PROSECUTION OF CIVIL

ACTION
WHAT  IS  THE  GENERAL  RULE  GOVERNING  THE 
INSTITUTION  OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL ACTIONS IN
RELATION TO THIS SECTION?
> The  general  rule  is  that  when  a  criminal  action  is  instituted,  the civil  action  for  the  recovery  of  the  civil 
liability  arising  from  the offense  charged  under  Article  100  of  the  RPC  shall  be  deemed instituted with the
criminal action

> Hence,  the  subsidiary  civil  liability  of  the  employee  under  Article 103 of the RPC may be enforced by
execution on the basis of the judgment of conviction meted out the employee
o      NOTE: Under the present amendment, the employer may no  longer  be  civilly  liable  for  quasi-delict  in  the 
criminal action.    The  reason  for  this  is  that  quasi-delict  is  not deemed instituted with the criminal action.  The
only civil liability  of  the  employer  in  the  criminal  action  would  be
his  subsidiary  liability  under  the  Article  102  and  103  of the RPC (Philippine Rabbit Bus case)//

WHAT  IS  THE JURIDICAL  BASIS  OF  THE  PRINCIPLE 

OF  IMPLIED INSTITUTION OF THE CIVIL ACTION WITH
THE CRIMINAL ACTION?
> The bases are found in the following:
1.    Article 100 of the RPC: Every person criminally liable for a felony is also civilly liable
2.    Article  2176  of  the  New  Civil  Code:  Whoever  by  act  or omission causes damage to another there being
fault or negligence is obliged to pay for the damage done.  Such fault or negligence, if there is no pre-existing
obligation is called  quasi-delict  and  is  governed  by  the  provisions  of this Code
3.    Article 1157 of the New Civil Code: Obligations may arise from acts or omissions punished by law and from
quasi-delict

WHAT ARE THE EXCEPTIONS?

> The civil action is not deemed instituted in the following cases:
1.    When the offended party has waived the civil action
2.    When  the  offended  party  has  reserved  the  right  to institute it separately
3.    When  the  offended  party  has  instituted  the  civil  action prior to the institution of the criminal action

WHAT  KIND  OF CIVIL ACTION  IS  DEEMED INSTITUTED

WITH  THE CRIMINAL ACTION?
> Only  the  civil  action  for  the  recovery  of  the  civil  liability  arising from  the  offense  under  Article  100  of 
the  RPC,  and  not  the independent under Article 32, 33, 34 and 2176 of the Civil Code,
are deemed instituted with the criminal action

WHAT IS THE DUAL CONCEPT OF CIVIL LIABILITY?

> Dual  concept  of  civil  liability  means  that  civil  liability  may  arise from crimes or from quasi-delicts
> Thus,  a  negligent  act  which  causes  damage  may  produce  two kinds of civil liability—one arising from crime
and another arising from quasi-delict
> The  only  limitation  is  that  the  offended  party  may  not  recover twice from the same act
RULE 111 - PROSECUTION OF CIVIL ACTION
 Section 1. Institution of criminal and civil actions. –  
 
(a)  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.
 
The reservation of the right to institute separately the civil  action shall be made before the
prosecution starts presenting its evidence and under circumstances affording the offended
party a reasonable opportunity to make such reservation.

When the offended party seeks to enforce civil liability against the accused  by  way  of 
moral,  nominal,  temperate,  or  exemplary damages without specifying the amount
thereof in the complaint or information, the filing fees therefore shall constitute a first lien
on the judgment awarding such damages.
 
Where  the  amount  of  damages,  other  than  actual,  is  specified  in the complaint or
information, the corresponding filing fees shall be paid by the offended party upon the
filing thereof in court.
 
Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, no filing fees shall be required for actual
damages.
 
No counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party complaint may be filed by the accused in the
criminal case, but any cause of action which could have been the subject thereof may be
litigated in a separate civil action.
 
(b)  The  criminal  action  for  violation  of  Batas  Pambansa  Blg.  22 shall  be  deemed  to 
include  the  corresponding  civil  action.  No reservation to file such civil action separately
shall be allowed.
 
Upon  filing  of  the  aforesaid  joint  criminal  and  civil  actions,  the offended party shall
pay in full the filing fees based on the amount of  the  check  involved,  which  shall  be 
considered  as  the  actual damages  claimed.  Where  the  complaint  or  information  also 
seeks to  recover  liquidated,  moral,  nominal,  temperate  or  exemplary damages, the
offended party shall pay additional filing fees based on the amounts alleged therein. If the
amounts are not so alleged but any of these damages are subsequently awarded by the
court, the filing fees based on the amount awarded shall constitute a first
lien on the judgment.
 
Where  the  civil  action  has  been  filed  separately  and  trial  thereof has  not  yet 
commenced,  it  may  be  consolidated  with  the  criminal action upon application with the
court trying the latter case. If the application  is  granted,  the  trial  of  both  actions  shall 
proceed  in accordance  with  section  2  of  this  Rule  governing  consolidation  of the civil
and criminal actions.

Civil Liability
WHAT CONSTITUTES CIVIL LIABILITY?
> According  to  Article  104  of  the  RPC,  civil  liability  includes restitution,   reparation,   and   indemnification  
for   consequential damages

WHAT  IS  THE  BASIS  FOR  THE  BROADER  CONCEPT 

OF  CIVIL LIABILITY?
> The  broader  concept  of  civil  liability  means  that  every  person criminally liable is also civilly liable
> This  is  because  in  a  criminal  offense,  there  are  two  offended parties—the state and the private offended
party

IF THE COMPLAINT DOESN’T CONTAIN AN

ALLEGATION   FOR DAMAGES, IS THE OFFENDER STILL
LIABLE FOR THEM?
> Yes, because every person criminally liable is also civilly liable
> Exception:  when  the  offended  party  has  waived  or  has  reserved the right to institute the civil action
separately
 

WHAT IS THE RULE ON PAYMENT OF DOCKET FEES ON

CIVIL LIABILITY?
> If the offended party seeks to enforce civil liability against accused by  way  of  moral,  nominal,  temperate,  or 
exemplary  damages (other than actual), the following are the bases for docket fees:
o      If amount other than actual damages is stated, it will be based on the stated amount
o      If no amount is stated, no docket fees will be paid yet but the  docket  fees  to  be  paid  will  constitute  a  lien 
on  the damages that will be awarded
 

WHEN SHOULD THE RESERVATION BE MADE?

> The  reservation  should  be  made  before  the  prosecution  presents its evidence and under circumstances
affording the offended party a reasonable opportunity to make such reservation
 

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE RULE REQUIRING

RESERVATION?
> The  reason  is  to  prevent  double  recovery  from  the  same  act  or omission
 

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE APPEARANCE OF

THE OFFENDED  PARTY,  IN THE CRIMINAL CASE 
THROUGH PRIVATE PROSECUTOR?
> The  appearance  of  the  offended  party  may  not  per  se  be considered  either  as  an  implied  election  to 
have  his  claim  for damages determined in said proceedings or a waiver of the right
to have determined separately
 

IN A BP22 CASE, CAN THE OFFENDED PARTY MAKE A

RESERVATION OF THE CIVIL ACTION?
> No, the criminal action shall be deemed to include the civil action, and the offended party is not allowed to make
the reservation
> The actual damages and the filing fees shall be equivalent to the value of the check. 

Suspension Of Civil Action

Sec. 2. When separate civil action is suspended. – After the criminal action  has  been 
commenced,  the  separate  civil  action  arising therefrom  cannot  be  instituted  until 
final  judgment  has  been entered in the criminal action.
 
If the criminal action is filed after the said civil action has already been instituted, the latter
shall be suspended in whatever state  it may be found before judgment on the merits. The
suspension shall last  until  final  judgment   is  rendered  in   the  criminal   action.
Nevertheless,  before judgment on the merits  rendered in the civil action,  the  same  may, 
upon  motion  of  the  offended  party,  be

consolidated  with  the  criminal  action  in  the  court  trying  the criminal  action.  In  case 
of  consolidation,  the  evidence  already adduced   in   the   civil   action   shall   be  
deemed   automatically reproduced in the criminal action without prejudice to the right of
the  prosecution  to  cross-examine  the  witness  presented  by  the offended  party  in  the 
criminal  case  and  of  the  parties  to  present
additional  evidence.  The  consolidated  criminal  and  civil  actions shall be tried and
decided jointly.
 
During  the  pendency  of  the  criminal  action,  the  running  period  of prescription   of  
the   civil   action   which   cannot   be   instituted separately  or  whose  proceeding  has 
been  suspended  shall  be tolled.
 
The extinction of the penal action does not carry with it extinction of the civil action.
However, the civil action based on delict shall be deemed extinguished if there is a finding
in a final judgment in the criminal action that the act or omission from which the civil
liability may arise did not exist.
 

WHEN IS THE SEPARATE CIVIL ACTION SUSPENDED?

> After the criminal action has been commenced, the separate civil action arising therefrom
cannot be instituted until final  judgment has been entered in the criminal action.  
> If the criminal action is filed after the said civil action has already been instituted, the latter
shall be suspended in whatever state it may  be  found  before  judgment  on  the  merits.  The 
suspension shall last until final judgment is rendered in the criminal action.
> Nonetheless, the civil action may be consolidate with the criminal action at any time before
judgment on the merits upon motion of the offended party with the court trying the criminal
action
> The  evidence  presented  at  the  civil  action  shall  be  deemed reproduced in the criminal
action without prejudice to the right of the  prosecution  to  cross-examine  the  witness 
presented  by  the offended party in the criminal  case and of the parties to present additional 
evidence.    The  consolidated  criminal  actions  shall  be tried and decided jointly
> ONLY  EXCEPTION:    a  prejudicial  question  arising  in  a  previously filed civil action
should be resolved first 

ARE THE INDEPENDENT CIVIL ACTIONS ALSO DEEMED

SUSPENDED WITH THE FILING OF THE CRIMINAL
ACTION?
> No, only the civil action arising from the crime under Article 100 of the RPC is suspended 

> The independent civil actions are not suspended and may continue even if the criminal action
has been instituted
> However, the offended party may not recover twice from the same act
>  He should only get the bigger award 

EFFECT OF ACQUITTAL ON
THE CIVIL ACTION
THE EFFECT OF ACQUITTAL ON THE CIVIL
ACTION
> The  general  rule  is  that  the  civil  action  is  not  necessarily extinguished by the acquittal of the accused.  Even
if the accused is acquitted, the court can still award civil liability in the following cases:
1.    When  the  acquittal  is  based  on  reasonable  doubt  and there was no negligence
2.    When  there  is  a  declaration  in  the  decision  that  the liability of the accused is only civil
3.    When the civil liability is not derived from or based on the criminal   act   of   which   the   accused   is  
acquitted (independent civil actions)
> However, if the decision contains a finding that the act from which the  civil  liability  may  arise  doesn’t  exist, 
the  civil  liability  is extinguished
 

WHAT ARE THE TWO TYPES OF ACQUITTAL?

1.    Acquittal based on reasonable doubt
2.    Acquittal based on the merits—he didn't commit the crime
 

CAN  YOU  COMPEL  A  JUDGE  BY  MANDAMUS  TO 

AWARD  CIVIL DAMAGES?
> Yes, because every person criminally liable is also civilly liable
> Another reason is that even if the accused is acquitted, there are cases when he is still civilly liable
 

WHAT   IS   THE   REASON   FOR   ALLOWING   CIVIL  

LIABILITY   TO SUBSIST IN SPITE OF THE ACQUITTAL OF
THE ACCUSED?
> The reason is that the parties in the criminal and civil actions are different—in the criminal action, the party is the
state, while in the civil action, the party is the private offended party
> Also, the two actions require different quantities of evidence—the criminal  action  requires  proof  of  guilt 
beyond  reasonable  doubt, the civil action on the other hand, requires mere preponderance of evidence

INDEPENDENT CIVIL ACTIONS

Sec.  3.  When  civil  action  may  proceed  independently.  –  In  the cases provided in Articles 32, 33, 34 and 2176
of the Civil Code of the Philippines, the independent civil action may be brought by the offended  party.  It  shall 
proceed  independently  of  the  criminal action  and  shall  require  only  a  preponderance  of  evidence.  In  no
case, however, may the offended party recover damages twice for the same act or omission charged in the criminal
action.

WHAT ARE THE INDEPENDENT CIVIL ACTIONS?

> The independent civil actions are those provided in Articles 32, 33, 34 and 2176 of the Civil Code
> They may proceed independently of the criminal action and shall require only a preponderance of evidence
> This  is  the  principle  of  independent  civil  actions—it  can  proceed independently from the criminal action. 
Nonetheless, the offended party  may  not  have  double  recovery.    The  offended  party  only gets the bigger
award.


IS  THERE  AN  ABSOLUTE  RIGHT  TO 
SUBSTITUTION  INFORMATION  BY FILING A NEW
ONE?
No, the right is subject to the following limitations:
1.    That no judgment has been rendered yet
2.    That the accused cannot be convicted of the offense charged or of any other offense
necessarily included therein
3.    That the accused will not be placed in double jeopardy
RULE 117 - MOTION TO QUASH
 
Section 1. Time to move to quash. – At any time before entering his plea, the accused may move to quash the
complaint or information.
 

WHEN CAN THE ACCUSED FILE A MOTION TO QUASH?

>     At  any  time  before  entering  the  plea,  the  accused  may  move  to quash the complaint or information
 

AN INFORMATION WAS FILED AGAINST X.  X FILED A

MOTION TO QUASH AS  THE FACTS IN  THE
INFORMATION DIDN’T CONSTITUTE AN OFFENSE.  THIS
WAS FILED TOGETHER WITH AN APPLICATION FOR
BAIL.  IS THIS VALID?
>     Yes.  There is no inconsistency that exists between an application of an accused for bail and his filing of a
motion to quash.
 
Sec.  2.  Form  and  contents.  –  The  motion  to  quash  shall  be  in writing,  signed  by  the  accused  or  his 
counsel  and  shall  distinctly specify  its  factual  and  legal  grounds.  The  court  shall  consider  no
ground  other  than  those  stated  in  the  motion,  except  lack  of jurisdiction over the offense charged.
 

WHAT IS THE FORM REQUIRED FOR A MOTION TO

QUASH?
1.    It must be in writing
2.    It must be signed by the accused or his counsel
3.    It must specify its factual and legal grounds
 
Sec.  3. Grounds. – The accused may move to quash the complaint or information on any of the following
grounds:
 
(a) That the facts charged do not constitute an offense;
 
(b)  That  the  court  trying  the  case  has  no  jurisdiction  over  the offense charged;
 
(c)  That  the  court  trying  the  case  has  no  jurisdiction  over  the person of the accused;
 
(d)  That  the officer  who filed  the information had no authority  to
do so;
 
(e) That it does not conform substantially to the prescribed form;
 
(f)  That  more  than  one  offense  is  charged  except  when  a  single punishment for various offenses is
prescribed by law;
 
(g) That the criminal action or liability has been extinguished;
 
(h)  That  it  contains  averments  which,  if  true,  would  constitute  a legal excuse or justification; and
 
(i) 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.
 

WHAT  ARE  THE  GROUNDS  THAT  THE  ACCUSED  MAY 

INVOKE  TO QUASH A COMPLAINT OR INFORMATION? 
1.    That the facts charged don’t constitute an offense
2.    That  the  court  trying  the  case  doesn’t  have  jurisdiction  over  the offense
3.    That  the  court  trying  the  case  doesn’t  have  jurisdiction  over  the accused
4.    That the officer who filed the information didn’t have authority to do so
5.    That it doesn’t conform substantially to the form subscribed
6.    That  more  than  one  offense  is  charged  except  when  a  single punishment for various offenses is prescribed
by law
7.    That criminal liability or action has been extinguished
8.    That it contains averments which, if true, would constitute a legal excuse or justification
9.    That  the  accused  has  been  previously  convicted  or  acquitted  of the offense charged, or the case against
him has been dismissed or otherwise terminated without the consent of the accused
 

CAN THE COURT DISMISS THE CASE BASED ON

GROUNDS THAT ARE NOT ALLEGED IN THE MOTION TO
QUASH?
>     The general rule is no, the court cannot consider any ground other than those stated in the motion to quash.
>     The exception is the lack of jurisdiction over the offense charged.  If this is the ground for dismissing the case,
it need not be alleged in the motion to quash since it goes into the very competence of the court to pass upon the
case.
 

X FILED A MOTION TO QUASH AN INFORMATION ON

THE GROUND THAT  HE  WAS  IN  THE  US  WHEN  THE 
CRIME  CHARGED  WAS COMMITTED.  SHOULD THE
MOTION BE GRANTED?
>     The motion should be denied
>     The accused is already making a defense
>     Matters  of  defense  are  generally  not  a  ground  for  a  motion  to quash they should be presented at the trial
 
WHAT  IS  MEANT  BY  THE  STATEMENT  THAT  A 
MOTION  TO  QUASH HYPOTHETICALLY    ADMITS   
ALLEGATIONS    OF    FACT    IN    THE INFORMATION?
>     It  means  that  the  accused  argues  that  assuming  that  the  facts charged are true, the information should still
be dismissed based on the ground invoked by the defendant.  
>     Therefore,  since  the  defendant  assumes  that  the  facts  in  the information are true, only these facts should be
taken into account and the court resolves the motion to quash.  Other facts, such as matters of defenses, which are
not in the information should not be considered
>     The exceptions to the rule are when the grounds invoked to quash the  information  are  extinction  of  criminal 
liability,  prescription, and former jeopardy.  In these cases, additional facts are allowed.
 

CAN THE ACCUSED MOVE TO QUASH ON THE GROUND

THAT HE IS DENIED DUE PROCESS?
>     No, denial of due process is not one of the grounds for a motion to quash
 

WHAT IS THE TEST TO DETERMINE THE VALIDITY OF A

MOTION TO QUASH  ON  THE  GROUND  THAT  THE 
FACTS  AVERRED  IN  THE INFORMATION DON’T
AMOUNT TO AN OFFENSE?
>     The test is whether the facts alleged would establish the essential elements of the crime as defined by law, and
in this examination, matters aliunde are not considered
 

X  FILED  A  MOTION  TO  QUASH  ON  THE  FOLLOWING 

GROUNDS: THAT  THE  COURT  LACKED  JURISDICTION 
OVER  THE  PERSON  OF THE  ACCUSED  AND  THAT 
THE  COMPLAINT  CHARGED  MORE  THAN ONE 
OFFENSE.    CAN  THE  COURT  GRANT  THE  MOTION 
ON  THE GROUND OF LACK OF JURISDICTION?
>     In the past, the answer would have been no since the SC ruled in several cases then that the motion to quash on
the ground of lack of jurisdiction over the person of the accused must be based only
on  this  ground.    If  other  grounds  are  included,  there  is  waiver, and  the  accused  is  deemed  to  have 
submitted  himself  to  the jurisdiction of the court.
>     The new rule, based on the decisions of the SC on Section 20 of Rule 14 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure,
the inclusion of other grounds  aside  from  lack  of  jurisdiction  over  the  person  of  the
defendant  in  a  motion  to  dismiss  shall  not  be  considered  as  a voluntary appearance.
 

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF AN INFORMATION THAT WAS

SIGNED BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON?
>     A valid information must be signed by a competent officer, which, among other requisites, confers jurisdiction
over the person of the accused and the subject matter of the accusation
>     Thus, an infirmity in the information such as the lack of authority of the officer signing it cannot be cured by
silence, acquiescence, express consent, or even amendment.   

   It  is  an  invalid  information  and  cannot  be  the  basis  of  criminal proceedings.  
>     A motion to quash would prosper
 

WHAT  HAPPENS  IF  THE  DEFENDANT  ENTERS  HIS 

PLEA  BEFORE FILING A MOTION TO QUASH?
>     By  entering  his  plea  before  filing  the  motion  to  quash,  the defendant  waives  the  formal  objectives  to 
the  complaint  or information
>     But  if  the  ground  for  the  motion  is  any  of  the  following  below, there is no waiver.  The following
grounds  may be raised  at any stage of the proceeding:
1.    Failure to charge an offense
2.    Lack of jurisdiction over the offense
3.    Extinction of criminal liability
4.    Double jeopardy
>     Note: if it is a formal objection, it is deemed waived upon plea