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Rule 111 Prosecution of Civil Action
Rule 111 Prosecution of Civil Action
1. General Rule: The injured party may file a civil action independent of the criminal proceeding to
recover damages from the offender.
à Article 32 is a valid cause of a civil action for damages against public officers who impair the
Constitutional rights of citizens (Aberca vs. Ver)
à Even if the private prosecutor participates in the prosecution, if he is not given the chance to prove
damages, the offended party is not barred from filing a separate civil action
2. Civil action for recovery of civil liability impliedly instituted, EXCEPT
1. Waiver
2. Reservation of right to institute separate action
3. Institution of civil action prior to criminal action
à NOTE: Under SC Circular 57-97, all criminal actions for violations of BP Blg. 22 shall be deemed to
necessarily include the corresponding civil action, and no reservation to file such civil action separately
shall be allowed or recognized.
à San Ildefonso Lines vs. CA – past pronouncements of the SC that the requirement in Rule 111 that a
reservation be made prior to the institution of an independent civil action is an “unauthorized
amendment” to substantive law is now no longer controlling. Far from altering substantive rights, the
primary purpose of the reservation requirement is to avoid multiplicity of suits, to prevent delays, to
clear congested dockets, to simplify the work of the trial court, and in short, the attainment of justice
with the least expense and vexation to parties-litigants.
3. Civil action suspended when criminal action filed, EXCEPT
1. Independent civil action (Arts. 32, 33, 34 and 2176 of NCC)
2. Prejudicial civil action
3. Civil case consolidated with criminal action
4. Civil action not one intended to enforce civil liability arising from the offense (e.g., action for legal
separation against a spouse who committed concubinage)
6. Remedies
a. Motion for preliminary investigation
à Filed when accused is arrested without warrant
à Must be with assistance of counsel and after waiving Art. 125, RPC
b. Motion for preliminary investigation
à Filed within 5 days after accused learns an information against him has been filed
without a preliminary investigation
c. Motion for re-investigation
d. Appeal to DOJ
à Filed upon denial of his motion for a preliminary investigation, on the ground that
his rights to due process of law were violated, ousting the court of jurisdiction
e. Petition for prohibition
à Filed with appellate court to stop the criminal proceedings
à Ordinarily, injunction will not lie but may be granted in certain cases
à When prohibition proper to restrain criminal proceedings:
⁃ When strong-arm tactics are used for vindictive purposes (Salonga vs. Cruz-
Pano)
⁃ When the accused is deprived of his rights
⁃ When the statute on which the charge is based is null and void
⁃ When it will aid the administration of justice (Tatad vs. Sandiganbayan)
⁃ When multiplicity of suits will be avoided (Guingona vs. City Fiscal)