INDEPENDENT CIVIL ACTIONS

Sec.  3.  When  civil  action  may  proceed  independently.  –  In  the cases provided in Articles 32, 33, 34 and 2176 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, the independent civil action may be brought by the offended  party.  It  shall  proceed  independently  of  the  criminal action  and  shall  require  only  a  preponderance  of  evidence.  In  no case, however, may the offended party recover damages twice for the same act or omission charged in the criminal action.

WHAT ARE THE INDEPENDENT CIVIL ACTIONS?

> The independent civil actions are those provided in Articles 32, 33, 34 and 2176 of the Civil Code
> They may proceed independently of the criminal action and shall require only a preponderance of evidence
> This  is  the  principle  of  independent  civil  actions—it  can  proceed independently from the criminal action.  Nonetheless, the offended party  may  not  have  double  recovery.    The  offended  party  only gets the bigger award.