Which code governs criminal investigations and trials?

• A. Penal Code
• B. Administrative Code
• C. Constitutional provisions
• D. Code of Criminal Procedure

Answer: (D)

Criminal investigations and trials are guided by procedural rules that dictate how cases move from investigation to verdict. The Code of Criminal Procedure provides these rules, outlining how investigations are conducted, how arrests and charges are filed, how trials proceed, what evidence is admissible, and how judgments and appeals are handled, all while safeguarding due process. The Penal Code, in contrast, defines crimes and punishments—it's substantive law, not the procedural playbook. Constitutional provisions establish fundamental rights that may influence procedure, but they do not provide the full procedural framework. Administrative Code deals with the operation of government agencies, not criminal procedure. So, the Code of Criminal Procedure is the code that governs criminal investigations and trials.