22/07/2026
The Personal Knowledge Requirement (Rule 130, Sec. 22)
Under Section 22, Rule 130 of the Revised Rules on Evidence, a witness can testify only to those facts which they know of their personal knowledge—that is, facts derived from their own perception.
If an NBI Director was not personally present at the crime scene or event and merely compiled information from informants, field agents, or affidavits, their testimony regarding the actual occurrence is .
An NBI Director's title or official capacity does not exempt them from the personal knowledge rule. Unless they personally witnessed the facts or the testimony falls strictly under an established exception (which official investigation reports generally do not for underlying facts), their testimony will be excluded as inadmissible hearsay.
