CONDUCT OF PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS

Sec. 2. Officers authorized to conduct preliminary investigations. – The following may conduct preliminary investigations:

(a) Provincial or City Prosecutors and their assistants;

(b)  Judges  of  the  Municipal  Trial  Courts  and  Municipal  Circuit Trial Courts;

(c) National and Regional State Prosecutors; and

(d) Other officers as may be authorized by law.

Their  authority  to  conduct  preliminary  investigations  shall  include all  crimes  cognizable  by  the  proper  court  in  their  respective territorial jurisdictions.

WHO MAY CONDUCT PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS?

1.    Provincial or city prosecutors and their assistants
2.    National and Regional State prosecutors
3.    COMELEC with respect to election offenses
4.    Ombudsman  with  respect  to  Sandiganbayan  offenses  and  other offenses committed by public officers
5.    PCGG with respect to ill-gotten wealth

CAN RTC JUDGES CONDUCT PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS?

> No, but this should not be confused with the authority of the RTC to  conduct  an  examination  for  the  purpose  of  determining probable cause when issuing a warrant of arrest