Ayon sa Section 8, Rule 117 ng Rules of Court, “a case shall not be provisionally dismissed except with the express consent of the accused and with notice to the offended party.
The provisional dismissal of the offense punishable by imprisonment not exceeding six (6) years or a fine of any amount, or both, shall become permanent one (1) year after issuance of the order without the case having been revived. With respect to offenses punishable by imprisonment of more than six (6) years, their provisional dismissal shall become permanent two (2) years after issuance of the order without the case having been revived.”
Ibig sabihin, hindi pa maituturing na final na dimissed na ang kaso, atang dismissal ay pansamantala lamang. Maaari pa poi tong i-revive,.
Depende sa penalty sa kasong nakasampa, maituturing na pong permanently dismissed ang kaso kung hindi i-revive sa loob ng isa o dalawang taon mula sa provisional dismissal. Kung lampas na ang angkop na panahon, maaaring mag-file sa korte ng motion para sa permanent dismissal ng kaso.