LESSON PLAN OUTLINE

COURSE CODE

CPS 317

COURSE TITLE

Law 3 (Criminal Evidence)

CREDIT UNITS

Three (3)

COURSE PRE-REQUISITES

Constitutional Law; Criminal Law 1- 2;

Forensic Chemistry and Medicine

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The subject emphasizes on the study of the evidentiary rules, particularly

applicable in a criminal proceeding, as embodied in the Revised Rules of Evidence,
pertinent special rules issued by the Supreme Court of the Philippines, such as the Rule
on Examination of Child Witness, Rule on DNA Evidence, Rules on Electronic Evidence
and the Judicial Affidavit Rule, and applicable Supreme Court decisions. It focuses on
why there are rules that restrict what a judge may hear, the details (principles, concepts
and doctrines) of the rules, and its importance to the effective performance of the law
enforcement professional.
COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the semester, the BSPS cadets will demonstrate knowledge of
evidentiary rules and other pertinent special rules. Specifically, the cadets will have the
ability to:
1. distinguish the different types of evidence in accordance with the classification under
the Revised Rules of Evidence and other laws with 90% accuracy;
2. discuss the requisites of admissibility of evidence pursuant to the prevailing
evidentiary rules;
3. develop roadmaps to admissibility of (various types of) evidence based on governing
evidentiary rules and standards;
4. apply the details (principles, concepts and doctrines) of the rules to different case
scenarios without compromising the admissibility of evidence; and
5. analyze various criminal offenses to produce meaningful and useful lists of evidence
that may be presented to prove the offenses.
COURSE OUTLINE
PRELIM COVERAGE
PART I. INTRODUCTION
A. Preliminary Matters

B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.

Scope of the Rules of Evidence

Admitting Evidence
Types of Evidence
Burden of Proof
Judicial Notice and Judicial Admissions
Presumptions

PART II. RELEVANCE AND COMPETENCE

A. Relevant Evidence
B. Competent Evidence
C. Mandatory Exclusion
D. Confessions
E. Character and Previous Conduct Evidence
F. Parol Evidence
MIDTERM COVERAGE
PART III. PROPER FOUNDATION
A. In General
B. Competency of a Witness
C. Opinion Rule
D. Authentication
FINAL COVERAGE
PART IV. PROPER FORM
A. Presentation of Evidence
B. Best Evidence Rule
PART V. NO EXCEPTIONS APPLY
A. Privileges
B. Hearsay
COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. SHORT QUIZZES: Weekly short Quizzes are designed to check whether the
students have read the course materials and/or paid attention to the class lectures,
nevertheless, all quizzes will be announced and scheduled. A maximum of 10 points
for each short quiz. This mode of assessment aims to help students transform
information to knowledge by the end of the semester.
2. GROUP PROJECT & PRESENTATION: The group project involves the preparation
and presentation of the key concepts, principles and rules on a pre-assigned section
or chapter of the course outline. The project will be presented and performed to the
class towards the end of each part.

3. GROUP EXERCISES/ASSIGNMENTS: Members of each group are also expected

to participate in group discussions or brainstorming on group exercises/assignments
involving case scenarios or questions on particular topics. Answers to the
questionnaires are submitted and graded as a group.
4. CLASS PARTICIPATION/ DISCUSSION/ SIMULATION, CASE SCENARIOS AND
ROLE PLAY: The students are expected to be prepared to recite and/or participate in
class discussion about the assigned readings. They are also expected to participate
in assigned simulation or role plays involving salient rules of evidence.
5. EXAMS (PRELIMS, MIDTERMS AND FINALS): Preliminary, Midterm and Final
exams are designed to assess whether students have gained knowledge and at the
same time apply what they have learned in real world situations. Students who
obtain a 95% class standing prior to the final exam, subject to the applicable
provisions of the PNPA Academic Guide, can be automatically exempted.