1) What “slight physical injuries” means (and why the medical certificate can change everything)

The basic idea under the Revised Penal Code (RPC)

“Physical injuries” are classified mainly by how long the victim is incapacitated for labor or needs medical attendance, and by certain special circumstances. For everyday barangay disputes, the most common dividing lines are:

Slight physical injuries: typically 1–9 days incapacity/medical attendance (or injuries that don’t fall under the more serious categories, plus certain minor maltreatment/ill-treatment situations under the Code).
Less serious physical injuries: typically 10–30 days incapacity/medical attendance.
Serious physical injuries: typically more than 30 days, or injuries resulting in specific serious outcomes (loss of use of a body part, deformity, insanity, etc.).

Why this matters: people often say “slight” casually, but the medico-legal finding (days of medical attendance/incapacity) can move the case into a different crime classification, with different:

court procedure,
barangay conciliation coverage (Katarungang Pambarangay jurisdiction),
penalties,
and prescriptive periods.

So, the first technical question in any “slight physical injuries” plan is: What does the medical certificate/medico-legal actually say about days of medical attendance/incapacity?

2) Prescriptive period: how long you have to file the criminal case

The prescriptive period for “slight physical injuries”

As a general rule, slight physical injuries are a light offense, and light offenses prescribe in 2 months under the RPC rules on prescription of crimes.

Plain meaning: if nothing interrupts the running of time, the State can lose the ability to prosecute once the prescriptive period lapses.

When the 2-month clock starts

Prescription generally runs from the day the offense is discovered by the offended party, the authorities, or their agents. In ordinary assault-type incidents, discovery is typically the same day as the incident.

What interrupts (stops) the running of prescription

In general criminal practice, the running of prescription is interrupted by the filing of a complaint or information with the proper authority (and it can resume if proceedings end without conviction/acquittal, depending on the procedural posture). The details can be technical, but for practical purposes in a barangay-mediated dispute, one interruption rule is especially important:

3) Effect of barangay mediation/conciliation on prescription (Katarungang Pambarangay)

Barangay filing interrupts prescription—but there’s a critical cap

Under the Katarungang Pambarangay system (Local Government Code procedures on amicable settlement), filing the complaint at the barangay interrupts the prescriptive period for offenses/cause of action.

However, the interruption is not indefinite. The interruption does not extend beyond a limited period (commonly treated as not exceeding 60 days from the time the barangay complaint is filed). After that, the prescriptive clock effectively continues to run again.

Practical consequence: Barangay mediation is meant to be fast. If you let time drag while relying on the barangay process, you can accidentally prescribe a light offense like slight physical injuries.

What document matters after barangay proceedings

If settlement fails (or the process ends without settlement), the barangay issues a Certificate to File Action (CFA) (often through the Lupon/Pangkat process). This certificate is typically required to file in court for disputes covered by barangay conciliation.

4) After barangay mediation: the possible outcomes and what each one means

A) Amicable settlement was reached

If the parties signed an amicable settlement at the barangay level:

Finality and binding effect
- After a short period (commonly 10 days), the settlement is treated as having the force and effect of a final judgment (unless timely repudiated on legally recognized grounds such as vitiated consent).
If the other party breaches the settlement
- The usual next step is execution/enforcement of the settlement, not starting over from scratch.
- Execution is generally sought first through barangay mechanisms within a limited time window, and if not executed there, through the proper court as an enforceable compromise/judgment-equivalent.
Does settlement automatically “erase” the criminal case?
- Not automatically, especially because physical injuries are generally public offenses. The State prosecutes crimes in the public interest.
- In real life, though, a settlement and the complainant’s lack of interest can affect whether the case proceeds (evidence/witness cooperation), but that’s different from an automatic legal “extinguishment.”

Key point: if there is a settlement, the cleanest “next legal step” after breach is often enforcement (execution) of the settlement, not refiling the same dispute—unless the settlement is repudiated/void or the legal strategy calls for criminal prosecution with sufficient evidence.

B) No settlement (mediation/conciliation failed)

If the barangay process ended without agreement, the next move is typically:

Obtain/secure the Certificate to File Action; then
File the criminal complaint for slight physical injuries (and/or civil claims, depending on strategy).

Because slight physical injuries are usually a light offense, many jurisdictions handle these under summary procedures and often require direct filing in the appropriate first-level court (e.g., Municipal Trial Court/Metropolitan Trial Court), rather than a full preliminary investigation track.

C) Settlement was repudiated (rare but important)

There is usually a short window to repudiate a barangay settlement if consent was defective (e.g., fraud, intimidation). If repudiation is valid and timely, the pathway can revert to obtaining the certificate and filing the proper action.

5) Where and how to file after barangay proceedings (criminal side)

Proper venue/jurisdiction

For slight physical injuries, filing is ordinarily in the first-level trial court with territorial jurisdiction over the place where the incident happened (e.g., MTC/MeTC/MCTC).

Typical filing package (practical checklist)

Certificate to File Action (if the matter is covered by barangay conciliation)
Complaint-affidavit narrating:
- who did what, when, where,
- how the injuries were inflicted,
- identities of witnesses,
- and why it constitutes slight physical injuries
Medical certificate / medico-legal report
- crucial for the day-count classification
Photos (injuries, scene) if available
Witness affidavits
Any barangay blotter entries or incident reports (helpful but not always required)

Timing discipline

Because slight physical injuries commonly carry a 2-month prescriptive period, treat time as the enemy:

Count from the incident/discovery date.
Credit the barangay interruption, but assume it is limited and will not save you if you wait too long.
File promptly once you have the CFA and medical documentation.

6) What happens after you file (summary of the process)

For light offenses / summary track (common handling)

The court may set the case for arraignment and summary hearings without the long preliminary investigation process typical of more serious offenses.
The prosecution still must prove the elements beyond reasonable doubt.
The complainant’s testimony and medical proof are usually central.

Civil liability is usually “with” the criminal case unless separated

In Philippine criminal procedure, civil liability arising from the offense is generally deemed instituted with the criminal action, unless:

the offended party waives the civil action,
reserves the right to file it separately, or
has already filed it.

What this means in practice: you may pursue damages (medical expenses, lost income, moral damages where appropriate) in the same criminal case, unless you intentionally separate your civil claim (for example, via a quasi-delict route).

7) Penalties and consequences (high-level, with the important practical effects)

Criminal penalties (core takeaway)

Slight physical injuries commonly carry short-term imprisonment (arresto menor) and/or a fine (with fine amounts modernized by later legislation).

Real-world effects even for “light” cases

A criminal case can still create:
- court appearances,
- possible arrest issues if warrants arise due to non-appearance,
- criminal records/clearance complications depending on case status,
- and civil liability exposure.

8) Defenses and issues that often decide the case

Common factual/legal defenses

Self-defense (requires unlawful aggression by the complainant plus reasonable necessity and lack of sufficient provocation by the accused—self-defense has strict requisites)
Defense of relatives/strangers
Accident / lack of intent
Identity issues (wrong person accused)
Insufficient proof of injury causation (injury existed, but not shown to be caused by accused)
Medical classification dispute (injury days inconsistent, or later medical evaluation differs)
Prescription (filed too late)

Evidence pressure points

If there are no neutral witnesses, the case often turns on:
- credibility,
- consistency of narration,
- contemporaneous reporting,
- and medical documentation.

9) Special situations where barangay conciliation may not apply (or the case may be more serious than “slight”)

Even if the incident seems “minor,” barangay conciliation rules have exceptions, and some situations require direct legal action:

If the incident falls under special laws that bypass barangay conciliation (a frequent example in practice is violence-related special statutes in domestic/intimate contexts).
If the injury classification is actually less serious or serious, it may exceed the usual coverage of barangay conciliation (and it changes prescription and procedure).
If urgent remedies are needed (e.g., protective orders in applicable contexts).

Practical warning: Mislabeling a case as “slight” can cause wrong filing strategy and missed deadlines.

10) Step-by-step “next legal steps” guide (most common scenarios)

Scenario 1: Mediation failed; you want to proceed criminally

Secure the Certificate to File Action.
Gather medical proof and affidavits.
File in the proper first-level court (or follow the local filing practice if the prosecutor’s office accepts initial intake for light offenses in your area).
Track dates carefully to avoid prescription.

Scenario 2: Settlement exists; the other party didn’t comply

Check if the settlement is already final (and not validly repudiated).
Pursue execution/enforcement through the barangay mechanism within the applicable window; if needed, proceed to the proper court to enforce it as judgment-equivalent.
If contemplating a criminal case anyway, consider the evidence reality: even if not automatically barred, a settlement and later events can affect proof and prosecutorial posture.

Scenario 3: You suspect it’s not “slight” (medical says 10+ days, or serious outcomes)

Treat it as potentially less serious/serious physical injuries until properly classified.
Reassess:
- barangay conciliation coverage,
- prescriptive period,
- and correct forum/procedure.
File according to the correct classification and avoid relying on the 2-month rule.

11) Common mistakes that cause cases to fail

Waiting too long after barangay proceedings and running into prescription (especially deadly for light offenses).
Filing without a medical certificate or with an unclear day-count, leading to misclassification.
Assuming a barangay settlement “automatically ends” criminal liability for a public offense.
Not securing the proper barangay certificate when required, resulting in dismissal for failure to comply with a condition precedent.
Relying solely on a blotter entry without sworn affidavits and medical proof.

12) Quick reference: timelines to keep in mind (typical planning anchors)

Slight physical injuries (light offense): commonly 2 months prescriptive period.
Barangay filing: interrupts prescription, but the interruption is limited (often treated as not exceeding 60 days from filing at the barangay).
Barangay settlement finality: typically after a short period (commonly 10 days) unless repudiated on recognized grounds within the allowed time.

Because these rules interact, the safest practice is to act early and treat the barangay process as a short stop, not a place to “park” the case indefinitely.

13) Bottom line

After barangay mediation for a slight physical injuries incident, the two most legally decisive questions are:

Has the 2-month prescriptive period (as affected by barangay interruption limits) been protected?
Is the injury classification truly “slight,” as shown by competent medical documentation?

From there, the “next legal step” usually becomes clear:

No settlement: get the Certificate to File Action and file promptly in the proper first-level court.
Settlement breached: pursue execution/enforcement of the settlement as judgment-equivalent, mindful of the enforcement timelines and the evidentiary realities of any separate criminal push.