A practical, everything-you-need guide to official costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and exemptions

Snapshot: what you pay (and don’t)

Filing a criminal complaint is free. Reporting to the police (PNP), the NBI, or filing a Complaint-Affidavit with the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) does not have a filing fee.
You may still incur incidental costs, such as notarization, photocopying/printing, medical or medico-legal certificates, translations, and certified true copies of records.
Court filing fees for the criminal case proper are not charged to the private complainant (the case is prosecuted in the name of the People through the prosecutor).
Civil damages: If you sue separately in a pure civil action, court docket fees apply based on the amount you claim; if you let the civil aspect ride with the criminal case (the default), you pay no civil docket fees up front.
Indigents can be exempt from many legal fees and get free counsel from PAO.

Where the ₱ really goes: a line-item breakdown

A) Zero-fee items (by design)

Police blotter & criminal report at PNP station – No fee.
Filing a Complaint-Affidavit with the OCP (inquest or regular filing) – No filing fee.
Subpoenas/appearances during preliminary investigation – No fee to the complainant.
Prosecutor’s oath-administering (if you swear your affidavit before the prosecutor) – generally no fee.
Filing of the Information in court (done by the prosecutor) – No fee from you.
Protection orders in qualifying cases (e.g., VAWC protection orders) – No filing fee.

B) Common out-of-pocket costs (typical ranges)

Ranges below are indicative; Manila offices may vary slightly. Bring small bills.

Notarization/Jurat of Complaint-Affidavit & annexes: ~₱100–₱500 per document (more if many annex pages).
Photocopies/printing: ₱1–₱5 per page; color photo prints ~₱10–₱30/page (for image evidence).
Certified true copies (CTC):
- Police blotter extract/spot report: ~₱50–₱150 per page.
- OCP or court CTCs: often ~~₱10–₱20 per page + certification fee (~~₱100–₱200).
Medical/medico-legal certificates:
- Government hospital/PNP Crime Lab: Often free or nominal (sometimes ₱0–₱200) for medico-legal purposes.
- Private clinic/hospital: ₱500–₱2,500+ depending on tests (e.g., Injury or Sexual Assault Evidence kit).
Translations (if evidence is in a foreign language): ₱500–₱1,500 per page; sworn translation costs more.
Digital media (USB/DVD for CCTV/bodycam/chat exports): ₱100–₱400 per unit if you provide none.
Documentary stamps: Not required for criminal complaints; may apply to some notarized special powers of attorney.
Transportation and meals for appearances/witnesses: out-of-pocket unless reimbursed by employer/agency.

C) If the case reaches court

Criminal docket fees: None from the complainant; the People of the Philippines prosecutes.
Subpoena/witness fees: Courts may grant witness per diems/transportation for subpoenaed witnesses (often nominal; coordinate with the prosecutor).
Private prosecutor (optional): If you hire private counsel to assist the public prosecutor, professional fees are by agreement.

D) Civil damages paths (why this changes fees)

Default rule: The civil action is deemed instituted with the criminal case, at no initial docket cost to you.
Separate civil action (e.g., before or after the criminal case): You pay civil docket fees based on the amount of your claim and damages prayed for.
Reservation to file separately: No fee to reserve; fees arise when you actually file the separate civil case.

Preliminary investigation & inquest: cost implications

Inquest (warrantless arrest): Moving quickly, no filing fee. You may spend on 急 photocopying, device dumps (if you elect), or urgent CTCs.
Regular (non-inquest) preliminary investigation: Still no filing fee. Your cost drivers are notarization, annex preparation, and CTCs of supporting records (CCTV, telco certifications when available).

Evidence-related costs you should anticipate

CCTV/Bodycam retrieval: Establishes chain of custody—some establishments/Barangays provide copies free; others may ask for a blank USB or nominal processing fee.
Telco/email platform certifications: Often free via law enforcement request; private requests can be declined or may require formal process/subpoena (no fee to file the complaint, but later costs if you seek certified copies in court).
Forensic imaging of phones/laptops: Government labs (PNP/NBI) free for criminal cases; private forensics can cost ₱10,000–₱60,000+ depending on scope/urgency.

Barangay conciliation (when required) and fees

For offenses that are barangay-conciliable (typically minor, and parties reside in the same city/municipality), you must first go through Katarungang Pambarangay before the prosecutor will entertain the case.
Filing and conciliation at the Barangay is free. Expect only nominal fees for certified copies of minutes/Certification to File Action if you request them (often ₱50–₱150).

Not all crimes are barangay-conciliable. Offenses with higher penalties, those involving government personnel in official duties, or where parties live in different cities/municipalities, usually skip barangay conciliation—hence no barangay-stage costs.

Indigent status & fee exemptions

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO): If you meet income/asset thresholds, PAO provides free legal assistance (complaint drafting, representation) and can help you navigate medico-legal and certification requests.
Indigent litigant exemptions (court): If and when court legal fees would otherwise apply (e.g., for civil actions or appeals you file), indigent litigants can be exempted upon sworn showing of income below the threshold or lack of property.
Women/children cases: Victim-survivors often access fee-free medico-legal services and no-fee protection orders; coordinate with WCPD/DSWD units.

Hidden costs to watch for (and how to minimize)

Multiple notarizations (affidavits of several witnesses): Consolidate where possible; swear before the prosecutor when allowed (often free).
Repeated photocopying for each stage: Ask the handling office how many sets they need; prepare clean, paginated sets once.
Rush printing of chat logs/photos: Export conversations to PDF with timestamps; print only key portions and submit full e-files on USB if allowed.
Private hospital bills for medico-legal proof: Use government facilities/PNP medico-legal for free or nominal cost whenever feasible.
Unnecessary civil filing: Unless strategic, do not split the civil action—letting it ride with the criminal case avoids docket fees.

Sample budgets (illustrative, Manila)

Lean budget (government path only):
- Notarization of one complaint-affidavit: ₱200
- Photocopy set (100 pages): ₱200
- CTC of blotter: ₱100
- USB for CCTV/evidence: ₱150
- Total: ~₱650
Moderate (with private hospital cert + multiple witnesses):
- Notarizations (3 docs): ₱900
- Photocopying (250 pages): ₱500
- Private medical certificate/tests: ₱1,500
- CTCs (OCP + police, 6 pages): ₱300
- Total: ~₱3,200
Robust (adds private forensics):
- All of the above + private device extraction: ₱25,000
- Total: ~₱28,000

(All figures are ballpark and non-binding; always ask the counter for current rates.)

Process map (pay points flagged)

Report to PNP/NBI → ₱0 (request CTC only if needed).
Prepare Complaint-Affidavit → notarize (₱) or swear before prosecutor (₱0).
File at OCP (inquest/regular) → ₱0; submit sets/annexes (photocopy ₱).
Prelim investigation → ₱0; additional CTCs if requested (₱).
Information filed in court → ₱0 to complainant; attend arraignment/pre-trial as witness.
Trial → ₱0; possible witness per diems (nominal) or none; CTCs of orders (₱) if you need copies.
Civil damages → ₱0 if joined with the criminal; docket ₱ if you file a separate civil action.

Practical tips to keep costs low (without hurting your case)

Swear before the prosecutor (or the admin officer of the OCP) when permissible to avoid notarization fees.
Use government medico-legal facilities for certificates and examinations.
Paginate and index your annexes; provide readable copies to reduce re-submissions.
Bring your own USB for evidence transfers; label it with the case title and date.
Coordinate early with the prosecutor on what CTCs or originals they actually need.
If you’re indigent, assert it early and request assistance from PAO/WCPD/DSWD.

FAQs

Do I pay anything to “open a case” at the police station? No. Police blotter entries and criminal complaints are free. You only pay if you request certified copies.

Must my complaint be notarized? Not always. You can swear before the prosecutor (or authorized officer) for free. If filing through other channels or for convenience, notarization fees apply.

Who pays for subpoenas and service? The State handles subpoena service in criminal proceedings. The complainant does not pay a service fee.

Will I pay court fees for moral/exemplary damages? Not if the civil aspect is deemed instituted with the criminal case (default). If you file a separate civil action, civil docket fees apply.

Can I recover my out-of-pocket expenses? Courts may award actual damages and costs against a convicted accused. Keep receipts for notarization, CTCs, medical certificates, transport, etc.

Bottom line

Filing a criminal complaint in Manila costs ₱0 in official filing fees.
Your spend comes from supporting paperwork (notarization, CTCs, medicals, copies).
Keep the civil aspect inside the criminal case to avoid civil docket fees; use government services and prosecutor-administered oaths to minimize costs.
If you qualify as indigent, you can be fee-exempt on many fronts and get free counsel from PAO.

This guide is for general information only and not legal advice. For exact current rates and tailored strategy, consult counsel or inquire at the specific Manila office handling your case.