Executive Summary

You can file a complaint at the barangay even if you believe you “have no evidence.” The Katarungang Pambarangay (Barangay Justice System) is designed for early, community-based mediation and conciliation, not a courtroom-style trial. What you must bring is a clear, truthful narration of facts (written or verbal). From there, the Punong Barangay (Barangay Captain) and the Lupon Tagapamayapa (conciliation panel) will summon the other party and facilitate settlement. If no settlement is reached or the case is not within barangay authority, you get a Certification to File Action to proceed to the prosecutor’s office or court.

What Counts as “Evidence” at the Barangay Level

At the barangay, formal, trial-grade evidence is not required. Useful materials include:

Your sworn narration of what happened (must be truthful).
Witnesses (neighbors, companions, barangay tanods who saw or heard events).
Any item that tends to prove or corroborate the incident, no matter how small: call logs, texts, social media messages, photos, medical notes, receipts, CCTV leads, timeline journals, prior barangay blotter entries, or an object involved.

Even if you have none of the above, a fact-specific narrative is enough to start the case. The barangay process is primarily conciliation, not adjudication.

When Barangay Conciliation Is Required, Optional, or Not Allowed

Typically Required Before Court/Prosecutor

Disputes between natural persons who live in the same city/municipality (not necessarily the same barangay), including:
- Minor criminal offenses punishable by light penalties (e.g., simple threats, alarms/scandals, minor physical injuries),
- Civil disputes (small money claims, property boundary misunderstandings, minor damage to property),
- Neighborhood conflicts (noise, pets, parking, harassment short of serious crimes).

Excluded or Bypassed (Go Straight to Prosecutor/Court or Other Agency)

Serious crimes (generally those carrying higher penalties well beyond light offenses).
Where either party is a government entity.
Parties do not reside in the same city/municipality, with limited venue exceptions.
Urgent legal relief is needed (e.g., Barangay Protection Orders under anti-VAWC for immediate safety; applications for provisional remedies; habeas corpus).
Disputes where the respondent is a juridical entity (corporation, partnership) rather than a natural person.
Issues reserved to specialized forums (labor cases under DOLE/NCMB, agrarian disputes under DAR, etc.).

If your matter is excluded, the barangay will simply endorse or allow you to proceed to the proper forum and/or issue a Certification to File Action (CFA).

Step-by-Step: Filing a Barangay Complaint Without Evidence

Go to the Barangay Hall (your barangay, the respondent’s barangay, or as venue rules allow for real-property disputes—the barangay where the property lies).
State your complaint. You may file verbally or in writing; the barangay staff can reduce a verbal complaint into writing.
Identify the respondent (full name or best available identifiers) and give a timeline (dates, places, what was said/done).
Request blotter entry (optional but helpful) to memorialize the incident date and your report.
Wait for summons: The Punong Barangay schedules mediation (usually within days).
Attend mediation: The Captain explores settlement, apology, restitution, boundaries, or behavioral undertakings.
If no settlement, the Captain constitutes a Pangkat ng Tagapagkasundo (three neutral conciliators) to continue the process.
Pangkat conciliation: Further meetings (often within a 15–30 day window, extendable for good cause).
Outcomes:
- Settlement → Written compromise, signed by parties and attested by the barangay. After a short period (for repudiation), it has the force of a final judgment and is enforceable.
- No settlement / nonappearance → Barangay issues a Certification to File Action (CFA). You may then file the case in the prosecutor’s office (for crimes) or court (for civil cases).

What if the Respondent Ignores the Summons?

First nonappearance: The barangay usually re-summons and records the absence.
Repeated nonappearance without valid cause: The barangay may terminate conciliation and issue the CFA in your favor.
If you (the complainant) repeatedly fail to appear, your complaint may be dismissed, and you may be barred temporarily from re-filing the same matter through the barangay process.

The barangay’s main consequence for ignoring the process is procedural: it lets the case move forward to formal venues. It is not a finding of guilt.

Settlements and Their Legal Effect

A barangay settlement is binding like a final judgment after the brief repudiation window lapses.
It can require apology, payment, repairs, behavioral covenants (no-contact, noise limits), schedule arrangements, and fines or community-centered undertakings consistent with law and local ordinances.
If a party violates a final settlement, the other may move for execution at the barangay or seek relief in court using the settlement as a judicially enforceable document.

Special Safety Pathways (Even Without Evidence on Hand)

Barangay Protection Order (BPO) under the Anti-VAWC law (RA 9262): The Punong Barangay can issue a protection order ex parte (no respondent appearance required) based on the victim’s sworn statement, for immediate safety measures (no-contact, stay-away orders).
Children in conflict with the law / at risk: The barangay coordinates with the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) for diversion or child protection interventions.
Elderly, PWD, vulnerable persons: Barangay can activate referrals (DSWD, PNP-WCPD) for assistance while conciliation is pending.

Venue and Jurisdiction Basics (Quick Guide)

Where to file (general): A barangay within the same city/municipality where both parties reside (or where the real property is located for property disputes).
If parties live in different cities/municipalities: Barangay conciliation is generally not required; you may proceed to prosecutor/court unless a specific venue rule applies or both parties agree in writing to barangay conciliation.
Corporate parties: Purely between or involving a corporation/partnership as a party → usually outside barangay conciliation; go to proper forum.

“No Evidence” Today? How to Build a Minimal Record

Write a contemporaneous timeline (dates, times, places, what was said, who was present).
Report promptly (blotter entry).
Identify potential witnesses (even if they’re unsure they’ll testify, the barangay can still invite them).
Gather low-friction corroboration later (screenshots, call logs, medical consult slips, photos of damage).
Keep copies of the barangay summons, minutes, and settlement drafts.

Remember: truthful statements under oath are themselves evidence. The barangay process gives both sides a chance to be heard without rigid technical rules.

Timelines (Typical)

Mediation by Punong Barangay: promptly after filing (commonly set within a week or two depending on caseload).
Pangkat conciliation: targeted completion within about 15 days, extendable for valid reasons, with overall barangay conciliation normally aimed to finish within 30 days or so.
After failure to settle: CFA is issued; you may immediately elevate the matter.

(Exact internal timelines can vary by local practice; always follow the dates on the barangay’s summons.)

Risks of False or Malicious Complaints

A knowingly false sworn statement may expose a complainant to criminal liability (e.g., perjury, unjust vexation, libel/slander for defamatory statements).
If you are uncertain, stick to facts you personally know and clearly label information from others as such.

Practical Scripts & Templates

A. Simple Barangay Complaint (Narrative Form)

Complainant: [Your full name, address, contact] Respondent: [Full name, address if known] Nature of Complaint: [e.g., Harassment/Threats/Property Damage/Boundary Dispute] Narration of Facts: On [date/time] at [place], the respondent [state conduct in plain language]. I said [if any]. Present were [names if any]. As a result, [harm/effect]. Relief Sought: I respectfully request barangay mediation/settlement, including [apology, reimbursement in the amount of ₱___, repair, no-contact, boundary marking, etc.] Attachments (if any): [none / screenshots / photos]. Signature/Date

B. Repudiation of Settlement (If Consent Was Vitiated)

I, [name], hereby repudiate the settlement executed on [date] before the Barangay of [name] because my consent was vitiated by [mistake/force/intimidation].

(Must be done within the short statutory window after signing; file at the same barangay.)

What Happens After You Get the Certification to File Action (CFA)

Criminal matters: Go to the City/Provincial Prosecutor’s Office with your CFA, narration, and any evidence gathered since filing. The prosecutor may issue subpoenas and require counter-affidavits and supporting proof—this is where evidence rules begin to matter more.
Civil matters: File in the proper court (often the first-level court for small claims/regular civil actions), attaching the CFA to show compliance with barangay conciliation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will the barangay dismiss my case just because I can’t show proof? No. The barangay will hear your narration and convene mediation. Conciliation does not require documentary proof on Day 1.

Q2: The other side insists “no evidence, no case.” What should I do? Proceed with the process. Many barangay settlements arise from face-to-face clarification and behavioral undertakings, even without hard proof.

Q3: Can I bring a lawyer? You may, but barangay proceedings are engineered for laypersons. Lawyers typically do not appear as counsel in the mediation room unless the barangay allows limited assistance. You can always consult a lawyer outside the sessions.

Q4: Can the barangay punish the respondent? The barangay’s main role is conciliation. It cannot convict or jail people. It can document refusals and terminate the process, clearing your path to the prosecutor or court.

Q5: I fear retaliation. Can I skip barangay? If your case falls under urgent/safety exceptions (e.g., domestic violence), you may seek a BPO or go straight to the appropriate authority. Otherwise, tell the barangay about safety concerns; they can arrange separate appearances (shuttle mediation) or coordinate with the PNP.

Bottom Line

You can file at the barangay even with “no evidence”; bring a truthful, detailed narrative.
The barangay aims for swift, community-based settlement, not proof-heavy litigation.
If settlement fails or your case is excluded, the barangay issues a Certification to File Action so you can proceed to the prosecutor or court.
For urgent safety issues, use BPOs and referrals immediately.
Keep building a minimal record (timeline, blotter, witnesses, simple corroboration) as the process unfolds.