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RULE123PROCEDUREINTHE
MUNICIPALTRIALCOURTS
Section1.UniformProcedure.TheproceduretobeobservedintheMetropolitanTrialCourts,Municipal
TrialCourtsandMunicipalCircuitTrialCourtsshallbethesameasintheRegionalTrialCourts,except
whereaparticularprovisionappliesonlytoeitherofsaidcourtsandincriminalcasesgovernedbytheRevised
RuleonSummaryProcedure.

WHATISSUMMARYPROCEDURE?
Procedurewhereinthecourtdecidesthecasethroughtheevidenceandaffidavitspresentedbythe
parties
RESOLUTIONOFTHECOURTENBANCDATEDOCTOBER15,1991PROVIDINGFORTHEREVISED
RULEONSUMMARYPROCEDUREFORMETROPOLITANTRIALCOURTS,MUNICIPALTRIALCOURTSIN
CITIES,MUNICIPALTRIALCOURTSANDMUNICIPALCIRCUITTRIALCOURTS.

I.Applicability

Section1.Scope.ThisruleshallgovernthesummaryprocedureintheMetropolitanTrialCourts,theMunicipal
TrialCourtsinCities,theMunicipalTrialCourts,andtheMunicipalCircuitTrialCourtsin
thefollowingcasesfallingwithintheirjurisdiction:

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B.CriminalCases:

(1)Violationsoftrafficlaws,rulesandregulations

(2)Violationsoftherentallaw

(3)Violationsofmunicipalorcityordinances

(4)Allothercriminalcaseswherethepenaltyprescribedbylawfortheoffensechargedisimprisonment
notexceedingsixmonths,orafinenotexceeding(P1,000.00),orboth,irrespectiveofotherimposablepenalties,
accessoryorotherwise,orofthecivilliabilityarisingtherefrom:Provided,however,thatinoffensesinvolving
damagetopropertythroughcriminalnegligence,thisRuleshall
governwheretheimposablefinedoesnotexceedtenthousandpesos(P10,000.00).

ThisRuleshallnotapplytoacivilcasewheretheplaintiffscauseofactionispleadedinthesamecomplaint
withanothercauseofactionsubjecttotheordinaryprocedurenortoacriminalcase
wheretheoffensechargedisnecessarilyrelatedtoanothercriminalcasesubjecttotheordinaryprocedure.
Sec.2.Determinationofapplicability.Uponthefilingofacivilorcriminalaction,thecourtshallissueanorder
declaringwhetherornotthecaseshallbegovernedbythisRule.Apatentlyerroneous
determinationtoavoidtheapplicationoftheRuleonSummaryProcedureisagroundfordisciplinaryaction.

WHATARETHECRIMINALCASES
FALLINGUNDERTHERULESOF
SUMMARYPROCEDURE?
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1.Violationsoftrafficlaws,rulesandregulations
2.Violationsoftherentallaw
3.Violationsofmunicipalorcityordinances
4.Allothercriminalcaseswherethepenaltyprescribedbylawfortheoffensechargedisimprisonment
notexceedingsixmonths,or
afinenotexceeding(P1,000.00),orboth,irrespectiveofotherimposablepenalties,accessoryorotherwise,
orofthecivilliabilityarisingtherefrom:Provided,however,thatinoffensesinvolving
damagetopropertythroughcriminalnegligence,thisRuleshallgovernwheretheimposablefinedoes
notexceedtenthousandpesos(P10,000.00).
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III.CriminalCases

Sec.11.Howcommenced.ThefilingofcriminalcasesfallingwithinthescopeofthisRuleshallbe
eitherbycomplaintorbyinformation:Provided,however,thatinMetropolitanManilaandin
CharteredCities,suchcasesshallbecommencedonlybyinformation,exceptwhentheoffense
cannotbeprosecuteddeoficio.

Thecomplaintorinformationshallbeaccompaniedbytheaffidavitsofthecompliantandofhis
witnessesinsuchnumberofcopiesasthereareaccusedplustwo(2)copiesforthecourt'sfiles.
Ifthisrequirementisnotcompliedwithwithinfive(5)daysfromdateoffiling,thecasemaybedismissed.

HOWISACRIMINALCASE
COMMENCEDINASUMMARY
PROCEDURE?
ThefilingofcriminalcasesfallingwithinthescopeofthisRuleshallbeeitherbycomplaintorby
information:Provided,however,thatinMetropolitanManilaandinCharteredCities,suchcasesshallbe
commencedonlybyinformation,exceptwhentheoffensecannotbeprosecuteddeoficio.
Thecomplaintorinformationshallbeaccompaniedbytheaffidavitsofthecompliantandofhis
witnessesinsuchnumberofcopiesasthereareaccusedplustwo(2)copiesforthecourt'sfiles.Ifthis
requirementisnotcompliedwithwithinfive(5)daysfromdateoffiling,thecasemaybedismissed
Sec.12.Dutyofcourt.

(a)Ifcommencedbycompliant.Onthebasisofthecompliantandtheaffidavitsandotherevidence
accompanyingthesame,thecourtmaydismissthecaseoutrightforbeingpatentlywithout
basisormeritandorderthereleaseoftheaccusedifincustody.

(b)Ifcommencedbyinformation.Whenthecaseiscommencedbyinformation,orisnotdismissedpursuantto
thenextprecedingparagraph,thecourtshallissueanorderwhich,togetherwith
copiesoftheaffidavitsandotherevidencesubmittedbytheprosecution,shallrequiretheaccusedto
submithiscounteraffidavitandtheaffidavitsofhiswitnessesaswellasanyevidence
inhisbehalf,servingcopiesthereofonthecomplainantorprosecutornotlaterthanten(10)daysfrom
receiptofsaidorder.Theprosecutionmayfilereplyaffidavitswithinten(10)daysafterreceiptofthecounter
affidavitsofthedefense.

WHATSHOULDTHEMTCFIRSTDO
WHENEVERINFORMATIONISFILED?
Whenthecaseiscommencedbyinformation,orisntdismissed,thecourtshallissueanorderwhich,
togetherwiththeaffidavitsandotherevidencesubmittedbytheprosecution,SHALLREQUIRE
THEACCUSEDTOSUBMITHISCOUNTERAFFIDAVITANDTHEAFFIDAVITSOFHISWITNESSESAS

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WELLASANYEVIDENCEINHISBEHALF
Copiesoftheaboveshallbeservedthereoftothecomplainantorprosecutornotlaterthan10daysfrom
receiptofsaidorder
Theprosecutionmayalsobeallowedtofilereplyaffidavitswithin10daysafterreceiptofthecounter
affidavitsofthedefense
Sec.13.Arraignmentandtrial.Shouldthecourt,uponaconsiderationofthecomplaintor
informationandtheaffidavitssubmittedbybothparties,findnocauseorgroundtoholdtheaccusedfor
trial,itshallorderthedismissalofthecaseotherwise,thecourtshallsetthecaseforarraignmentandtrial.

Iftheaccusedisincustodyforthecrimecharged,heshallbeimmediatelyarraignedandifheenters
apleaofguilty,heshallforthwithbesentenced.

Sec.14.Preliminaryconference.Beforeconductingthetrial,thecourtshallcallthepartiestoapreliminary
conferenceduringwhichastipulationoffactsmaybeenteredinto,ortheproprietyof
allowingtheaccusedtoenterapleaofguiltytoalesseroffensemaybeconsidered,orsuchother
mattersmaybetakenuptoclarifytheissuesandtoensureaspeedydispositionofthecase.However,
noadmissionbytheaccusedshallbeusedagainsthimunlessreducedtowritingandsignedbythe
accusedandhiscounsel.Arefusalorfailuretostipulateshallnotprejudicetheaccused.

WHENDOESAPRELIMINARY
CONFERENCETAKEPLACE?WHAT
HAPPENSDURINGAPRELIMINARY
CONFERENCE?
Beforeconductingthetrial,thecourtshallcallthepartiestoapreliminaryconferenceduringwhich
1.Stipulationoffactsmaybeenteredinto
2.Theproprietyofallowingtheaccusedtopleadguiltytoalesseroffensemaybeconsidered
3.Othermattersasmaybetakenuptoclarifytheissuesandtoensureaspeedydispositionofthecase
Sec.15.Procedureoftrial.Atthetrial,theaffidavitssubmittedbythepartiesshallconstitutethedirect
testimoniesofthewitnesseswhoexecutedthesame.Witnesseswhotestifiedmaybe
subjectedtocrossexamination,redirectorrecrossexamination.Shouldtheaffiantfailtotestify,his
affidavitshallnotbeconsideredascompetentevidenceforthepartypresentingtheaffidavit,butthe
adversepartymayutilizethesameforanyadmissiblepurpose.

Exceptinrebuttalorsurrebuttal,nowitnessshallbeallowedtotestifyunlesshisaffidavitwaspreviously
submittedtothecourtinaccordancewithSection12hereof.

However,shouldapartydesiretopresentadditionalaffidavitsorcounteraffidavitsaspartofhisdirect
evidence,heshallsomanifestduringthepreliminaryconference,statingthepurpose
thereof.Ifallowedbythecourt,theadditionalaffidavitsoftheprosecutionorthecounteraffidavitsof
thedefenseshallbesubmittedtothecourtandservedontheadversepartynotlaterthanthree(3)
daysaftertheterminationofthepreliminaryconference.Iftheadditionalaffidavitsarepresentedbythe
prosecution,theaccusedmayfilehiscounteraffidavitsandserve
thesameontheprosecutionwithinthree(3)daysfromsuchservice.

Sec.16.Arrestofaccused.Thecourtshallnotorderthearrestoftheaccusedexceptforfailureto
appearwheneverrequired.Releaseofthepersonarrestedshalleitherbeonbailoron
recognizancebyaresponsiblecitizenacceptabletothecourt.

IFANACCUSEDISCHARGEDINTHE
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IFANACCUSEDISCHARGEDINTHE
MUNICIPALTRIALCOURT,CANTHE
COURTISSUEAWARRANTOFARREST
AGAINSTTHEACCUSED?
Thecourtshallnotorderthearrestoftheaccusedexceptforfailuretoappearwheneverrequired.
Releaseofthepersonarrestedshalleitherbeonbailoronrecognizancebyaresponsiblecitizen
acceptabletothecourt.
Sec.17.Judgment.Whereatrialhasbeenconducted,thecourtshallpromulgatethejudgmentnotlaterthan
thirty(30)daysaftertheterminationoftrial.

WHENDOESTHECOURTNEEDTO
PROMULGATEJUDGMENT?
Whereatrialhasbeenconducted,thecourtshallpromulgatethejudgmentnotlaterthanthirty(30)days
aftertheterminationoftrial.
IV.COMMONPROVISIONS

Sec.18.ReferraltoLupon.CasesrequiringreferraltotheLuponforconciliationundertheprovisionsof
PresidentialDecreeNo.1508wherethereisnoshowingofcompliancewithsuchrequirement,shall
bedismissedwithoutprejudiceandmayberevivedonlyaftersuchrequirementshallhavebeencomplied
with.Thisprovisionshallnotapplytocriminalcaseswheretheaccusedwasarrestedwithoutawarrant.
CANTHEMTCREFERTHECASETOTHELUPON?
Yes
Theexceptioniswhentheaccusedhasbeenarrestedwithout
warrant.

WHATHAPPENSWHENTHEREHAS
BEENNOCOMPLIANCEWITHTHE
REQUIREMENTTHATTHERESHOULDBE
FIRSTCONCILIATIONPROCEEDINGSIN
THELUPON?
Thecourtmaydismissthecasewithoutprejudice
Itmayalsorevivethecaseonlyaftersuchrequirementshallhavebeencompliedwith
Thisprovisionshallnotapplyincriminalcaseswhereintheaccusedhasbeenarrestedlawfullywithout
awarrantofarrest.
Sec.19.Prohibitedpleadingsandmotions.Thefollowingpleadings,motionsorpetitionsshallnot
beallowedinthecasescoveredbythisRule:

(a)Motiontodismissthecomplaintortoquashthecomplaintorinformationexceptonthegroundoflackof
jurisdictionoverthesubjectmatter,orfailuretocomplywiththeprecedingsection

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(b)Motionforabillofparticulars

(c)Motionfornewtrial,orforreconsiderationofajudgment,orforopeningoftrial

(d)Petitionforrelieffromjudgment

(e)Motionforextensionoftimetofilepleadings,affidavitsoranyotherpaper

(f)Memoranda

(g)Petitionforcertiorari,mandamus,orprohibitionagainstanyinterlocutoryorderissuedbythecourt

(h)Motiontodeclarethedefendantindefault

(i)Dilatorymotionsforpostponement

(j)Reply

(k)Thirdpartycomplaints
(l)Interventions.
Sec.20.Affidavits.TheaffidavitsrequiredtobesubmittedunderthisRuleshallstateonlyfactsofdirect
personalknowledgeoftheaffiantswhichareadmissibleinevidence,andshallshowtheircompetenceto
testifytothemattersstatedtherein.

Aviolationofthisrequirementmaysubjectthepartyorthecounselwhosubmitsthesametodisciplinaryaction,
andshallbecausetoexpungetheinadmissibleaffidavitorportionthereoffromtherecord.

WHATISREQUIREDINTHE
SUBMISSIONOFAFFIDAVITSINA
SUMMARYPROCEEDING?
TheaffidavitsrequiredtobesubmittedunderthisRuleshallstateonlyfactsofdirectpersonalknowledge
oftheaffiantswhichareadmissibleinevidence,andshallshowtheircompetencetotestify
tothemattersstatedtherein.
Sec.21.Appeal.ThejudgmentorfinalordershallbeappealabletotheappropriateRegionalTrialCourtwhich
shalldecidethesameinaccordancewithSection22ofBatasPambansaBlg.129.The
decisionoftheRegionalTrialCourtincivilcasesgovernedbythisRule,includingforcibleentryandunlawful
detainer,shallbeimmediatelyexecutory,withoutprejudicetoafurtherappealthat
maybetakentherefrom.Section10ofRule70shallbedeemedrepealed.

Sec.22.Applicabilityoftheregularrules.TheregularprocedureprescribedintheRulesofCourtshall
applytothespecialcaseshereinprovidedforinasuppletorycapacityinsofarastheyarenot
inconsistentherewith.

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