Sufficiency  Of  Complaint  Or  Information

Sec.  6.  Sufficiency  of  complaint  or  information.  –  A  complaint  or information  is  sufficient  if  it  states  the  name  of  the  accused;  the designation  of  the  offense  given  by  the  statute;  the  acts  or omissions  complained  of  as  constituting  the  offense;  the  name  of the offended party; the approximate date of the commission of the offense; and the place where the offense was committed.
 
When an offense is committed by more than one person, all of them shall be included in the complaint or information.

WHEN IS A COMPLAINT OR INFORMATION DEEMED SUFFICIENT?

> It is deemed sufficient if it states the following:
o      The name of the accused
o      The designation of the offense as defined by statute
o      The  acts  or  omissions  complained  of  as  constituting  the offense
o      The name of the offended party
o      The approximate date of the commission of the offense
o      The place of the commission of the offense
>  Nothing in Section 6 or 8 of Rule 110 mandates that the material allegations  should  be  stated  in  the  preamble  or  caption  of  the Information (People v. Villanueva)
 
X WAS CHARGED WITH RAPE OF THE 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF HIS  COMMON-LAW  WIFE.    THE  INFORMATION  ONLY  ALLEGED MINORITY AND RELATIONSHIP IN THE TITLE.  VALID?

> Yes.  As held in People v. Villanueva, “Nothing in Section 6 or 8 of Rule 110 mandates that the material allegations should be stated in the preamble or caption of the Information”
 

WHAT IS THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE REQUIREMENTS TO DEEM A COMPLAINT OR INFORMATION TO BE SUFFICIENT?

> This  is  in  consonance  with  the  accused’s  right  to  be  informed  of
the nature and cause of the accusation against him