How to Check if You Have a Case Filed Against You in the Philippines (eCourt, NBI, DOJ)

Philippine legal guide — comprehensive, practical, and written for non-lawyers. This is general information, not legal advice.

The fast answer

If you suspect a case may exist but you don’t know where it was filed:

Get an NBI Clearance – it’s the closest thing to a nationwide check for criminal “derogatory records.”
Check with the DOJ / National Prosecution Service (NPS) where you live or where the incident likely happened – complaints start here before they reach court.
Search or inquire via the Judiciary’s eCourt / local court (Office of the Clerk of Court) – useful if you know the likely city/branch, or already have a case number or party name.
(Optional, but smart): Get a Police Clearance and ask the warrant section of your local police station to verify any warrant of arrest under your name.

If you know a case might be in a specific city or you received a rumor, go straight to that City/Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and the courts there.

What “case filed” can mean (and where to look)

Criminal complaint under preliminary investigation – filed at the City/Provincial Prosecutor’s Office (DOJ–NPS). Not yet in court.
Criminal case in court – raffled to an MTC/MeTC/MCTC (first-level courts) or RTC (second-level courts). Status often appears in eCourt (coverage varies).
Civil case – filed directly in court (e.g., collection, damages, family cases).
Administrative case – e.g., Ombudsman, CSC (for gov’t personnel), PRC (professionals), etc. (Not covered by NBI police-judiciary flow in the same way.)

Tip: Many people say “case” but mean a criminal case. If you’re worried about arrest, focus on NBI/Police + Prosecutor’s Office + Court checks.

1) Check via NBI Clearance (national criminal records screen)

What it is: A name- and biometrics-based screening against the NBI’s consolidated database of derogatory records sourced from NBI, prosecutors, courts, and other agencies. It’s nationwide and the first stop when you don’t know where to look.

What results mean (plain English):

Clear / No derogatory record: No match found under your identity at the time of issuance.
HIT: Something matched—often a namesake or an old/closed case. You’ll be asked to return for verification (and sometimes to present documents showing dismissal/clearance).
With derogatory record: There’s an actual record linked to you. You’ll typically be told to coordinate with the prosecutor/court that owns the record.

How to use this to confirm/resolve:

Apply for an NBI Clearance (online registration + in-person biometrics). Bring one government ID and declare all name variants (see name tips below).
If you get a HIT, complete the NBI verification. If the hit is a namesake, the NBI will clear you; if it’s you, they’ll direct you to the source office (court/prosecutor).
If you had a prior case that’s already dismissed/terminated, bring the court/prosecutor order so NBI can update its records.

Limitations:

It primarily detects criminal derogatory information. It won’t reliably show civil cases.
It’s a snapshot; a case filed after issuance won’t show on an old clearance.
Namesake hits are common—biometrics and supporting documents clear these up.

2) Check via the DOJ – National Prosecution Service (NPS)

Why this matters: Almost all criminal cases go through prosecutors for inquest or preliminary investigation before they are filed in court. If a complaint exists against you, your name is usually in the NPS docket first.

How to check:

Visit or contact the City/Provincial Prosecutor’s Office where:
- you live,
- the alleged incident occurred, or
- the complainant likely filed the case.
Request a docket search under your full legal name and variants (see name tips).
Ask for a Certification of No Pending Criminal Complaint (wording varies) if you need proof. There’s usually a nominal fee and an ID requirement.

What you can find:

Newly filed complaints, subpoenas (if any were sent), status (for resolution/filing), and whether a case has been filed in court.
If a case was filed, staff can often tell you the court and case number.

If you never received a subpoena: Subpoenas are sent to your last known address (and sometimes email). If you moved, it’s possible you missed it. A proactive NPS check is smart.

3) Check via eCourt and the courts (OCC/branch)

What eCourt is: The Judiciary’s electronic case management platform used across many trial courts. Public-facing access typically provides basic case information and hearing calendars. Coverage varies by court and branch, and not all fields or searches are publicly exposed.

Best use-cases:

You know or suspect the city/branch, or you have a case number.
You want to confirm a criminal or civil case already in court (not just at prosecutors).
You need hearing dates or case status (e.g., “pending,” “decided,” “archived”).

If eCourt isn’t enough: Go to the court’s Office of the Clerk of Court (OCC) in the relevant Hall of Justice and request a search by party name. You can also request a Court Clearance / Certification of No Pending Case (usually per court level and location). Bring:

Valid ID
Authorization/Special Power of Attorney (SPA) if sending a representative
Fees (nominal)

Note: Court clearances are not nationwide; they cover only that court station/level (e.g., a given city’s RTC or MTC). For a broad sweep, combine NBI + targeted court/OCC checks.

Optional but useful: Police checks & warrants

Police Clearance (National Police Clearance System) – another quick screen that can flag warrants or local police records.
Warrant Section (local police station) – you can politely ask for warrant verification under your name (bring ID). If a warrant exists, coordinate with a lawyer immediately to arrange voluntary surrender and bail (if bailable).

Name–identity tips (avoid false positives)

When searching or requesting certifications, provide:

Full legal name (given + middle + surname), and suffix (Jr., II).
All name variants you’ve used: nicknames, married/maiden names, hyphenated forms, middle initial vs full middle name, spelling variants.
Date of birth and birthplace.
Government ID numbers (when allowed) for precise matching.

Where to check depending on your situation

Situation	Best first step	Why
“I have no idea if/where a case exists.”	NBI Clearance	Nationwide sweep for criminal derogatory info.
“There was a recent incident / demand letter in City X.”	City Prosecutor (NPS) of City X	Criminal complaints start here; find docket or subpoena status.
“I heard a civil case might have been filed.”	OCC / eCourt of likely city	Civil suits are filed straight to court.
“I’m worried about a warrant.”	Police warrant check + NBI	To verify any active warrant of arrest.
“I need proof for an employer/visa.”	NBI Clearance (+ Court/Prosecutor certifications if required)	Most widely accepted, with add-ons as needed.

If you discover there is a case

Stay calm and consult a lawyer immediately.
- If indigent, approach the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) in your city.
Get the basics: case number, court/branch, offense/cause, next hearing dates.
If there’s a warrant: arrange voluntary surrender with counsel and post bail if bailable.
Keep all papers: subpoenas, resolutions, informations, court orders, receipts.
Update NBI/Police only after you have final orders (dismissal, acquittal), so they can clear your record.

Certificates & documents you can request (and why)

NBI Clearance – nationwide criminal record screen; often required for employment/visa.
Prosecutor’s Certification (No Pending Criminal Complaint) – shows you have no pending complaint in that jurisdiction.
Court Clearance / Certification (No Pending Case) – shows you have no pending court case in that station/level.
Certified True Copy of resolutions/orders – useful to update NBI/Police or for employers/embassies.

Reality check: There is no single “one-click” national database the public can query by name that definitively lists all criminal/civil cases across all courts and prosecutors. You combine NBI + targeted DOJ/court checks for reliable coverage.

Practical step-by-step (do this in order)

NBI Clearance
- Apply → biometrics → wait for result.
- If HIT: complete verification; if needed, secure documents from prosecutor/court.
DOJ–NPS (Prosecutor’s Office)
- Visit the city/province where a case is likely → request docket search by name.
- Ask for status and whether a case has been filed in court.
- Request a Certification if you need proof.
eCourt / OCC (Courts)
- If you know the likely city/branch, inquire at the OCC.
- Search by party name or case number; request Court Clearance if needed.
Police warrant check (if worried about arrest)
- Visit the warrant section; verify discreetly with ID.
- Coordinate with counsel if anything turns up.

Special scenarios

You’re overseas.
- You can authorize a representative in the Philippines via a Notarized + Apostilled SPA to request certifications and pick up clearances. NBI also supports renewal by representative (requirements vary).
You changed your name (marriage/annulment).
- Always search under old and new names. Bring PSA documents (marriage certificate, annotated birth certificate, decision/Decree).
Juvenile matters.
- Records for children in conflict with the law are generally confidential and handled under special rules; ask your counsel or PAO.
Administrative investigations (e.g., Ombudsman, PRC, CSC).
- These are separate from criminal/civil tracks. If relevant, inquire directly with the concerned agency for case status/certifications.

Sample request language (you can adapt)

A. Prosecutor’s Office – Docket/Certification Request

*I respectfully request verification of any pending criminal complaint(s) under the name [Full Name, with suffix], born [DOB], of [Address]. I also request a Certification of No Pending Criminal Complaint if none exists. I can present valid ID and pay the required fees. Thank you.*

B. Court (OCC) – Name Search / Court Clearance

*I respectfully request a search of the court’s docket under the name [Full Name], born [DOB]. If there are no pending cases, I request a Court Clearance/Certification of No Pending Case. I can present valid ID and pay the fees. Thank you.*

C. Police – Warrant Verification

*Good day. I would like to verify, for my peace of mind, if there is any warrant of arrest under my name [Full Name, DOB]. I can present valid ID. Thank you.*

Frequently asked questions

Will an NBI Clearance show civil cases? No. It’s focused on criminal derogatory records. For civil suits (e.g., collection, damages), check courts (eCourt/OCC).

I got an NBI “HIT.” Am I a criminal? Not necessarily. Many hits are namesakes. Complete NBI verification; if it’s not you, they clear it. If it is you, they’ll point you to the source (prosecutor/court).

Can I check everything online? Not fully. You can do a lot online, but prosecutor and court checks often require in-person or official requests. eCourt access and search features vary by court.

What if a case is in another city? Criminal complaints are usually filed where the crime occurred; civil cases where the plaintiff files, subject to venue rules. If you’re unsure, start with NBI and then inquire at likely NPS/courts.

How do I clear an old dismissed case from NBI? Bring a certified copy of the dismissal/acquittal order to NBI for record updating.

Key takeaways

There is no single public nationwide name search that captures all cases; combine NBI + DOJ–NPS + eCourt/OCC.
If you fear a warrant, verify with police and speak to a lawyer immediately.
Keep copies of orders/resolutions; they’re essential to clear or update records.

Final note

Laws, systems, and online portals evolve. While the steps above reflect standard Philippine practice, local requirements (IDs, fees, forms) can vary by office. When in doubt, bring government ID, prepare name variants, and ask politely for the official process for name-based docket searches and certifications. If anything turns up, consult a lawyer or PAO right away.