which rendered the judgment or
final order appealed from and by serving a copy thereof upon the adverse party.
Sec. 6 WHEN APPEAL TO BE TAKEN
An appeal must be taken within 15 days from promulgation of the judgment or from notice
of the final order appealed from. This period for perfecting an appeal shall be suspended
from the time a motion for new trial or reconsideration is filed until notice of the order
overruling the motion shall have been served upon the accused or his counsel at which time
the balance of the period begins to run.
Sec. 7 When notice of appeal is filed by the accused, the trial court shall direct the
stenographic reporter to transcribe his notes of the proceedings. When filed by the People
of the Philippines, the trial court shall direct the stenographic reporter to transcribe such
portion of his notes of the proceedings as the court, upon motion, shall specify in writing.
The stenographic reporter shall certify to the correctness of the notes and the transcript
thereof, which shall consist of the original and four copies, and shall file the original and four
copies with the clerk without unnecessary delay...
Sec. 8 Within 5 days from the filing of the notice of appeal, the clerk of the court with whom
the notice of appeal was filed must transmit to the clerk of court of the appellate court the
complete record of the case, together with said notice. The original and three copies of the
transcript of stenographic notes, together with the records, shall also be transmitted to the
clerk of the appellate court without undue delay. The other copy of the transcript shall
remain in the lower court.

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