Overview (What this article covers)

In the Philippines, a National Police Clearance (NPC) is a document issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) through the PNP Clearance System. It certifies whether a person has a derogatory record in PNP databases.

This article explains:

whether you can still obtain a police clearance if you have a pending criminal case or a scheduled court hearing,
what happens if your name “hits” in the police database,
the practical outcomes for different case statuses, and
what you can do if the system flags you incorrectly.

1. What a National Police Clearance really means

A National Police Clearance is not a court-issued finding of guilt or innocence. It is an administrative certification based on police records.

It typically checks against:

PNP records (local station blotters/records)
Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) or other consolidated PNP databases
Warrant records integrated via PNP and court coordination
Watchlists / suspicion / derogatory entries depending on data submission by police units

Therefore, police clearance can be issued even when you are not convicted, because the clearance is about records and matching, not guilt.

2. The key idea: “Can you get it?” depends on your record type

You may still apply and potentially receive a national police clearance even if you have a pending case, but the result depends on whether your case produces a HIT.

A. If your pending case is not recorded or not matched

You can often receive clearance normally.

This happens when:

the police station handling the case has not uploaded your record,
your case is filed in court but not encoded in PNP systems, or
your name/details do not match any database entry.

Outcome: Clearance issued the same day like any other applicant.

B. If your pending case is recorded and matched → HIT

If your name matches a derogatory record, you’ll get a HIT status.

A HIT means there is a possible record associated with your identity. It does not automatically mean denial. It triggers verification.

Outcome: Your clearance is not released instantly. You are asked to return after verification (often several days) or to present documents.

C. If you have a standing warrant of arrest

A warrant is the most serious red flag.

Typically:

once the system confirms you have an active warrant,
clearance is not released, and
you may be referred to proper law-enforcement handling.

Outcome: Practically, you will not get a clearance while a warrant is active.

3. What counts as a “pending case” in practice?

A “pending case” can mean different things, which affects whether it appears in PNP databases:

Police complaint / blotter entry but not yet filed in court
Case filed in prosecutor’s office (preliminary investigation stage)
Case already filed in court and awaiting hearings
Case on appeal
Case dismissed but not cleared from records

Only some of these consistently show up in police clearance databases.

4. How the HIT process works

When you apply and the system detects a match, you’ll be placed under HIT status.

What happens next:

Identity verification
- PNP checks if you are the same person as the one in the record.
- Similar names cause false hits often.
You may be asked for supporting documents, such as:
- court orders showing dismissal or acquittal,
- prosecutor’s resolution,
- certificate of finality,
- proof of identity and address.
Release after clearance
- If verified as not the same person, or if record is non-disqualifying, the clearance may still be released.
- If verified as the same person with derogatory record, the clearance may be delayed further or annotated depending on policy.

5. Will a pending case automatically stop issuance?

No. Not automatically.

A pending case may:

cause delay (HIT),
lead to a record showing derogatory status,
or not affect issuance at all.

The deciding factor is the database match and the nature of the record.

6. Difference between being “pending” vs. “convicted”

This matters because police clearance is record-based, not judgment-based.

Pending case: you are still presumed innocent.
Conviction: there is a final judgment.

Police clearance systems may still show you as having a derogatory record even without conviction, because a case entry exists.

So the clearance can reflect “with record” even if the case is unresolved.

7. Typical outcomes by case status

Here’s a clear, real-world breakdown:

✅ You can usually still get clearance (sometimes with delay)

Case in prosecutor stage only (not encoded or no HIT)
Case filed in court but no active warrant
Case dismissed / acquitted but record not yet updated
You were merely a respondent but not charged (after verification)

⚠️ Clearance likely delayed / needs papers

Database HIT due to pending case
Similar name causing false match
Old case still present in police files

❌ Clearance generally not released

With an active warrant of arrest
If the record is confirmed and tagged as disqualifying under internal policy (even if still pending)

8. If you think the HIT is wrong (false positive)

False hits are common because many Filipinos share names.

What to do:

Bring multiple IDs matching your current name, birthdate, and address.
Ask what record caused the HIT.
If it’s not you, request verification and correction.
If it’s an old dismissed case, bring court documents to prove dismissal/acquittal.

You can also request a “clearance after verification” release once confirmed you’re not the same person.

9. If your case was dismissed but still shows up

This happens when:

the court resolution was not forwarded to police records units, or
PNP database updates lag behind.

Remedy:

Bring:

Order of dismissal or judgment of acquittal
Certificate of finality (if available)

Then request record updating so future clearances won’t hit.

10. National Police Clearance vs. NBI Clearance (important distinction)

People often confuse the two. They are different systems.

PNP clearance checks police databases.
NBI clearance checks NBI / national criminal records and often court coordination.

A pending case might appear on one but not the other.

So you could have:

PNP clearance issued,
but NBI clearance with HIT, or vice versa.

11. Practical tips if you have a pending case

Expect possible delay. Apply earlier than your deadline.
Bring case documents proactively. Even if not requested yet.
Know your case status clearly. Pending, dismissed, on appeal, etc.
Check for warrants. If unsure, consult your lawyer or confirm via court.
Avoid using inconsistent names (e.g., sometimes with middle name, sometimes without) which increases HIT chance.

12. Common questions

“I have a pending case but no warrant. Can I still get clearance?”

Yes, you can apply and may still receive it, but expect a HIT and verification.

“Will the clearance say I have a pending case?”

It may reflect a derogatory record if verified and policy requires annotation. Some releases are still given once identity is confirmed, depending on record type.

“Can police refuse to release it just because the case is pending?”

They can delay for verification. Refusal generally ties to an active warrant or confirmed disqualifying record under policy.

“If I’m innocent, why is there still a HIT?”

Because police clearance is about records, not guilt. A complaint or case entry is still a record.

Bottom line

Yes, you can still get a Philippine National Police Clearance even with a pending case or court hearing, unless your record yields a confirmed HIT that results in a non-release under policy—most commonly when there is an active warrant of arrest.
A pending case generally leads to verification and delay, not automatic denial.
Bring documents to resolve or clarify the HIT, especially for dismissed or mistaken records.

If you want, tell me your case stage (police complaint, prosecutor, court, appeal, dismissed) and whether you know of any warrant, and I’ll map it to the most likely clearance outcome and what documents you should prepare.