Quick answer

If a crime is happening now, someone is in danger, or urgent medical or rescue assistance is needed, call 911. The Unified 911 hotline connects callers nationwide to police, fire, medical, and rescue services.

If the danger has passed, report the incident promptly to the nearest Philippine National Police station, preferably the station covering the place where the crime happened. Tell the desk officer that you want the incident officially recorded and investigated. For complex, organized, cyber-enabled, or sensitive cases, you may also approach the National Bureau of Investigation or the appropriate specialized government unit.

Bring any evidence you already have, but do not delay reporting merely because your evidence is incomplete or you do not know the offender’s name. A police-blotter entry records the incident; it does not automatically begin a criminal case in court. Formal prosecution generally requires a sworn complaint and supporting evidence, followed—when applicable—by investigation by the prosecutor.

If the crime is happening now

Your immediate priorities are safety, medical care, and preservation of the scene.

Move to a safe place if you can do so without increasing the danger.
Call 911 and state:
- what is happening;
- the exact location and nearby landmarks;
- whether anyone is injured, armed, trapped, or still at risk;
- the offender’s description, vehicle, direction of travel, or present location; and
- your name and callback number, if safe to provide.
Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
Do not confront, chase, restrain, or secretly approach an armed or dangerous person.
Do not touch, clean, rearrange, or collect items at the scene unless necessary to prevent immediate harm.
Obtain emergency medical care. Tell medical personnel that the injury may be crime-related so observations, treatment, and records can be properly documented.

The number 911 is the country’s official nationwide emergency number under Executive Order No. 56. Current government guidance describes Unified 911 as a 24-hour connection to police and other emergency responders.

Where to make a non-emergency report

The local police station

For most incidents, go to the police station with territorial responsibility over the place where the crime occurred. If you are unsure which station has jurisdiction, the nearest station can receive the information and direct or coordinate you with the proper unit.

At the station:

explain that you are reporting a crime, not merely asking for advice;
give a chronological account of what happened;
identify the location, approximate date and time, persons involved, witnesses, injuries, losses, threats, and available evidence;
ask for the incident to be entered in the police blotter;
ask for the blotter entry or reference number and the investigator’s name and contact details;
ask what affidavit, medical examination, identification, or additional documents are required; and
request a copy or certification of the record when needed, subject to applicable procedures and confidentiality rules.

Read any statement carefully before signing it. Correct missing, inaccurate, or misunderstood details. Do not sign a blank, incomplete, or materially incorrect document.

The National Bureau of Investigation

The NBI may receive complaints and investigate matters within its mandate, including fraud, cybercrime, trafficking, organized or transnational crime, public corruption, violence against women and children, homicide, and other serious cases. Its official website provides an online complaint page and information about its investigative divisions and services.

An online submission may help initiate contact, but it may not replace personal attendance, identity verification, a sworn statement, examination of original evidence, or filing before the proper prosecutor.

The prosecutor’s office

A complainant may file a criminal complaint with the appropriate city or provincial prosecutor’s office, subject to jurisdiction, barangay-conciliation rules, and the procedure applicable to the offense.

The DOJ’s listed requirements for a regular preliminary-investigation complaint include an investigation data form, a complaint-affidavit or sworn statement, witness affidavits when available, and supporting documents. Check the current DOJ filing requirements before filing because the required copies, forms, fees, and procedures can depend on the case and office.

Under the 2024 DOJ–National Prosecution Service rules, regular preliminary investigation generally applies when the offense carries a prescribed penalty of at least six years and one day, regardless of the fine. Other cases may follow summary investigation or expedited preliminary investigation procedures. The prosecutor determines the proper track; a complainant does not need to classify the procedure alone. The governing rules are available through the DOJ’s official issuances page.

A blotter entry is not the same as a criminal complaint

These documents serve different purposes:

A police-blotter entry is the police station’s official record that an incident or report was received. It can help establish when and how the matter was reported, but it is not by itself proof that every allegation is true.
A complaint-affidavit or sworn statement is the complainant’s signed, sworn account of the facts and the basis for charging a person.
A criminal complaint, as defined by Rule 110, is a sworn written statement charging a person with an offense, subscribed by the offended party, a peace officer, or another authorized public officer.
An information is the written accusation signed by the prosecutor and filed in court.

Criminal actions are prosecuted in the name of the People of the Philippines and under the prosecutor’s direction and control. The applicable framework appears in Rules 110 to 127 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure.

What information should the report contain?

Give facts rather than legal conclusions. A useful account ordinarily answers:

Who committed or may have committed the act? If the name is unknown, provide a physical description, alias, username, account, telephone number, vehicle, relationship, or other identifier.
What exactly did each person do or say?
When did it happen? If the precise time is unknown, give the closest reliable estimate.
Where did it happen? Include addresses, landmarks, routes, online platforms, account names, or devices involved.
How did you observe or learn the facts?
Who else saw, heard, received, or recorded relevant events?
What property, money, data, documents, or injuries were involved?
What happened immediately before and after the incident?
Were there earlier threats, related incidents, demands, payments, communications, or reports?

Separate what you personally saw or heard from what another person told you. Identify estimates as estimates. Do not exaggerate to make the report appear stronger; inconsistencies can damage an otherwise valid complaint.

Evidence to preserve

Preserve both the evidence itself and information showing where it came from.

Physical and documentary evidence

Keep, where relevant:

damaged property, clothing, packaging, receipts, contracts, invoices, demand letters, and identification documents;
medical records, prescriptions, photographs of injuries, medico-legal findings, and proof of expenses;
bank records, remittance slips, transaction references, e-wallet records, and account statements;
original letters, notes, envelopes, counterfeit items, or questioned documents; and
a written timeline prepared while events are still fresh.

Do not write on, staple, clean, repair, or unnecessarily handle possible evidence. Store items separately and safely. Give physical evidence to investigators through a documented turnover and ask for an inventory or acknowledgment.

Digital evidence

Preserve:

complete conversations, not only selected messages;
usernames, profile links, account numbers, email addresses, telephone numbers, and platform names;
screenshots showing dates, times, URLs, and surrounding context;
original photos, videos, audio files, emails, attachments, and downloadable account records;
transaction confirmations and communications with banks or platforms; and
devices that may contain original files or logs.

Avoid editing, cropping, renaming, compressing, forwarding repeatedly, or posting evidence publicly. Keep the original files and create working copies. Record when, where, and how each item was obtained. Do not access another person’s account or device without lawful authority merely to gather more proof.

For a cybercrime complaint, the NBI’s official procedure contemplates an interview, a sworn complaint sheet or statement, supporting documents, and—when relevant—examination of a device. See the NBI’s investigative-assistance procedure for computer-crime victims.

Witness information

Ask willing witnesses to preserve their own messages, files, photographs, and notes. Record their full names and reliable contact details. Do not coach them, coordinate stories, or pressure them to sign a statement they do not understand.

Special situations

Violence against women or children

Ask for the police station’s Women and Children Protection Desk. Police procedures require appropriate handling, confidentiality, coordination with social-welfare authorities, and protective measures in child-abuse cases. A child’s safety and medical or psychological needs should not be delayed while documents are being assembled.

For violence against women and their children under Republic Act No. 9262, protection may also be sought through appropriate barangay or court processes. A barangay protection order is different from a criminal complaint and is intended to provide immediate protection in circumstances covered by the law. See the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.

Do not publicly post a child victim’s name, image, address, school, or identifying details.

Sexual violence

Seek safety and medical attention promptly. If reasonably possible, preserve clothing, communications, bedding, and other possible evidence without delaying urgent care. Evidence may still exist even if the victim has bathed, changed clothes, or waited before reporting; those circumstances do not make reporting pointless.

Rape is now classified as a crime against persons and is not subject to the former rule that treated it as a private crime requiring prosecution solely upon the victim’s complaint. Statements should nevertheless be taken with privacy, care, and respect for the victim’s safety.

Online scams, account takeovers, and electronic fraud

Immediately contact the bank, e-wallet provider, platform, or telecommunications provider through its verified official channel to seek account protection, transaction review, or preservation of records. This is separate from reporting the crime to the police or NBI.

Do not pay a supposed “recovery agent,” send an additional verification payment, or disclose one-time passwords. Preserve the fraudulent advertisement, profile, chat, transaction trail, account details, and the provider’s ticket or reference number.

A public officer or police officer is involved

Depending on the facts, reports involving public officials may also fall within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman or another disciplinary body. A complaint about a police officer’s misconduct may be brought through appropriate PNP or NAPOLCOM disciplinary channels, but an administrative complaint is distinct from the criminal complaint.

If the officer involved works at the station where you would ordinarily report, go to another competent police unit, the city or provincial police office, the NBI, or the prosecutor’s office. Preserve the officer’s name, rank, unit, badge or vehicle details, and the names of witnesses.

Does the barangay have to handle the case first?

Not every crime must first go through the barangay.

Katarungang Pambarangay conciliation can be a legal precondition before certain disputes within the lupon’s authority are filed for adjudication. It generally concerns parties who actually reside in the same city or municipality and covers only matters within statutory limits.

Important exclusions include:

an offense punishable by more than one year of imprisonment or a fine exceeding ₱5,000;
an offense with no private offended party;
a dispute involving the government;
a public officer whose official functions are involved;
parties residing in different cities or municipalities, subject to the narrow adjoining-barangay exception;
an accused who is detained;
a case requiring habeas corpus or urgent provisional relief; and
a matter that may otherwise become barred by prescription.

These rules appear in Sections 408 to 412 of the Local Government Code. Because coverage depends on the parties’ actual residence, the offense, its prescribed penalty, and the relief needed, ask the prosecutor, barangay, or a lawyer before assuming that conciliation is mandatory.

Barangay proceedings should not be used to delay an emergency response, medical care, rescue, evidence preservation, or immediate protection from violence.

What happens after the report?

The sequence varies, but a case may involve:

entry of the incident in the police blotter;
assignment of an investigator;
interviews and sworn statements;
medical, forensic, documentary, or digital examination;
identification and location of witnesses or suspects;
case build-up and referral to the prosecutor;
inquest if a suspect was lawfully arrested without a warrant, or the applicable prosecutorial investigation if no immediate court filing follows;
a prosecutor’s determination whether the required evidentiary standard is met;
filing of an information in court when warranted; and
the judge’s separate determination whether judicial probable cause exists for a warrant of arrest.

A report does not automatically authorize an arrest. Under Rule 113, an arrest ordinarily requires a warrant unless a recognized warrantless-arrest ground exists, such as an offense committed, actually being committed, or attempted in the arresting person’s presence, or a qualifying hot-pursuit situation based on personal knowledge of facts indicating that the person committed an offense that has just occurred.

The prosecutor, not the complainant or police desk officer, ultimately decides whether to file an information after the required prosecutorial process. A dismissal at that stage does not necessarily mean the reported event never occurred; it may reflect insufficient admissible evidence, a missing legal element, jurisdictional problems, prescription, or another legal obstacle.

Deadlines and prescription

There is no single reporting deadline for every crime. Different offenses prescribe after different periods, and special laws may contain their own limitation rules. The effect of filing with the police, barangay, prosecutor, investigating agency, or court can also depend on the law governing the particular offense.

As a general rule, the institution of the criminal action interrupts prescription under Rule 110 unless a special law provides otherwise. The Supreme Court has also held that filing a complaint with the DOJ for preliminary investigation interrupts the prescriptive period for the offense involved; see the Court’s official summary, “Filing of Complaint Before DOJ Stops Prescriptive Period for Crimes”.

Do not wait for the last possible day. Delay can result in:

lost CCTV footage or provider records;
deleted messages and account data;
fading memories;
unavailable witnesses;
changed injuries or damaged physical evidence; and
expiration of a statutory filing or prescriptive period.

Obtain prompt legal advice if the incident happened long ago, a deadline is near, barangay conciliation may apply, or a special law governs the offense.

If the police will not record or act on the report

Stay calm and document the interaction.

Ask to speak with the duty officer, investigator, or station commander.
Ask why the report is not being recorded or referred.
Write down the date, time, station, and the names or identifying details of the personnel involved.
Keep copies of documents you attempted to submit and proof of any electronic communication.
Bring the matter to the city or municipal police chief, city or provincial police office, or the appropriate PNP supervisory unit.
Consider filing directly with the prosecutor’s office or seeking investigative assistance from the NBI when legally appropriate.
If police misconduct is involved, consider the PNP’s internal disciplinary process or a verified administrative complaint with NAPOLCOM.
Seek legal help urgently when there is continuing danger, intimidation, evidence destruction, unlawful detention, official involvement, or an approaching deadline.

Do not assume that an informal conversation, text message to an officer, social-media post, or barangay log has placed the matter into the correct criminal process.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting until every piece of evidence has been collected before reporting.
Treating a blotter entry as proof that charges have been filed.
Signing a statement without reading it or requesting corrections.
Giving passwords, one-time PINs, or account access to an unofficial “investigator.”
Editing or posting evidence publicly, which can affect privacy, safety, or authenticity.
Confronting the suspected offender or arranging an amateur entrapment operation.
Paying a blackmailer or scammer without first seeking urgent guidance.
Ignoring barangay-conciliation requirements where they genuinely apply.
Assuming that settlement, payment, pardon, or withdrawal will automatically end every criminal case.
Missing prosecutor notices, subpoenas, conferences, or requests for additional evidence.
Making knowingly false accusations. Report honestly, distinguish facts from suspicions, and disclose relevant information even when it is unfavorable to your position.

When legal help is urgent

Contact a lawyer, the Public Attorney’s Office if eligible, or another qualified legal-assistance provider promptly when:

anyone remains in danger or is being threatened;
the case involves death, serious injury, sexual violence, trafficking, child abuse, kidnapping, firearms, or organized crime;
the alleged offender is a police officer, public official, employer, intimate partner, or person controlling the victim’s money or movements;
evidence may soon be deleted, transferred, concealed, or destroyed;
the incident occurred a long time ago or prescription may be an issue;
the complainant is being pressured to withdraw, settle, or sign a document;
the police refuse to receive the report;
the suspect has been arrested and an inquest is imminent;
the complainant receives a subpoena, resolution, or court document; or
the facts may expose the reporting person to criminal or civil liability.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone other than the victim report a crime?

Yes. A witness or another person may give information to the police. For many public crimes, a complaint for preliminary investigation may be initiated by a competent person with knowledge or supporting evidence. However, particular offenses—such as adultery and concubinage—have special rules requiring action by the legally specified offended party. The correct complainant therefore depends on the offense.

Can I report if I do not know the offender’s name?

Yes. Provide every reliable identifying detail you have. The authorities may investigate an unknown suspect. Do not insert a guessed name merely to complete the form.

Can I report a crime anonymously?

You may give a tip without publicly identifying yourself, and authorities may use it as an investigative lead. An anonymous allegation alone, however, may be insufficient for prosecution. Investigators or prosecutors may eventually need an identifiable witness, a sworn statement, and evidence that can be presented and tested in legal proceedings. Ask how your identity and safety can be protected; do not assume absolute confidentiality.

Do I need a lawyer to make a police report?

Usually not. You may report directly to the police and give a truthful statement. Legal assistance is advisable for serious, complex, sensitive, old, or document-heavy cases, or where the reporting person may also face legal exposure.

Do I need complete proof before reporting?

No. Report promptly and identify what evidence exists or may be obtained. The authorities must still investigate, and the prosecutor will assess whether the evidence meets the applicable standard. Avoid promising evidence you do not have.

Will the suspect be arrested immediately?

Not necessarily. A report alone does not justify an arrest. Police need a valid warrant or facts satisfying a recognized exception for warrantless arrest.

Can a case continue if the victim withdraws or settles?

Sometimes. Most crimes are offenses against the State, and an affidavit of desistance does not automatically require dismissal. Its effect depends on the offense, the stage of the case, the available evidence, and any special statutory rule. Never sign a withdrawal, release, or settlement you do not fully understand.

Can I get a copy of the police blotter?

You may request a copy, extract, or certification, but release can be subject to station procedures, identification requirements, fees, privacy protections, and confidentiality rules—especially in cases involving children or sexual and domestic violence.

Should I report to the barangay or the police?

Use 911 or the police immediately for danger, violence, rescue, or urgent evidence preservation. Barangay conciliation may be a required preliminary process only for disputes within its statutory authority. It is not a substitute for emergency response or the investigation of serious crimes.

Official legal and procedural sources

This article provides general legal information, not individualized legal advice or a guarantee that authorities will accept, investigate, or prosecute a particular complaint. Procedure and jurisdiction depend on the offense, evidence, location, parties, and governing special law. Official sources were checked as of July 27, 2026.