CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

PROSECUTION OF
OFFENSE

BY: PMSg FATIMA B BILLONES, LLB

RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Substantially revised and the Revised

Rules of Criminal Procedure - approved by
the Supreme Court, in A.M. No. 00-5-03-
SC, effective December 1, 2000.

It is liberally construed in order to promote

JUST, SPEEDY and INEXPENSIVE
disposition of the case.
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

A procedural steps through criminal

cases found in Rule 110-127 of the
Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure
and the 1987 Constitution of the
Philippines.
 DISTINCTION
CRIMINAL LAW— substantive. It
defines crimes, treats of their nature
and provides for their punishment.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE—remedial
law. Provides method by which a
person accused of a crime is arrested,
tried and punished.
 CRIMINAL ACTION

It is one by which the State

prosecutes a person for AN ACT or
OMISSION punishable by law.
INSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSE

OFFENSES FOR PRELIMINARY

INVESTIGATION: file the complaint with
the proper officer for the purpose of
conducting PI.

ALL OTHER OFFENSES: file the

complaint or information directly with the
Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal
Circuit Trial Courts or the Office of the
Prosecutor.
COMPLAINT OR INFORMATION

The complaint or information shall be in

writing, in the name of the People of the
Philippines and against all persons who
appear to be responsible for the offense
involved.
COMPLAINT/INFORMATION DEFINED

COMPLAINT—It is a sworn statement

charging a person with the offense,
subscribed by the offended party, any
peace officer, or other public officer charged
with the enforcement of the law.

INFORMATION—an accusation in writing

charging a person with an offense
subscribed by the prosecutor and filed with
the court.
SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

1. INQUISITORIAL— legal system

where courts or part of the court is
actively involved in investigating the
facts of the case.

Judges tend to be free to make

decisions on a case-to-case basis.
SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

2. ACCUSATORIAL/ADVERSARIAL— where
the role of the court is primarily that of an
imperial referee between the prosecution and
the defense.

Previous decisions made by higher courts

form a precedent which will bind the lower
courts.
 INSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL ACTION
INTERRUPTS PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD

GENERAL RULE: the filing of the

complaint for an offense which carries the
penalty of at least 4 years, 2 months and 1
day without regard to a fine, with the office
of the proper officer authorized to conduct
preliminary investigation interrupts the
prescriptive period of the offense charge.
 INSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL ACTION
INTERRUPTS PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD

EXCEPTION: when a special laws provide

otherwise. Act No. 3323 governs the
prescriptive periods of violations of special
laws, or offenses other than those penalized
under the Revised Penal Code.

Filing of a criminal complaint with the Office

of the Ombudsman also interrupts the
prescription of period of crimes.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTION MAY NOT
BE RESTRAINED
GENERAL RULE: Injunction will not be granted to
restrain criminal prosecution applies with more
reason when the case is still at the preliminary
investigation stage.

May not be restrained through a preliminary or final

injunction or a writ of prohibition, except the case falls
under the exception of the case.

Courts cannot interfere with the discretion of the

prosecutor or the Ombudsman to determine the
specificity and adequacy of the averments of the
offense charge.
INJUNCTION TO RESTRAIN CRIMINAL
PROSECUTION

EXCEPTION to the general rule: (prosecution

may issue in the following instances)

1. Where the injunction is justified by the necessity

to afford protection to the constitutional rights of
the accused;

2. When necessary for the orderly administration

of justice or to avoid oppression or multiplicity of
action;
INJUNCTION TO RESTRAIN CRIMINAL
PROSECUTION
3.When there is a prejudicial question which is
sub judice ( “under judgment” or question of law);

4.When the acts of the officer are without or in

excess of authority;

5.Where the prosecution is under an invalid law,

ordinance, or regulation;

6. When double jeopardy is apparent;

INJUNCTION TO RESTRAIN CRIMINAL
PROSECUTION
7.Where the court has no jurisdiction over the offense;

8.Where it is a case of persecution rather than prosecution;

9.Where the charges are manifestly false and motivated by

the lust of vengeance;

10.Where there is clearly no prima facie case against the

accused and motion to quash on that ground had been
denied;

11.Preliminary injunction has been issued by the Supreme

Court to prevent the threatened unlawful arrest of
petitioners.
 WHO MUST PROSECUTE THE
CRIMINAL ACTIONS?

ALL criminal action commenced by a complaint

or information shall be prosecuted under the
direction and control of the prosecutor.

IN CASE OF HEAVY OR LACK OR PUBLIC

PROSECUTOR, the private prosecutor may be
authorized in writing by the Chief of the
Prosecution Office or the Regional State
Prosecution to prosecute the case SUBJECT to
the approval of the court.
 WHO MUST PROSECUTE THE
CRIMINAL ACTIONS?

PRIVATE prosecutor once

authorized, shall continue to
prosecute the case up to the end
even in the absence of the public
prosecutor UNLESS authority is
revoked or otherwise withdrawn.
 WHO MUST PROSECUTE THE
CRIMINAL ACTIONS?
Offenses of abduction, seduction, and, acts of
lasciviousness —shall not be prosecuted
except upon a complaint filed by the offended
party or her parents, grandparents or
guardian.

If the offended party dies or become

incapacitated before she can file a complaint
and has no parents, grandparents or
guardian, the STATE shall initiate in her
behalf.
 WHO MUST PROSECUTE THE
CRIMINAL ACTIONS?

Offended party is a MINOR—has the right to

initiate the prosecution of the offense
independently of her parents, grandparents,
or guardian UNLESS she is incompetent or
incapable of doing so.

The parent, grandparents, or guardian is an

exclusive of all persons and shall be exercise
successively.
 SUFFICIENCY OF COMPLAINT OR
INFORMATION
It must state:
1. The name of the accused;
2. The designation of the offense given by the
statute;
3. The acts or omission complained of as constituting
the offense;
4. The name of the offended party;
5. The approximate date of the commission of the
offense;
6. The place where the offense was committed
CAUSE OF ACCUSATION
The acts or omissions complained of
as constituting the offense and the
qualifying and aggravating
circumstances must be stated in
ordinary and concise language not
necessarily in the language used in
the statute for the court to pronounce
judgment.
DUPLICITY OF AN OFFENSE

A complaint or information must

charge only one offense EXCEPT
when the law prescribes a single
punishment for a various offenses.
 PROSECUTOR’S 2 FOLD
TASK
PROSECUTOR HAS THE CONTROL OF PROSECUTION

1. To prove that the crime has been committed

2. That the accused is the person responsible

therefor.

It must be able to overcome the constitutional

presumption of innocence with evidence
beyond reasonable doubt to justify the
conviction of the accused.
PROSECUTOR HAS THE CONTROL
OF PROSECUTION
The state is the offended party of a criminal
case.

It must be prosecuted under the control and

guidance of the State through the government
prosecutor.

Acquittal and dismissal: when the private

complainant intends to question the judgment,
APPEAL will be represented by the SOLICITOR
GENERAL only.
 SOLICITOR GENERAL
In APPEALED cases, only the Solicitor General
may bring or defend action on behalf of the People
once such action is brought to the Court of
Appeals or to the Supreme Court.

As the official in control of criminal cases before

the appellate courts, he may abandon or
discontinue the prosecution case in the exercise of
his sound discretion.

May even recommend acquittal of an accused

when he believes the evidence does not warrant
conviction.
 CRIMES WHICH CANNOT BE
PROSECUTED “DE OFFICIO”
Art. 344-Prosecution of crimes of adultery,
concubinage, and acts of lasciviousness (rape is
already a crime against person)

Adultery and concubinage shall not be

prosecuted EXCEPT upon a complaint filed by
the offended spouse.

Offended party cannot institute criminal

prosecution without including BOTH guilty
parties.
JURISDICTION DEFINED
Derived from the 2 latin words “juris"and
“dico”(I speak by the law).
It is the authority to hear and determine a
cause of action. (Herrera vs Barreto)
It is the right that put the wheel of justice in
motion and to proceed to the final
determination of the cause upon the pleadings
and evidence. (PP vs Mariano, supra)
 CRIMINAL JURISDICTION

is the authority of the court to hear and try

a particular offense and to impose the
punishment provided by law.
2 inquiries:
1. Has jurisdiction over the offense by virtue
of the imposable penalty and its nature,
2. Filed within the territorial jurisdiction.
2 INQUIRIES OF JURISDICTION

1. Once jurisdiction is acquitted by the court in

which the information is filed, it is there
retained regardless of whether the evidence
proves a lesser offense than that charged in
the information.

GENERAL RULE: Jurisdiction of a court is

determined by the law at the time at the time
of the institution of the action.
EXCEPTION TO THE GENERAL RULE

Where the statute expressly provides,

or is construed that it is intended to
operate to actions pending before its
enactment, which the court where the
criminal actions pending is ousted of
jurisdiction and pending action will have
to be transferred to other court.
 JURISDICTION

2. Venue-or the place where the case is to be

tried, which is jurisdictional in criminal cases.
Venue of criminal cases is essential element
of jurisdiction, which requires the action
instituted and tried in the municipality or
territory where the offense has been
committed or the essential ingredients took
place.
JURISDICTION IS DETERMINED

In criminal cases, the complaint or information must

be examined to determined the allegations and not
by the findings of the court may make after the trial.

EXAMPLE:

The prosecution of Kidnapping with murder

alleged that took place in Dapitan City but the
evidence showed that the victim was killed in
Ozamis City, the court of Dapitan City where the
information was filed has the jurisdiction over the
case.
ESTOPPEL AND LACHES TO DENY
JURISDICTION

GENERAL RULE: “Question of

jurisdiction may be raise at any stage of
the proceedings.”

EXCEPTION: Question may not be

raised for the first time in the on appeal,
where there has been estoppel and
laches on the party who raised the
question.
ESTOPPEL AND LACHES TO DENY
JURISDICTION

Adverse party failed at several stages of the

proceedings to raised it ONLY after the Court of
Appeals had rendered an adverse decision for
lack of jurisdiction.

Where the accused had pursued vigorously the

case in the lower court, on the supposition that it
had jurisdiction, and had asked it rendered
judgment of acquittal, he cannot later on
rightfully claim that the court lacked jurisdiction.
TYPES OF JURISDICTION

1. JURISDICTION OVER THE SUBJECT

MATTER—meant the nature of the cause
of action and of the relief sought, and this
is conferred by the sovereign authority
which organizes the court and is to be
sought specially conferred.

• Conferred by law not of the parties.

TYPES OF JURISDICTION
2. JURISDICTION OVER THE
TERRITORY— criminal cases is
jurisdictional. (Regpala vs Tubod)

• Hence, criminal action shall be instituted and

tried in the court of the municipality or
province wherein the offense was committed
or where any of its essential ingredients took
place (Sec. 15, Rule 110)
TYPES OF JURISDICTION

• One cannot be held to answer for any

crime EXCEPT in the jurisdiction where it
was committed. (Hernandez vs Albano/ PP
vs Mercado)—the purpose not to compel
defendant to move and appear in court
different from that province it was
committed as it would cause great
inconvenience. (Beltran vs Ramos)
TYPES OF JURISDICTION
3. JURISDICTION OVER CONTINUING
CRIMES—there should be plurality of the acts
performed separately during the period of tie,
unity of penal provision infringed upon or
violated, and the unity of the intent or purpose
which means that the two or more violations of
the same penal provision are united in one at
the same intent leading to the perpetrator of
the same criminal purpose or aim. (PP vs
Zapata and Bondoc)
TYPES OF JURISDICTION
TERRITORY OFFENSE

May be tried in any jurisdiction in which he is

found, based upon the ground that there is a new
commission of the same offense in the jurisdiction
where he is found.

The court where the case was first filed acquires

jurisdiction over the same to the exclusion of all
other courts, provided it has first acquired
jurisdiction over his person. Grafton vs US)
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION
DETERMINED:

By allegations in the information as to the

situs of the crime and this determines in the
first instance, whether the court has
jurisdiction to try the case. (Colmenares vs
Villa)

EVEN if the court subsequently dismisses the

action upon proof that the offense was
committed outside its territory, all
proceedings prior thereto are valid. (PP vs
Galano)
TERITORIAL JURISDICTION

EXCEPTION:

a.Where the offense was committed under the

exceptional circumstances provided for in Article 2 of
the RPC—shall be enforced not only within the
Philippine Archipelago including its atmosphere, its
interior waters and maritime zone but also outside of
its jurisdiction against those who:

1.Commit an offense while on a Philippine ship or

warship.
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION
2.Forge or counterfeit any coin or currency note of
the Philippine island or obligations and securities
issued by the government of the Philippine
islands.
3.Should be liable for act connected with the
introduction to island…
4.Public officer or employees —commit an offense
in exercise of their function.
5.Commit any of the crime against national
security and law of nation.
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION
EXCEPTION:
b.Piracy
c.Crimes committed on railroad, train,
aircraft, or any other public or private
vehicle while in the course of its trip (any
man.or territory where it passes including
the departure and arrival)
d.Committed on board of a vessel in the
course of its voyage
COURT JURISDICTION
ON
CRIMINAL CASES
 SUPREME COURT JURISDICTION
SUMMARY

1.ORIGINAL JURISDICTION over cases involving ambassadors, other public

ministers, and consuls; petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus quo warrants
and habeas corpus (concurrent with RTC)

2.REVIEW, REVISE, MODIFY,OR AFFIRM ON APPEAL OR CERTIORARI, FINAL

JUDGMENTS OF LOWER COURTS in cases which the constitutionality or validity
of any treaty, international or executive agreement, law, decree, proclamation,
order, instruction, ordinance or regulation is in question

3.Cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or tool, or penalty
imposed thereto :

A. Cases involving jurisdiction of lower courts

B. All criminal cases in which the penalty is reclusion perpetual or higher

C. All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved.

CA JURISDICTION SUMMARY

1.ORIGINAL JURISDICTION to issue writs of

mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas
corpus, and quo warrants, and auxiliary writs or
processes, whether or not in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction (concurrent with the SC and RTCs)

2.EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION over

actions for annulment of judgment of RTCs.
CA JURISDICTION SUMMARY

3. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE JURISDICTION

over all final judgments, decisions,
resolutions, orders, or awards of RTCs and
quasi-judicial agencies, bodies or
commissions.

EXCEPT those that fall within the appellate

jurisdiction of the SC namely: COMELEC,
Commission on Audit, Sandiganbayan.
 REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
JURISDICTION SUMMARY

1.EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL—CRIMINAL CASES:

All criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction

of any court, tribunal, or body EXCEPT those within
the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

2.Cases where the penalty is imposable (exceeds

4years, 2 months and 1 day)

3.Imprisonment, irrespective of fine (exceeds of

P4000, if only a fine is imposable)
 REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
JURISDICTION SUMMARY
MANZANO VS VALERA—libel is punishable by
prison correctional in its minimum and medium
periods. R.A. 7691 places jurisdiction over
criminal cases where the penalty is 6 years or
less with the MTCs. However, Art. 360 of the
RTC gives jurisdiction over libel cases to the
RTC. Special law (RPC) must prevail over
general laws (R.A. 7691). Also from the
provisions of R.A. 7691, there is no manifest
intent to repeal or alter the jurisdiction in libel
cases.
 REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
JURISDICTION SUMMARY

2. ORIGINAL JURISDICTION:

A.Issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo

warranto, habeas corpus, and injunction which may be enforced in
any part of their respective “regions" (concurrent with SC and CA)

B.In actions affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and

consuls ( concurrent with SC)

C.Over offenses committed NOT in relation with public office with

imprisonment exceeding 6 years committed by public officers
classified as salary grade 27 higher.

D. Over election contests for municipal offices.

 REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
JURISDICTION SUMMARY

3. APPELLATE JURISDICTION:

A. All cases decided by lower courts (MTCs)

in their respective territorial jurisdictions.

NOTE: no trial de vono, cases are decided

on the basis of decision and supporting
affidavits.
 FAMILY COURT (R.A. 8369)
JURISDICTION SUMMARY

EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION:

1.One or more accused is below 18 years of age but not less

than 9 years of age;

2.One or more victims is a minor at the time of the commission

of the offense.

PROVIDED, that the minor is found guilty, the court shall

promulgate sentence and ascertain any civil liability which the
accused may have incurred. The sentence however shall be
suspended without the need of application pursuant to the
“Child and Youth Welfare Act”.
 FAMILY COURT (R.A.8369)
JURISDICTION SUMMARY

2.Cases against minor cognizable under

the Dangerous Drug Act, as amended;

3.Violation of R.A. No. 7610, otherwise

known as “Special Protection of Children
Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act”, as amended by R.A.
7658 and;
 FAMILY COURT (R.A.8369)
JURISDICTION SUMMARY
CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST:

A. WOMEN

à Acts of gender based violence that results, or

are likely to result in physical, sexual or
psychological harm or suffering to women; and
other forms of physical abuse such as battering
or threats and coercion which violate a woman's
personhood, integrity and freedom of movement;
AND
 FAMILY COURT (R.A.8369)
JURISDICTION SUMMARY

B. CHILDREN

à Includes the commission of all

forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation, violence, and
discrimination and all other conditions
prejudicial to their development.
 FAMILY COURT (R.A.8369)
JURISDICTION SUMMARY
If an act constitutes a criminal offense, the accused
shall be subject to criminal proceedings and the
corresponding penalties.
If any question involving any of the above matters
should arise as an incident in any case pending in
the regular courts, said incident shall be determined
in that court.
Decisions and orders of the court shall be appealed
in the same manner and subject to the same
conditions as appeals from the ordinary Regional
Trial Courts.
 MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT
JURISDICTION
Violations of city or municipal ordinances.

All offenses punishable with not more than 4

years 2 months 1 day imprisonment,
irrespective of fine.

All offenses punishable by only a fine of not

more than P4,000.

Offenses involving damage to property

through criminal negligence.
SANDIGANBAYAN JURISDICTION
SUMMARY

Exclusive original jurisdiction

of offenses committed in
relation to public office.
COURT MARTIAL JURISDICTION

Offenses committed by the

members of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and other persons
subject to military law, if such
offense are “service connected”are
those expressly enumerated in
R.A. No. 7055 otherwise falls in
regular courts.
 SUMMARY PROCEDURE
MTC

Violation of traffic laws, rules, regulations

Violation of rental laws
Violations of city or municipality ordinances
All other criminal cases where the penalty does not
exceed 6 months or a fine of P1000 or both,
irrespective of other imposable penalties or of the
amount of civil liability
Damage to property through criminal negligence
where the fine does not exceed P10,000.
THANK YOU!