Supreme Court backs DOJ rule raising bar for criminal casesThe logo of the Supreme Court at the Supreme Court Building in Manila. MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of a Department of Justice (DOJ) circular that raises the bar for evidence in filing criminal cases, shifting the requirement from "probable cause" to "prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction." DOJ Department Circular 15 defines the threshold of evidence prosecutors must meet before filing a criminal case in court. "On this account, the Court has adopted a policy of non-interference in the public prosecutor's conduct of preliminary investigation," the court said. The high court clarified that the DOJ circular applies only to the conduct of prosecutors during preliminary investigations and inquests.

Source: Philippine Star March 12, 2026 14:17 UTC