How to Check for Outstanding Warrants in the Philippines (Legally)

Last updated for general guidance only. This is not a substitute for advice from a Philippine lawyer.

1) What counts as an “outstanding warrant”?

Warrant of Arrest. Issued by a judge after personally determining probable cause (Constitution, Art. III, §2; Rules of Court, Rule 112). Valid until served or recalled.
Bench Warrant. Issued by a court (often during trial) when a party or witness fails to appear as required. Also remains active until lifted.
Search Warrant. Authorizes a search for specific items at a specific place. Expires if not served within 10 days from issuance and may be served only once (Rule 126).
Hold Departure Order (HDO)/Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO). Not warrants; administrative/travel restrictions issued through DOJ/BI. You check them differently (see §7).

2) Core legal principles that shape the process

Judicial issuance & probable cause. Only judges issue arrest/search warrants (with narrow statutory exceptions).
Due process & privacy. Court records are generally public, but the Data Privacy Act (RA 10173) and court rules protect sensitive information; accessing someone else’s data usually requires proper authority.
Right to counsel. You may engage a lawyer to check for you and to act quickly if a warrant exists.
Validity period. Arrest and bench warrants do not lapse by time alone; search warrants do.

3) The cleanest, legal ways to check for outstanding warrants

Tip: Bring one government ID (or two), know your complete name and known aliases, and have your birthdate ready. Name variations matter.

A. Check via NBI Clearance

What it shows: Whether your name hits a record in law-enforcement/judicial databases (“HIT”).
How: Apply for NBI Clearance (online appointment then in-person biometrics).
Result handling:
- No hit: Low likelihood of an outstanding warrant under your exact identity at the time of query.
- HIT: You’ll be asked to return for Quality Control (QC) or Record Verification where you confirm if the record matches you. If it’s truly yours, they’ll tell you the case number, court, and offense. That information lets you verify directly with the issuing court (see C below).
Limitations: Not real-time for every court and not conclusive for very new warrants, sealed cases, or name mismatches.

B. Check via PNP Police Clearance / Local Police

What it shows: Local and national police records tied to your biometrics.
How: Apply for PNP Police Clearance (many LGUs have online pre-registration and on-site capture).
Usefulness: Helpful for local warrants or if the case was coordinated with PNP.
Limitations: Like NBI, it’s a screening tool, not a judicial confirmation.

C. Verify with the Issuing Court (Most Authoritative)

Identify the court: From your NBI/PNP “hit,” from any subpoena you received, or from the prosecutor’s resolution (e.g., MTC, RTC, Family Court, Specialized Court).
Go (or authorize someone) to the Office of the Clerk of Court with:
- Your valid ID;
- Any case number or docket reference;
- If you’re checking for another person, bring a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) or a Board Resolution/Secretary’s Certificate for a corporation, plus IDs.
Ask for the case status and warrant status:
- Whether a warrant of arrest or bench warrant is outstanding;
- If bail was set;
- The next hearing or what step to take to lift the warrant.
Request certified copies: Order a certified true copy (CTC) of the Order issuing the warrant or the warrant itself (if available), and relevant minutes/entries.

Some courts have electronic systems for case tracking; coverage varies by city and by court station. When in doubt, the Clerk of Court’s window is the fail-safe.

D. Check with the Prosecutor’s Office (for active or newly-filed cases)

If a complaint is pending or a case was recently filed after preliminary investigation, the Office of the City/Provincial Prosecutor can tell you the case’s filing status and the court where it was raffled. Once raffled, only the court can confirm a warrant’s issuance.

E. Through Counsel (Least friction, best protection)

A lawyer can:
- Run checks with the prosecutor and courts;
- Confirm sensitive entries that clerks may decline to disclose to laypersons;
- Arrange voluntary surrender, apply for bail, or move to recall a bench warrant the same day.

4) If you discover an outstanding arrest/bench warrant

Do not ignore it. Arrest can happen anywhere in the Philippines.
Voluntary surrender. Go to the issuing court or the Warrant Section (PNP) with counsel. Courts often note surrender on record—a positive factor.
Bail.
- For bailable offenses, prepare ID pictures, community tax certificate (if needed), and a bond (cash or surety).
- You must be in custody (even via voluntary surrender) for bail to be granted. After approval, the court typically issues an Order lifting/recalling the warrant.
For non-bailable offenses, counsel may seek bail on evidence of guilt not strong (Rule 114) after a hearing, or pursue other remedies (e.g., demurrer later, or negotiate submissions).
If the warrant seems illegal, counsel can seek quashal/recall (e.g., lack of judge’s personal determination of probable cause, wrong identity, or satisfied judgment for bench warrants).

5) If the issue is a search warrant

Shelf life: Must be served within 10 days; after service, it’s returned to the issuing court with an inventory.
Checking status: The issuing court’s docket (Clerk of Court) records issuance and return. If unserved after 10 days, it expires—but that does not affect a separate arrest warrant for the same case, if any.

6) How to check legally for someone else’s warrants

You need authority. Prepare a notarized SPA (or corporate board authority) specifying permission to “verify case and warrant status and obtain certified copies.”
Respect privacy/limitations. Courts may restrict access for juvenile, family, sexual offenses, or sealed matters.
Lawyers can generally access the record for a represented client.

7) Related—but different—things people often want to check

HDO/ILBO (travel holds):
- HDOs are issued by courts (commonly in criminal cases) and transmitted to the Bureau of Immigration (BI);
- ILBOs are DOJ alerts to BI regarding persons of interest.
- How to check: Coordinate via BI main office or consult counsel to request confirmation. Proof of identity or authority is required.
Warrants tied to traffic matters: Most traffic infractions are administrative. Check LTO and LGU/MMDA portals for unpaid penalties or apprehensions; arrest warrants are uncommon unless tied to a criminal case (e.g., reckless imprudence resulting in serious injury/death).

8) Red flags and common pitfalls

Phone/Email “warrant” scams. Real warrants are court-issued and verifiable at the Clerk of Court. No legitimate officer will clear a warrant over GCash or gift cards.
Name twins. A “hit” does not equal you. Always proceed to verification (NBI QC or court).
Assuming it will “expire.” Arrest and bench warrants do not self-expire.
Traveling abroad. You can be stopped at immigration if there’s an active HDO or an executed warrant. Confirm status before flying.
Talking to police without counsel if you already suspect a warrant. You have the right to counsel at all stages of custodial investigation.

9) Practical step-by-step flow (for individuals)

Run an NBI Clearance (watch for “HIT”).
If “HIT,” attend verification and get case/court details.
Go to the issuing court’s Clerk of Court (or have your lawyer/authorized representative go): ask “Is there an outstanding warrant of arrest/bench warrant in [Case No., People v. X]?”
Request CTCs (Order issuing warrant; current case status).
If active: voluntarily surrender through counsel and post bail if bailable; secure Order recalling the warrant.
Keep your receipts and CTCs; update your NBI record as needed.

10) Practical step-by-step flow (for representatives & employers)

Prepare SPA or corporate authority + IDs.
Check NBI/PNP only if the person consents (biometrics needed).
Proceed to the court named in any hit or document; request status and CTCs.
Coordinate with counsel to avoid privacy and labor-law issues.

11) Costs & timelines (typical, may vary)

NBI Clearance: Standard fee plus additional visits if “HIT.”
PNP Police Clearance: LGU-dependent fees.
Certified copies: Per-page fees and documentary stamps at the court.
Bail: Amount set by court (cash or surety premium); processing can be same-day during office hours if documents are complete.

12) Templates you can reuse

A. Simple inquiry to the Clerk of Court (walk-in)

Good day. I am [Full Name], born [DOB], with valid ID [Type/No.].
I would like to verify if there is an outstanding warrant of arrest or bench warrant
in Case No. [if known], titled [People of the Philippines v. Full Name].
If available, may I request certified copies of the order/warrant and the latest case status?
Thank you.

B. Authorization (SPA) key clause

I hereby authorize [Agent Name] to verify, obtain information, and secure certified true copies
of court records pertaining to any criminal case involving me, including any outstanding
warrant(s) of arrest or bench warrant(s), and to perform all acts necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

13) Frequently asked questions

Is there a single national website to type a name and see all warrants? No. Use NBI/PNP screening and then confirm with the court.

If I post bail, is the warrant automatically lifted? Courts usually issue an order recalling the warrant once bail is approved and you are legally in custody. Always secure a copy.

Can I check using only a nickname? Unreliable. Use complete name and birth details; courts file under legal names.

Will paying civil damages lift a criminal warrant? Not by itself. The court must issue an order recalling the warrant (e.g., upon settlement of a bailable offense that is legally extinguishable by compromise, which many are not).

What if the warrant is a namesake error? Bring IDs and supporting documents (e.g., PSA birth certificate); your lawyer can file a manifestation/motion to correct the record and recall the warrant.

14) Quick checklist

Bring valid ID(s)
Check NBI → note case/court if “HIT”
Verify at Clerk of Court (request CTCs)
If active: surrender with counsel and post bail
Obtain Order recalling warrant; keep copies
Update records if needed (NBI/PNP)

Bottom line

There’s no universal public “warrant lookup.” The gold standard is court verification. Use NBI/PNP to screen, then go straight to the issuing court and, with counsel, move to surrender, bail, or recall as the law allows.