RULE 123 - PROCEDURE IN THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS (4) 

   All  other  criminal  cases  where  the  penalty  prescribed 

by  law for the offense charged is imprisonment not exceeding six
Section  1.  Uniform  Procedure.  –  The  procedure  to  be  months, or a fine not exceeding (P1,000.00), or both, irrespective of
observed  in the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and other imposable penalties, accessory or otherwise, or of the civil
Municipal Circuit  Trial  Courts  shall  be  the  same  as  in  the  liability arising  therefrom:  Provided,  however,  that  in  offenses 
Regional  Trial Courts, except where a particular provision applies involving damage  to  property  through  criminal  negligence,  this 
Rule  shall
only to either of said courts and in criminal cases governed by the
govern  where  the  imposable  fine  does  not  exceed  ten 
Revised Rule on Summary Procedure. 
thousand pesos (P10,000.00).
WHAT IS SUMMARY PROCEDURE?  
This Rule shall not apply to a civil case where the plaintiffs cause of
action  is  pleaded  in  the  same  complaint  with  another  cause 
     Procedure  wherein  the  court  decides  the  case  through  the
of action  subject  to  the  ordinary  procedure;  nor  to  a 
evidence and affidavits presented by the parties
criminal  case
where  the  offense   charged  is  necessarily   related  to  another
RESOLUTION  OF  THE  COURT  EN  BANC  DATED  OCTOBER  criminal case subject to the ordinary procedure.
15,  1991 PROVIDING  FOR  THE  REVISED  RULE  ON  SUMMARY 
PROCEDURE FOR METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL
Sec. 2.  Determination of applicability. — Upon the filing of a civil or
TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES,  MUNICIPAL   TRIAL  COURTS  AND   
criminal action, the court shall issue an order declaring whether or
MUNICIPAL  CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS.
not the case shall  be governed by this Rule. A  patently erroneous
 
determination  to  avoid  the  application  of  the  Rule  on 
I. Applicability
Summary Procedure is a ground for disciplinary action.
 
Section 1.  Scope. — This rule shall govern the summary procedure
in the Metropolitan Trial Courts, the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, WHAT  ARE  THE  CRIMINAL  CASES  FALLING  UNDER  THE 
the Municipal Trial Courts, and the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in RULES  OF SUMMARY PROCEDURE?
the following cases falling within their jurisdiction:
  1.    Violations of traffic laws, rules and regulations
xxx xxx xxx 2.    Violations of the rental law
  3.    Violations of municipal or city ordinances
B.  Criminal Cases: 4.    All  other  criminal  cases  where  the  penalty  prescribed  by 
  law  for the offense charged is imprisonment not exceeding six
(1)  Violations of traffic laws, rules and regulations; months, or
  a  fine  not  exceeding  (P1,000.00),  or  both,  irrespective  of  other
(2)  Violations of the rental law; imposable penalties, accessory or otherwise, or of the civil liability
  arising  therefrom:  Provided,  however,  that  in  offenses  involving
(3)  Violations of municipal or city ordinances; damage  to  property  through  criminal  negligence,  this  Rule  shall
  govern  where  the  imposable  fine  does  not  exceed  ten 
thousand pesos (P10,000.00). 
xxx xxx xxx and the affidavits and other evidence accompanying the same, the
  court  may  dismiss  the  case  outright  for  being  patently 
III. Criminal Cases without
  basis or merit and order the release of the accused if in custody.
Sec.     11.     How  commenced.  —  The  filing  of  criminal   
cases  falling within  the  scope  of  this  Rule  shall  be  either  (b)  If commenced by information. — When the case is commenced
by  complaint  or  by information: Provided, however, that in by information, or is not dismissed pursuant to the next preceding
Metropolitan Manila and in paragraph,  the  court  shall  issue  an  order  which,  together 
Chartered   Cities,   such    cases    shall    be    commenced   only   with
by information,  except  when  the  offense  cannot  be  copies  of  the  affidavits  and  other  evidence  submitted  by  the
prosecuted  de oficio.  prosecution,  shall  require  the  accused  to  submit  his  counter-
  affidavit and the affidavits of his witnesses as well as any evidence
The    complaint   or    information    shall    be    accompanied   by    in  his  behalf,  serving   copies  thereof  on  the  complainant  or
the affidavits of the compliant and of his witnesses in such number prosecutor not later than ten (10) days from receipt of said order.
of copies as there are accused plus two (2) copies for the court's The prosecution may file reply affidavits within ten (10) days after
files.  receipt of the counter-affidavits of the defense. 
If this requirement is not complied with within five  (5) days from
date of filing, the case may be dismissed.  WHAT  SHOULD  THE  MTC  FIRST  DO  WHENEVER 
INFORMATION  IS FILED?
HOW   IS   A   CRIMINAL   CASE   COMMENCED   IN   A   SUMMARY
PROCEDURE?      When the case is commenced by information, or  isn’t
dismissed, the court shall issue an order which, together  with the
     The  filing  of  criminal  cases  falling  within  the  scope  of  affidavits and other evidence submitted by the prosecution, SHALL
this  Rule shall be either by complaint or by information: Provided, REQUIRE
however, that  in  Metropolitan  Manila  and  in  Chartered  Cities,  THE  ACCUSED  TO  SUBMIT  HIS  COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT  AND  THE
such  cases shall be commenced only by information, except when AFFIDAVITS OF HIS WITNESSES AS WELL AS ANY EVIDENCE IN HIS
the offense cannot be prosecuted de oficio.  BEHALF
     Copies of the above shall be served thereof to the complainant
     The  complaint  or  information  shall  be  accompanied  by  the or prosecutor not later than 10 days from receipt of said order
affidavits of the compliant and of his witnesses in such number of
copies  as  there  are  accused  plus  two  (2)  copies  for  the       The prosecution may also be allowed to file reply affidavits
court's files.  If this requirement is not complied with within five (5) within 10 days after receipt of the counter-affidavits of the defense 
days from date of filing, the case may be dismissed
Sec.     13.     Arraignment  and  trial.  —  Should  the  court, 
Sec.  12.  Duty of court. —  upon  a consideration  of  the  complaint  or  information  and 
  the  affidavits submitted  by  both  parties,  find  no  cause  or 
(a)  If commenced by compliant. — On the  basis of  the compliant ground  to  hold  the  accused for trial, it shall order the dismissal
of the case; otherwise, the court shall set the case for arraignment  
and trial. Except  in  rebuttal  or  surrebuttal,  no  witness  shall  be 
  allowed  to testify unless his affidavit was previously submitted to
If  the  accused  is  in  custody  for  the  crime  charged,  he  the court in accordance with Section 12 hereof.
shall  be immediately  arraigned  and  if  he  enters  a  plea  of   
guilty,  he  shall forthwith be sentenced. However,  should  a  party  desire  to  present  additional 
  affidavits  or counter-affidavits  as  part  of  his  direct  evidence, 
Sec.  14.  Preliminary conference. — Before conducting the trial, the he  shall  so manifest  during  the  preliminary  conference, 
court shall call the parties to a preliminary conference during which stating  the  purpose
a  stipulation  of  facts  may  be  entered  into,  or  the  propriety  thereof.     If  allowed  by  the  court,  the  additional  affidavits 
of of  the prosecution  or  the  counter-affidavits  of  the  defense 
allowing  the  accused  to  enter  a  plea  of  guilty  to  a  lesser  shall  be submitted  to  the  court  and  served  on  the  adverse 
offense may  be  considered,  or  such  other  matters  may  be  party  not  later than  three  (3)  days  after  the  termination  of 
taken  up  to clarify  the  issues  and  to  ensure  a  speedy  the  preliminary conference.  If  the  additional  affidavits  are 
disposition  of  the  case. However,  no  admission  by  the  presented  by  the prosecution, the accused may file his  counter-
accused  shall  be  used  against  him unless  reduced  to  writing  affidavits  and serve
and  signed  by  the  accused  and  his counsel.     A  refusal  or  the  same  on  the  prosecution  within  three  (3)  days  from 
failure  to  stipulate  shall  not  prejudice  the accused. such service.
 
 WHEN  DOES  A  PRELIMINARY  CONFERENCE  TAKE  PLACE?  Sec.  16.  Arrest of accused. — The court shall not order the arrest
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE? of  the  accused  except  for  failure  to  appear  whenever 
required. Release  of  the  person  arrested  shall  either  be  on 
bail  or  on
Before conducting the trial, the court shall call the parties to a
recognizance by a responsible citizen acceptable to the court.
preliminary conference during which—
1.    Stipulation of facts may be entered into
2.    The  propriety  of  allowing  the  accused  to  plead  guilty  to  IF  AN  ACCUSED  IS  CHARGED  IN  THE  MUNICIPAL  TRIAL 
a  lesser offense may be considered COURT, CAN  THE  COURT  ISSUE  A  WARRANT  OF  ARREST 
3.    Other  matters  as  may  be  taken  up  to  clarify  the  issues  AGAINST  THE ACCUSED?
and  to ensure a speedy disposition of the case
     The  court  shall  not  order  the  arrest  of  the  accused 
Sec.  15.  Procedure of trial. — At the trial, the affidavits submitted except  for failure to appear whenever required. 
by  the  parties  shall  constitute  the  direct  testimonies  of  the      Release  of  the  person  arrested  shall  either  be  on  bail  or 
witnesses who executed the same. Witnesses who testified may be on recognizance by a responsible citizen acceptable to the court. 
subjected  to  cross-examination,  redirect  or  re-cross 
examination. Should    the   affiant    fail    to   testify,    his    Sec.  17.  Judgment. — Where a trial has been conducted, the court
affidavit    shall    not    be considered  as  competent  evidence  for  shall promulgate the judgment not later than thirty (30) days after
the  party  presenting  the affidavit,  but  the  adverse  party  may  the termination of trial. 
utilize  the  same  for  any admissible purpose.
WHEN DOES THE COURT NEED TO PROMULGATE JUDGMENT? (a)  Motion to dismiss the complaint or to quash the complaint or
information  except  on  the  ground  of  lack  of  jurisdiction 
     Where a trial has been conducted, the court shall promulgate over  the subject matter, or failure to comply with the preceding
the judgment not later than thirty (30) days after the termination of section;
trial.   
(b)  Motion for a bill of particulars;
IV. COMMON PROVISIONS  
  (c)   Motion for new trial, or  for  reconsideration of a judgment, or
Sec.  18.  Referral to Lupon. — Cases requiring referral to the Lupon for opening of trial;
for  conciliation  under  the  provisions  of  Presidential  Decree   
No. 1508   where   there    is   no   showing    of    compliance   (d)  Petition for relief from judgment;
with   such requirement,  shall  be  dismissed  without  prejudice   
and  may  be revived only after such requirement shall have been (e)  Motion for extension of time to file pleadings, affidavits or any
complied with.    This provision shall not apply to criminal cases other paper;
where the accused was arrested without a warrant.   
(f)  Memoranda;
 
CAN THE MTC REFER THE CASE TO THE LUPON?
(g)     Petition  for  certiorari,  mandamus,  or  prohibition  against 
     Yes
any interlocutory order issued by the court;
     The  exception  is  when  the  accused  has  been  arrested 
 
without (h)  Motion to declare the defendant in default;
warrant.    
  (i)  Dilatory motions for postponement;
 
WHAT  HAPPENS  WHEN  THERE  HAS  BEEN  NO  COMPLIANCE  (j)  Reply;
WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT THERE SHOULD BE FIRST  
CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS IN THE LUPON? (k)  Third party complaints; 

     The court may dismiss the case without prejudice (l)  Interventions. 
     It may also revive the case only after such requirement shall
have been complied with Sec.     20.     Affidavits.  —  The  affidavits  required  to  be 
     This  provision  shall  not  apply  in  criminal  cases  wherein  submitted under this Rule shall state only facts of direct personal
the accused has been arrested lawfully without a warrant of arrest.  knowledge of  the  affiants  which  are  admissible  in  evidence, 
and  shall  show their competence to testify to the matters stated
Sec.     19.     Prohibited  pleadings  and  motions.  —  The  therein.
following pleadings,  motions  or  petitions  shall  not  be  allowed   
in  the  cases covered by this Rule: A violation of this requirement may subject the party or the counsel
  who submits the same to disciplinary action, and shall be cause to
expunge  the  inadmissible  affidavit  or  portion  thereof  from 
the record. 

WHAT  IS  REQUIRED  IN  THE  SUBMISSION  OF  AFFIDAVITS  IN 

A SUMMARY PROCEEDING?

     The affidavits required to be submitted under this Rule shall

state only  facts  of  direct  personal  knowledge  of  the  affiants 
which  are admissible in evidence, and shall show their competence
to testify
to the matters stated therein. 

Sec.  21.  Appeal. — The judgment or final order shall be appealable

to the appropriate Regional Trial Court which shall decide the same
in  accordance  with  Section  22  of  Batas  Pambansa  Blg.  129. 
The
decision of the Regional Trial Court in civil cases governed by this
Rule,  including  forcible  entry  and  unlawful  detainer,  shall  be
immediately executory, without prejudice to a further appeal that
may  be  taken  therefrom.     Section  10  of  Rule  70  shall  be 
deemed repealed.
 
Sec.  22.  Applicability of the regular rules. — The regular procedure
prescribed  in  the  Rules  of  Court  shall  apply  to  the  special 
cases herein provided for in a suppletory capacity insofar as they are
not
inconsistent herewith