Plea Of Guilty To A Lesser Offense

Sec.  2.  Plea  of  guilty  to  a  lesser  offense.  –  At  arraignment,  the accused,  with  the  consent  of  the  offended  party  and  prosecutor, may be allowed by the trial court to plead guilty to a lesser offense which   is   necessarily   included   in   the   offense   charged.   After arraignment  but  before  trial,  the  accused  may  still  be  allowed  to plead guilty to said lesser offense after withdrawing his plea of not guilty. No amendment of the complaint or information is necessary.

WHAT  SHOULD  BE  DONE  IF  THERE  IS  A  PLEA  TO  A  LESSER OFFENSE? WHEN CAN THE ACCUSED PLEAD GUILTY TO A LESSER OFFENSE?

> During arraignment

1.    Offended party and prosecutor must be present

2.    Lesser  offense  must  necessarily  be  included  in  the original offense charged

3.    Offended party and prosecutor must consent to such plea

4.    If offended party is absent despite due notice, the court may allow accused to plead to a lesser offense

> After arraignment and before trial

1.    Withdraw the plea of not guilty
2.    Private offended party and prosecutor must give consent to the plea to lesser offense
3.    If  private  offended  party  is  absent  despite  due  notice, court may allow accused to plea to lesser offense 
4.    Enter plea for the lesser offense

> When the penalty imposable for the offense is at least 6 years and 1  day  or  a  fine  exceeding  P12000,  the  prosecutor  must  first submit his recommendation to the City or Provincial or the Chief State   Prosecutor   for   approval.      If   the   recommendation   is approved,  the  trial  prosecutor  may  then  consent  to  the  plea  of guilty to a lesser offense.