How to File a Complaint in the Philippines
A comprehensive guide for laypersons, advocates, and junior lawyers
Disclaimer: This article is for general legal education. To address a real-life case, consult a licensed Philippine lawyer or the proper government office.
1. What “complaint” means in Philippine procedure
| Context | Governing rule | Core document |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 1985 & 2019 Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure | Affidavit-Complaint (a sworn narration of facts constituting an offense) |
| Civil | 2019 Amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure | Complaint (initiatory pleading stating cause of action) |
| Administrative | Special charters (e.g., Administrative Code, Ombudsman Act, Civil Service Law) | Verified Complaint |
| Labor | Labor Code, 2011 NLRC Rules, DOLE’s Single-Entry Approach (SEnA) | Request for Assistance (RFA) or NLRC Complaint |
| *Consumer, Data-Privacy, etc. | Sector-specific laws (Consumer Act, Data Privacy Act, BSP/IC/SEC circulars) | Sector form or verified letter-complaint |
The correct forum, document form, fees, and time limits all depend on this initial classification.
2. Universal principles before taking action
Check jurisdiction. Territorial (where the act or omission occurred or where any party resides), subject-matter (amount, penalty, or nature), and hierarchy (barangay → MTC → RTC → CA → SC, or administrative channels).
Observe prescriptive periods.
- Criminal: From 2 months (libel) to 20 years (violations of special laws without period).
- Civil: 4 years (quasi-delict), 6 (written contract), 10 (real actions).
- Labor: 3 years for money claims.
- Administrative: Generally within 1 year from discovery for public-sector cases, unless continuing.
Exhaust mandatory ADR/conciliation when required.
- Katarungang Pambarangay Law (RA 7160, Ch. VII): most intra-barangay disputes must first pass through the Lupon Tagapamayapa.
- DOLE SeNA: mandatory 30-day conciliation before NLRC filing.
- Consumer mediation at DTI, IC, or BSP.
Prepare a verified narrative and evidence.
- Personal knowledge or authentic records.
- Attach documentary/photographic proof, certificates of non-settlement, receipts for medical expenses, etc.
- Have all affidavits notarised or administered by the prosecutor/Clerk of Court.
Anticipate costs.
- Docket fees: based on claim amount (civil) or fixed (labor ₱ 500 single-entry vs. none for criminal affidavits).
- Service costs: sheriff’s fees, mailing.
- Optional: psychological evaluation (VAWC), transcript, expert testimony.
- Fee waivers: indigents may seek pauper litigant status or Public Attorney’s Office assistance.
3. Step-by-step: FILING A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
| Phase | Where | Key actions | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blotter & evidence preservation | Nearest police station/NBI cybercrime desk | Record incident; request Medical-Legal Report if needed | Immediately |
| Affidavit-Complaint | Office of the City/Provincial Prosecutor (OCP/OPP) or DOJ remote e-filing portal (since A.M. No. 20-06-08-SC) | Draft sworn narrative naming respondent(s), offense, place, time; attach evidence and witnesses’ sworn affidavits | Within prescription |
| Preliminary Investigation | OCP/OPP | Prosecutor issues Subpoena & allows Counter-Affidavit; possible clarificatory hearing | 10 days for counter-affidavit; 5–30 days to resolve |
| Resolution & Information | OCP/OPP → trial court | If probable cause: Information filed & raffled to proper court; if dismissed: movant may seek reconsideration or DOJ Petition for Review | 15 days to appeal to DOJ |
| Arraignment & Trial | MTC/RTC/Sandiganbayan | Court acquires jurisdiction over the person of the accused upon arrest/surrender | Arraignment within 30 days of court’s receipt (Rule 116) |
Special notes
- VAWC (RA 9262) and child abuse (RA 7610) may be filed directly at the barangay for Barangay Protection Order plus criminal affidavit with accompanying medical/social worker report.
- Cybercrimes: digital evidence must be preserved per DOJ Circular No. 13-2017; use PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group or NBI.
- Witness Protection: Apply at DOJ (RA 6981) once threat validated.
4. Step-by-step: FILING A CIVIL COMPLAINT
Draft the Complaint
- Caption, parties’ citizenship/residence, concise statement of ultimate facts, prayer.
- Attach Verification and Certification Against Forum Shopping (Rule 7, Sec. 5).
- For Small Claims (≤ ₱400 000 after July 2023 update): use SC-prescribed Form 1-SC and skip lawyers.
Compute and pay docket fees to the Clerk of Court.
Electronic or paper filing
- E-Filing allowed in first-level courts covered by Judiciary Case Management System (JCMS) pilot.
- Otherwise, lodge personally; request stamped received copy.
Raffle and issuance of summons (now handled by the court within 5 days; service can be via accredited courier or e-mail).
Respondent’s Answer (30 days), then Case Management Conference, mediation/JDR, and trial.
5. LABOR COMPLAINTS (Illegal dismissal, wages, benefits)
| Stage | Venue | Instrument | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conciliation-Mediation | DOLE field office (SeNA) | RFA Form | Resolve within 30 calendar days |
| NLRC Filing | Regional Arbitration Branch | Verified NLRC Complaint Form (use e-NLRC portal where available) | Within 10 days if SeNA fails |
| Position Papers → Mandatory Conference → Decision | NLRC Arbiter | Documentary and affidavit evidence only; no witness stand unless clarificatory | Arbiter to decide within 30 days from submission |
| Appeal | NLRC Commission en banc → CA → SC | Appeal bond (monetary awards) and memorandum | 10 days NLRC; 60 days CA Rule 65 |
6. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Office of the Ombudsman (Art. XI, 1987 Constitution; RA 6770)
- Verified complaint plus evidence.
- Filing fee: none.
- Ombudsman may direct Fact-Finding, Preliminary Investigation, then issue Administrative decision (dismissal, suspension, fines) or Criminal referral.
Civil Service Commission – for rank-and-file or when penalty < suspension of 1 month.
Commission-level bodies: e.g., Comelec (election offenses), PRC (professionals’ licenses).
7. CONSUMER, DATA-PRIVACY & SPECIAL SECTOR COMPLAINTS
| Forum | Coverage | Filing tool |
|---|---|---|
| DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau | Retail, deceptive sales, warranties | Online e-consumer Complaint System or regional office |
| Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas – Consumer Assistance Mechanism | Banks, e-money, credit cards | Email with Complaint Form or chatbot; escalation to BSP-CFD |
| Insurance Commission | Insurance, HMOs, pre-need | Verified complaint + ₱ 1 000 fee |
| National Privacy Commission | Personal-data breach | NPC Complaints Management System (30-day filing from discovery) |
| HLURB/DHSUD, ERC, SEC, CHED, etc. | Sector-specific regulatory matters | Agency-defined formats |
All of these bodies mandate initial mediation; formal adjudication follows if mediation fails.
8. BARANGAY JUSTICE SYSTEM (KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY)
Before you head to court or the prosecutor, check if your dispute is among those compulsorily* covered (e.g., damages ≤ ₱5 000, offenses punishable by ≤ 1 year or ≤ ₱5 000 fine, and parties residing in the same city/municipality). Exclusions: spouses/legal relatives, VAWC, corporate parties, government, offenses needing immediate arrest, habeas corpus.
Process:
- Write to the Punong Barangay requesting mediation.
- If unresolved in 15 days → Pangkat ng Tagapagkasundo convenes for conciliation (another 15 days).
- If still unresolved → Certification to File Action issued, valid for 60 days.
9. E-Filing & Pandemic-Era Innovations
- SC A.M. No. 20-12-01-SC (2021): emails and cloud links accepted for pleadings ≤ 25 MB.
- E-Notarization allowed via Interim Rules on Remote Notarization (still pilot).
- Online inquests and video-conference hearings made permanent in 2023 revisions.
10. Appeals & Remedies Snapshot
| If dismissed by | Remedy | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Prosecutor | Motion for Reconsideration; then DOJ Petition for Review | 15 days each |
| DOJ | Petition for Certiorari (Rule 65) to Court of Appeals | 60 days |
| MTC/RTC civil | Motion for Reconsideration/New Trial; then Appeal to RTC/CA | 15 days |
| NLRC Arbiter | Appeal to NLRC Commission (bond if money judgment) | 10 days |
| Ombudsman (admin) | Motion for Reconsideration; then CA under Rule 43 | 10 days |
11. Practical Tips
- Write like a story, attach proof like a lawyer. Chronological facts + law violated + prayer.
- **Mind the Certificate of Non-Forum Shopping. ** Courts summarily dismiss without it.
- Secure duplicate originals—one for filing, one court-stamped for you.
- Keep your address current; notices sent there bind you.
- Protect personal data—mask minors’ names, redact ID numbers per A.M. No. 21-06-08-SC.
12. Free or Low-Cost Legal Help
| Service | Coverage | How to access |
|---|---|---|
| Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) | Criminal defense, indigent civil litigants | Walk-in at Hall of Justice; income ≤ double minimum wage |
| Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Legal Aid | Civil, labor, admin | Apply at IBP chapter |
| University legal clinics (e.g., UP OLA, Ateneo LHRC) | Strategic cases, labor, human rights | Email clinic |
| Commission on Human Rights | HR violations | 24-hour helpline, regional offices |
| Barangay VAW Desk | Women & children protection | Each barangay hall |
13. Penalties for Frivolous or False Complaints
- Criminal liability for perjury (Art. 183, RPC) or unlawful complaints (Art. 356, intriga).
- Administrative sanctions (e.g., contempt, fines, disciplinary action in labor cases).
- Civil damages under Art. 19–21, Civil Code (abuse of rights).
14. Timeline Cheatsheet (typical, not absolute)
| Action | Earliest completion |
|---|---|
| Barangay conciliation | 15–30 days |
| Prosecutor’s preliminary investigation to resolution | 45 days (simple) – 6 months (complex) |
| Civil complaint to pre-trial | 3–6 months |
| NLRC labor case (arbiter) | 90 days |
| Small Claims | 30–45 days |
15. Key Statutes & Rules at a Glance
- Rules of Court (Rules 1–144), esp. Rules 6–8, 13, 16, 18, 70, 74.
- Revised Penal Code (Act 3815) & special penal laws.
- Administrative Code of 1987; RA 6770 (Ombudsman); RA 9369 (Comelec).
- Labor Code (PD 442) & 2011 NLRC Rules.
- Consumer Act (RA 7394); Data Privacy Act (RA 10173).
- RA 7160 (Katarungang Pambarangay), RA 9285 (ADR), RA 11032 (Ease of Doing Biz).
Conclusion
Filing a complaint in the Philippines is less about eloquent legal jargon and more about (1) choosing the right forum, (2) meeting documentary and jurisdictional requirements, and (3) beating the clock. Whether you are pursuing justice for a crime, recovering a debt, protecting labor rights, or calling out administrative abuse, the step-by-step pathways above will help you navigate the system with confidence.