General information only; not legal advice.

In the Philippines, many “minor physical injury” incidents (typically slight physical injuries and, in some situations, less serious physical injuries) fall under the Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) system—meaning barangay conciliation is often a required first step before a case can proceed to the prosecutor’s office or court. Understanding when KP applies, the timelines, required certificates, and what outcomes the barangay can lawfully produce is crucial for both complainants and respondents.

1) The governing legal framework

A. Katarungang Pambarangay (KP)

The KP system is found in the Local Government Code (RA 7160) provisions on amicable settlement of disputes through:

the Punong Barangay (Barangay Captain) and
the Lupon Tagapamayapa (Lupon) and, when needed,
the Pangkat ng Tagapagkasundo (Pangkat)

It is designed to settle community disputes quickly and informally, reduce court dockets, and encourage compromise.

B. Physical Injuries under the Revised Penal Code (RPC)

“Minor physical injury” is not a formal single label in the RPC. In practice, it commonly refers to:

Slight Physical Injuries (SPI) (RPC Art. 266) Generally involves injuries that:

incapacitate the victim for labor for 1–9 days, or
require medical attendance for 1–9 days, or
involve maltreatment (certain instances without significant injury), depending on facts.

Less Serious Physical Injuries (LSPI) (RPC Art. 265) Generally involves injuries that:

incapacitate the victim for labor for 10–30 days, or
require medical attendance for 10–30 days.

Serious Physical Injuries (RPC Art. 263) Typically involve:

incapacity beyond 30 days, permanent effects, or other serious outcomes, and usually carry heavier penalties.

Why this matters: KP coverage depends heavily on the penalty level and the parties’ residences/venue rules, not just the everyday label “minor.”

2) When barangay conciliation is required for “minor physical injury”

A. The general rule (KP as a condition precedent)

For many community disputes—including certain minor offenses—you generally must first undergo barangay conciliation before filing in court/prosecutor’s office.

A case filed in court without the required KP process is vulnerable to dismissal for being premature, unless it clearly falls under an exception.

B. Offenses commonly covered

As a practical rule of thumb:

Slight Physical Injuries (light offense, low penalty) are commonly within KP coverage if the dispute meets KP residency/venue requirements and no exception applies.
Less Serious Physical Injuries may also be within KP coverage in many scenarios (still relatively low penalty), again depending on facts and exceptions.
Serious Physical Injuries usually do not go through barangay conciliation because penalties are typically higher.

C. KP coverage depends on the parties and location

KP applies most cleanly when:

the parties reside in the same city/municipality, and
the dispute is between individuals (not typically the government acting in official capacity), and
the matter is not within a statutory exception, and
the venue is proper under KP rules.

3) Major exceptions: when you can bypass the barangay

Even if the injury seems “minor,” KP may not be required (or may be impractical) when any of these apply:

Different cities/municipalities

If parties live in different cities/municipalities, KP generally does not apply.
There is a limited concept of adjoining barangays in different LGUs where parties may agree to submit, but absent that, KP is typically not mandatory.

Urgent legal action is necessary Common examples:

immediate risk of retaliation or further harm
need for prompt court intervention (fact-sensitive)

VAWC / domestic or intimate partner context

If the incident is part of violence against women and children (RA 9262) or closely connected acts, the case is generally not routed through barangay conciliation in the usual way, and protective remedies may be pursued.

Public officer / government-related disputes in official capacity

If one party is the government or a public officer acting officially, KP generally does not apply.

Other statutory exclusions

Certain disputes by nature or legal classification are excluded; when in doubt, the prosecutor/court will look at the KP certificate requirement and the facts.

4) Venue: which barangay should handle the complaint

Venue rules matter. A complaint is typically filed:

in the barangay where the respondent resides, or
in certain situations, where the dispute arose—depending on KP venue provisions and local practice.

If the respondent challenges venue, it can delay or derail the process and affect issuance of the certificate needed for court filing.

5) The practical starting point in a “minor injury” incident

Even before the barangay process formally moves, most cases turn on documentation:

A. Get medical documentation early

For “slight” or “less serious” injury classification, the most important piece is a medical certificate indicating:

nature of injury
treatment given
estimated days of medical attendance/incapacity

Many criminal complaints later require a medico-legal certificate (often issued through government channels), but for barangay settlement discussions, an initial medical certificate is still very useful.

B. Preserve evidence

photos of injuries
CCTV leads
witness names and statements
objects involved (if relevant)
messages/threats before or after the incident

C. Record the incident

A police blotter entry is not the same as a filed case, but it creates a contemporaneous record that can be helpful.

6) Step-by-step: the KP process for minor physical injuries

Step 1: Filing of the complaint

The complainant submits a complaint at the barangay, typically with:

a narrative of what happened (date/time/place)
identities/addresses of parties
medical certificate (if available)
witness info (if available)

Important legal effect: Filing at the barangay generally interrupts the prescriptive period for the offense/cause of action while KP proceedings are ongoing—critical for light offenses that can prescribe quickly.

Step 2: Summons/notice to the respondent

The barangay issues a notice/summons for mediation. Parties are expected to appear.

Personal appearance is the norm. Barangay proceedings generally discourage lawyers from appearing as counsel during mediation/conciliation, though parties can seek advice outside the sessions.

Step 3: Mediation by the Punong Barangay

The Punong Barangay typically conducts mediation for a statutory period (commonly up to 15 days). The goal is settlement:

apology/undertaking
payment of medical expenses
restitution for damaged property (if any)
mutual non-contact / non-harassment undertakings
other lawful compromise terms

Step 4: Constitution of the Pangkat (if mediation fails)

If no settlement is reached at the Punong Barangay level, a Pangkat ng Tagapagkasundo is formed (selected from the Lupon). The Pangkat then attempts conciliation/arbitration-type resolution within statutory time limits (commonly 15 days, extendable up to another 15 days in proper cases).

Step 5: Settlement agreement (if reached)

If the parties settle:

terms are written down
signed by the parties
attested/validated per KP rules

Finality and repudiation:

The settlement generally gains the force and effect of a final judgment after a short period (commonly 10 days).
A party may repudiate within that window by a sworn statement if consent was vitiated (e.g., through fraud, violence, intimidation).

Step 6: If no settlement—issuance of a Certificate to File Action

If efforts fail, the barangay issues a Certificate to File Action (often called a Certificate of Non-Settlement / similar), which is typically required to:

file a complaint with the prosecutor, or
file the case in court (e.g., MTC), depending on the offense and procedure.

Without this certificate (when KP is required), the prosecutor/court may reject or dismiss the filing.

7) Non-appearance: what happens if a party refuses to show up

Barangay conciliation has consequences for unjustified non-appearance:

If the complainant repeatedly fails to appear, the complaint may be dismissed, and the complainant may be barred from filing the same action (subject to exceptions).
If the respondent fails to appear, the complainant may be allowed to obtain the certification needed to proceed, and the respondent may lose certain opportunities to raise counterclaims in the barangay process.
Willful refusal to appear can expose a party to sanctions contemplated under KP rules (including possible court action for enforcement in appropriate cases).

8) Execution and enforcement of barangay settlements

A barangay settlement is not just a handshake deal.

A. Execution within the barangay period

KP rules allow enforcement of settlement terms through barangay execution mechanisms within a limited window (commonly within 6 months), after which enforcement generally shifts to the courts.

B. Breach of settlement

If a party breaches the settlement:

the other party can seek execution/enforcement of the settlement
depending on the nature of the breach and the underlying facts, the aggrieved party may then be able to proceed with court action consistent with KP rules

9) How KP affects the later criminal case for minor injuries

A. If the case is settled at the barangay

A settlement often results in:

resolution of civil aspects (medical expenses, damages, apologies)
the practical end of the dispute in the community system

For many minor injury scenarios, if the offended party no longer supports prosecution after settlement, the case may not move forward effectively due to evidentiary realities—though criminal liability is conceptually a public matter and not purely private.

B. If the case is not settled

With the barangay certificate, the complainant can proceed to:

file before the prosecutor or
directly in court (depending on the offense classification and applicable procedure)

Many minor offenses are handled under streamlined procedures in lower courts, but the correct route depends on the exact charge and penalty.

10) Classification issues that commonly derail “minor injury” cases

A. The “days to heal” drives the charge

The number of days of medical attendance/incapacity often determines whether the proper charge is:

slight physical injuries (1–9 days),
less serious (10–30 days),
or serious (beyond 30 days or with specific serious outcomes).

B. Multiple injuries, weapons, and circumstances

Factors like:

use of a weapon
multiple attackers
evident intent to humiliate
victim vulnerability can affect charging decisions and sometimes push the case beyond what parties assume is “minor.”

C. Countercharges

It’s common in community fights for each side to file:

competing physical injury complaints, or
related complaints (grave threats, unjust vexation, malicious mischief)

Barangay conciliation often tries to settle the entire conflict package, not just one injury claim.

11) Practical checklist for a barangay-filed minor injury complaint

Documents and proof

Medical certificate / medico-legal certificate (when available)
Photos of injuries (with dates if possible)
Names and contact details of witnesses
Any messages or threats connected to the incident
CCTV location and request details (act quickly)

Process

File in the proper barangay (venue)
Attend mediation dates personally
Keep copies of notices, minutes, and settlement documents
If no settlement, secure the correct certificate to file action

Settlement terms (common lawful provisions)

payment/reimbursement of medical costs (with receipts)
apology and undertaking not to repeat the act
mutual stay-away or non-provocation terms (crafted carefully and lawfully)
community peace undertakings (non-contact, no harassment)

12) Key points to remember

Many “minor physical injury” disputes are routed through Katarungang Pambarangay as a mandatory first step when parties and venue fall within KP coverage and no exception applies.
Filing the barangay complaint typically interrupts prescription, which is crucial for light offenses that can prescribe quickly.
The process usually follows: Punong Barangay mediation → Pangkat conciliation → settlement or Certificate to File Action.
A properly documented settlement can be enforced, and failure to follow KP prerequisites can jeopardize later court filings.