Criminal Law 1 Midterm Art 11-13
Criminal Law 1 Midterm Art 11-13
Criminal Law 1 Midterm Art 11-13
Primary Ref: The RPC 8th Edition by Luis B. Reyes interpretation favorable to him shall
Act. No. 3815 – An Act Revising the Penal prevail
Code and Other Penal Laws
(December 8, 1930) “Where the inculpatory facts admit of several
interpretations, one consistent with
Criminal Law – branch or division of law which accused’s innocence and another with his
defines crimes, treats of their nature, and guilt, the evidence thus adduced fails to
provides for their punishment. meet the test of moral certainty and it
becomes the constitutional duty of the Court
Limitation on the power of the lawmaking to acquit the accused.” [People vs. Sayana,
body to enact penal legislation under 1987 405 SCRA 243 (2003)]
Constitution:
1. No Ex Post Facto Law or Bill of Characteristics of Criminal (Penal) Laws
Attainder shall be enacted (Art.III,
Sec.22) 1. Generality – means that the criminal
2. No person shall be held to answer for a law of the country governs all persons
criminal offense without due process of within the country regardless of their
law (Art. III, Sec. 14[1]) race, belief, sex, or creed.
3. No to infliction of cruel punishments
R.A. No. 75 AN ACT TO PENALIZE ACTS
Ex Post Facto Law is one which: WHICH WOULD IMPAIR THE PROPER
• Makes criminal an act done before the OBSERVANCE BY THE REPUBLIC AND
passage of the law INHABITANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES OF
• Aggravates a crime, or makes it greater THE IMMUNITIES, RIGHT, AND
than it was PRIVILEGES OF DULY ACCREDITED
FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR
• Changes the punishment and inflicts a AGENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
greater punishment
• Alters legal rules of evidence, and
It is well settled that a consul is not
authorizes conviction upon less or
entitled to the privileges and immunities
different testimony than the law required
of an ambassador or minister, but is
• Assumes to regulate civil rights and subject to the laws and regulations of the
remedies only country to which he is accredited.
• Deprives a person accused of crime Schneckenburger vs. Moran, 63 Phil. 250
some lawful protection to which he has (1936)
become entitled
2. Territoriality – penal laws of the country
Bill of Attainder – is a legislative act which have force and effect within its territory.
inflicts punishment without trial. Its essence is
the substitution of a legislative act for a judicial 3. Prospectivity – penal laws only operate
determination of guilt. prospectively (moving forward); also
called irretrospectivity.
Construction of Penal Laws
• Liberally in favor of the accused Article 1. Time when Act takes effect. — This
• Strictly against the State Code shall take effect on the first day of
• Doctrine of Equipoise – when the January, nineteen hundred and thirtytwo.
evidence of the prosecution and of the
defense is equally balanced, the scale Theories in Criminal Laws
should be tilted in favor of the accused
in obedience to the constitutional (1) Classical (or Juristic) Theory
presumption of innocence. • Basis of criminal liability is free will and
• “voidforvagueness” doctrine the purpose of penalty is retribution
• Doctrine of Pro Reo – when a • Man is essentially a moral creature with
circumstance is susceptible to two absolute free will to choose between
interpretations, one favorable to the good and evil, thereby placing more
accused and the other against him, that
1. Should commit an offense while on a English Rule – such crimes are triable in that
Philippine ship or airship country, unless they merely affect things within
2. Should forge or counterfeit any coin the vessel or they refer to the internal
or currency note of the Philippine management thereof.
Islands or obligations and securities
issued by the Government of the
In the Philippines, we observe the English
Philippine Islands; Rule.
3. Should be liable for acts connected
with the introduction into these
Crimes not involving breach of public order Elements of felonies in general are:
committed on board a foreign merchant
vessel in transit not triable by our courts. 1. That there must be an act or omission,
There is deceit when the act is performed Acts executed negligently are voluntary.
with deliberate intent and there is fault when
the wrongful act results from imprudence, Reasons:
negligence, lack of foresight, or lack of skill. 1. Revised Penal Code is based on
Classical Theory (basis of criminal
liability is human free will).
Felony acts and omissions punishable by the 2. Act or omissions punished by law are
Revised Penal Code. always voluntary, since man is a rational
being.
Felony violation of Revised Penal Code 3. Felonies by dolo must necessarily be
Offense violation of Special Laws Crime voluntary; in felonies by culpa,
violation of ordinary/public law imprudence consists in voluntarily but
(in some books, “infraction”) without malice, resulting to material
injury.
One who acts with freedom and intelligence, In Ah Chong case (U.S. v. Ah Chong, 15 Phil.
but without intent, he is not criminally liable. 488) there is an innocent mistake of fact without
any fault or carelessness on the part of the
accused.
Existence of intent is shown by overt acts of a
person.
In the Oanis case (People vs. Oanis, 74 Phil.
257), the accused found no circumstances
Intent, being a mental act, is difficult to prove. It whatever which would press them to immediate
can only be deduced from external acts action.
performed by a person.
Dolo is not required in crimes punished by
Criminal intent is presumed from the special laws.
commission of an unlawful act.
Intent to commit the crime there must be
Criminal intent and will to commit a crime are criminal intent
always presumed to exist unless the contrary
shall appear. (U.S. vs. Apostol, 14 Phil. 92, 93)
Intent to perpetrate the crime it is enough that
prohibited act is done freely and consciously
But the presumption of criminal intent does not
arise from the proof of the commission of an act
which is not unlawful. In those crimes punished by special laws, the
act alone, irrespective of its motives, constitutes
the offense.
actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea –
a crime is not committed if the mind of the
person performing to act complained be Good faith and absence of criminal intent not
innocent. valid as defenses in crimes punished by special
laws.
mala in se mala prohibita
Motive – the moving power which impels one to
Inherently immoral and Wrong because of
action for definite result.
wrongful in nature prohibition by law
Generally refers to Generally refers to
Motive is not an essential of a crime, and need
Revised Penal Code criminal Special Laws not be proved for purposes of conviction.
(People vs. Aposaga, 108 SCRA 574, 595)
the identification of the accused was persons or property, were it not for
from unreliable source (People vs. the inherent impossibility of its
Beltran, No. L31860, November 29, accomplishment or an account of the
1974, 61 SCRA 246, 254255) employment of inadequate or
there are no witnesses to the crime ineffectual means.
(People vs. Melgar, No. L75268,
January 29, 1988, 157 SCRA 718, 725)
evidence is merely circumstantial Requisites of Article 4(1):
(People vs. Oquiño, No. L37483, June • Intentional felony has been committed
24, 1983, 122 SCRA 797, 808) • Wrong done to aggrieved party
O DIRECT
When motive is material O NATURAL consequence
(Atty.L.Macababbad) O LOGICAL
1. the act brings 2 or more crimes
2. question of accidental or intentional “el que causa de la causa es causa del mal
3. need to determine the nature of crime causado” he who is the cause of the cause is
4. claims for selfdefense the cause of the evil caused
5. perpetrator not identified
EXCEPTION: when there is an intervening or
Motive is established by testimony of witnesses a supervening cause or event
on the acts or statements of the accused before
or immediately after the commission of the When a person has not committed a felony, he is
offense. Such deeds or words may indicate the not criminally liable for the result which is not
motive. (Barrioquinto vs. Fernandez, 82 Phil. intended.
642, 649)
Error in Personae – mistake in the identity
Disclosure of the motive is an aid in completing (requires 2 persons)
the proof of the commission of the crime.
Aberratio Ictus – mistake in the blow
But proof of motive is not sufficient to support a (requires 3 persons)
conviction.
Praeter Intentionem – injurious result is greater
(requires 2 persons) than that intended
At any rate, motive becomes relevant, and its
absence may assume determinative significance,
only when the accused has not been positively Any person who creates in another’s mind an
identified, and proof thereof becomes essential immediate sense of danger which causes the
only when evidence of commission of the crime is latter to do something resulting in the latter’s
purely circumstantial or is inconclusive. This injuries, is liable for the resulting injuries.
Court has time and again ruled that lack of motive
does not preclude conviction when the crime and
the participation of the accused therein are The felony committed must be the proximate
definitely established. People vs. Ballinas, 202 cause of the resulting injury.
SCRA 516, 524 (1991)
Impossible crimes [Article 4(2)], requisites:
Lack of motive may be an aid in showing the
innocence of the accused. 1. The act performed would be offense
against persons or property;
Art. 4. Criminal liability. — Criminal liability 2. The act was done with evil intent;
shall be incurred:
3. That its accomplishment is inherently
1. By any person committing a felony impossible, or that the means employed
(delito) although the wrongful act is either inadequate or ineffectual;
done be different from that which he
intended.
2. By any person performing an act
which would be an offense against
4. That the act performed should not render the proper decision, and shall report
constitute a violation of another to the Chief Executive, through the
provision of the Revised Penal Code. Department of Justice, the reasons which
induce the court to believe that said act
In our jurisdiction, impossible crimes are should be made the subject of legislation.
recognized. The impossibility of accomplishing
the criminal intent is not merely a defense, but an In the same way, the court shall submit to the
act penalized by itself. Furthermore, the phrase
Chief Executive, through the Department of
"inherent impossibility" that is found in Article
4(2) of the Revised Penal Code makes no Justice, such statement as may be deemed
distinction between factual or physical proper, without suspending the execution of
impossibility and legal impossibility. Intod vs. CA, the sentence, when a strict enforcement of
215 SCRA 52 the provisions of this Code would result in
the imposition of a clearly excessive penalty,
It is but, a considered opinion of one taking into consideration the degree of
Criminal Law Book author (Abelardo C. malice and the injury caused by the offense.
Estrada) that the Supreme Court erroneously
applied Art. 4(2) in the case above (Intod vs. The first paragraph contemplates a trial of
CA). The law applicable should be Art.4(1). criminal case not punishable by law, requiring
The accused are liable for the crime that the judge to make a report to the Chief
resulted from their felonious act, that is, Executive, through the Secretary of Justice,
destruction of house, which is Malicious stating the reasons which induce him to believe
Mischief (Art. 327) as a result. that the said act should be made the subject of
penal legislation.
Crimes Against Persons:
• Parricide (Art. 246) The second paragraph, in case of excessive
• Murder (Art. 248) penalties, requires the judge to submit a
• Homicide (Art. 249) statement to the Chief Executive, through the
• Infanticide (Art. 255) Secretary of Justice, recommending executive
• Abortion (Arts. 256259) clemency, in consideration of the degree of
• Duel (Arts. 260 and 261) malice and the injury caused by the offense.
• Physical Injuries (Arts. 262266) This shall be made without suspending the
• Rape (Arts. 266A, B, C, and D) sentence.
Consummated felony – all the elements Under Art. 6, in relation to Art. 335, of the Revised
necessary for its execution and accomplishment Penal Code, rape is attempted when the offender
are present. commences the commission of rape directly by
overt acts, and does not perform all the acts of
In determining the stage of felony, consider: execution which should produce the crime of rape
by reason of some cause or accident other than
• Nature of offense his own spontaneous desistance. All the elements
• Elements constituting felony of attempted rape and only of attempted rape are
• Manner of committing present in the instant case, hence, the accused
should be punished only for it. People vs.
All are deemed to be consummated: Campuhan, 329 SCRA 270 (2000)
• Theft there is no crime of frustrated Art. 7. When light felonies are punishable. —
theft. Light felonies are punishable only when they
have been consummated, with the exception
Robbery there is no frustrated of those committed against person or
robbery even if the offender did not property.
materially benefited.
Light felonies under the Revised Penal Code:
• Arson even with partial or incomplete • Slight physical injuries (Art.266)
damages. • Theft (Art. 309, par.7,8)
• Alteration of boundary marks (Art.313)
Impossible crimes there are NO • Malicious mischief (Art. 328 par.3; Art
attempted or frustrated impossible 329, par.3)
crimes. • Intriguing against honor (Art. 364)
CASES OF CONSPIRACY
The commission of felonies against persons or
property presupposes in the offender moral Direct proof is not essential to establish
depravity. conspiracy; which may be inferred from the acts
of the assailants before, during and after the
commission of the crime. In a conspiracy, it is not
Art. 8. Conspiracy and proposal to commit necessary to show that all the conspirators
felony. — Conspiracy and proposal to actually committed all the elements of the crime
commit felony are punishable only in the charged; what is important is that all of them
cases in which the law specially provides a performed specific acts with such closeness and
penalty therefor. coordination as to indicate an unmistakably
common purpose or design to commit the crime.
A conspiracy exists when two or more Thus, the act of one becomes the act of all, and
each of them will thereby be deemed equally
persons come to an agreement concerning guilty of all the crimes committed. People vs.
the commission of a felony and decide to Caraang, 418 SCRA 321 (2003)
commit it.
There is proposal when the person who has Conspiracy must be proved as convincingly as
decided to commit a felony proposes its the criminal act itself. Like any element of the
execution to some other person or persons. offense charged, conspiracy must be established
by proof beyond reasonable doubt. Conspiracy
A mere conspiracy or proposal is not a felony, may be shown through circumstantial evidence;
except when the law specifically provides a deduced from the mode and manner in which the
penalty therefor. offense was perpetrated; or inferred from the acts
of the accused pointing to a joint purpose and
design, a concerted action, and a community of
Requisites of conspiracy: interest. People vs. Gregorio, 412 SCRA 90 (2003)
• That two or more persons came to an
agreement;
• The agreement concerned the
commission of a felony; Previous agreement to commit a crime is not
essential to establish conspiracy, it being
• That the execution of the felony be sufficient that the condition attending its
decided upon. commission and the acts executed may be
indicative of a common design to accomplish a
Cases where mere conspiracy is a felony: criminal purpose and objective. If there is a chain
• Conspiracy x x x to commit treason of circumstances to that effect, conspiracy has
(Art.115) been established. People vs. Esponilla, 404 SCRA
421 (2003)
• Conspiracy x x x to commit coup d’etat,
rebellion or insurrection (Art.136)
• Conspiracy to commit sedition (Art.141)
• Monopolies and combinations in The existence of conspiracy cannot be presumed.
restraint of trade (Art.186) Similar to the physical act constituting the crime
itself, the elements of conspiracy must be proven
Quantum of evidence: A conspiracy must be beyond reasonable doubt. People vs. Samudio, 353
established by positive and conclusive evidence. SCRA 746 (2001)
Requisites of proposal:
• That a person has decided to commit a
felony, and Conspiracy is always predominantly mental in
composition because it consists primarily of a
• That he proposes its execution to some
meeting of minds and intent. Conspiracy must be
other person or persons.
proved with the same quantum of evidence as the
crime itself, that is, by proof beyond reasonable
Cases where mere proposal is a felony: doubt. However, direct proof is not required.
• x x x proposal to commit treason Conspiracy may be proved by circumstantial
(Art.115) evidence. People vs. Caballero, 400 SCRA 424
• x x x proposal to commit coup d’etat, (2003)
rebellion or insurrection (Art.136)
Third. That there be no other practical and It is axiomatic that the mere thrusting of one’s
less harmful means of preventing it. hand into his pocket as if for the purpose of
drawing a weapon is not unlawful aggression.
5. Any person who acts in the fulfillment of a Even the cocking of a rifle without aiming the
duty or in the lawful exercise of a right or firearm at any particular target is not sufficient to
office. conclude that one’s life was in imminent danger.
Possible exception: LIBEL (varying opinion) In the case at bar, petitioner (Ricardo) utterly
failed to adduce sufficient proof of the existence
Threat is not an unlawful aggression. of a positively strong act of real aggression on
the part of the deceased (Senando), with the
exception of his selfserving allegations.
2. Reasonable necessity of the means
employed to prevent or repel the
unlawful aggression, and Art.11(3) Defense of Stranger
3. Lack of sufficient provocation on the part With the absence of unlawful aggression that can
of the person defending himself. be attributed to the victim, it becomes
unnecessary to determine the remaining
requisites for they obviously have no leg to stand
Unlawful aggression is a condition sine qua non on. Thus, in this case, the defense of stranger will
for the justifying circumstance of self defense. It not lie, complete or incomplete. Almeda vs. CA, 80
contemplates an actual, sudden and unexpected SCRA 575
attack, or imminent danger thereof, and not
merely a threatening or intimidating attitude. The
person defending himself must have been
[W]hen the victim fell down and staggered after
attacked with actual physical force or with actual petitioner shot him pointblank in the head, any
use of weapon. Of all the elements, unlawful supposed unlawful aggression by the former,
aggression, i.e., the sudden unprovoked attack on assuming that it has begun, had ceased. If so,
the person defending himself, is indispensable. the one making the defense has no more right to
People vs. Rubiso, 399 SCRA 267 (2003) kill or even wound the former aggressor.
The reasonableness of the resistance is also a In ordinary cases, the accuser is the first to
requirement of the justifying circumstance of self present evidence.
Self – defense or defense of one's rights under
defense paragraph 1 of Article 11, Revised Penal Code.
When the appellant fired his shotgun from his In cases of selfdefense, defense of relatives,
of
property? window, killing his two victims, his resistance was or defense of stranger, the accused has the
disproportionate to the attack. People vs. Narvaez, burden of proof.
121 SCRA 389 (1983)
• This is called Reverse Trial
Art. 429 of the New Civil Code provides: (Admission and Avoidance)
The owner or lawful possessor of a thing Art. 12. Circumstances which exempt from
has the right to exclude any person from the criminal liability. — the following are exempt
enjoyment and disposal thereof. For this from criminal liability:
purpose, he may use such force as may 1. An imbecile or an insane person, unless
be reasonably necessary to repel or the latter has acted during a lucid interval.
prevent an actual or threatened unlawful
physical invasion or usurpation of his When the imbecile or an insane person has
property (Emphasis supplied). committed an act which the law defines as a
felony (delito), the court shall order his
Art.11(6) Obedience to a Lawful Order of a confinement in one of the hospitals or
Superior asylums established for persons thus
afflicted, which he shall not be permitted to
leave without first obtaining the permission
An individual is justified in performing an act in of the same court.
obedience to an order issued by a superior if such
order, is for some lawful purpose and that the 2. A person under nine years of age.
means used by the subordinate to carry out said 3. A person over nine years of age and under
order is lawful (Reyes, Revised Penal Code, Vol. 1, fifteen, unless he has acted with
1981 ed., p. 212). Notably, the alleged order of discernment, in which case, such minor shall
Hiong's superior Chua Kim Leng Timothy, is a be proceeded against in accordance with the
patent violation not only of Philippine, but of provisions of Article 80 of this Code.
international law. Such violation was committed
on board a Philippineoperated vessel. Moreover,
When such minor is adjudged to be
the means used by Hiong in carrying out said criminally irresponsible, the court, in
order was equally unlawful. People vs. Tulin, 364 conformably with the provisions of this and
SCRA 10 (2001) the preceding paragraph, shall commit him
to the care and custody of his family who
shall be charged with his surveillance and
Starting year 2004 thru R.A. 9262, additional
justifying circumstance: education otherwise, he shall be committed
BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME (see p.18)
to the care of some institution or person Art. 12, Pars. 2 & 3 of Revised Penal Code
mentioned in said Article 80. has been amended by Sec.6 of R.A. No. 9344
4. Any person who, while performing a lawful
act with due care, causes an injury by mere SEC. 6. Minimum Age of Criminal
accident without fault or intention of causing Responsibility. A child fifteen (15) years of
it. age or under at the time of the commission
of the offense shall be exempt from criminal
5. Any person who act under the compulsion liability. However, the child shall be subjected
of irresistible force. to an intervention program pursuant to
6. Any person who acts under the impulse of Section 20 of this Act.
an uncontrollable fear of an equal or greater
injury. A child above fifteen (15) years but below
7. Any person who fails to perform an act eighteen (18) years of age shall likewise be
required by law, when prevented by some exempt from criminal liability and be
lawful insuperable cause. subjected to an intervention program, unless
he/she has acted with discernment, in which
case, such child shall be subjected to the
Justifying Exempting appropriate proceedings in accordance with
No crime committed No criminal liability this Act.
No civil liability With civil liability
With Civil liability for No Civil liability for The exemption from criminal liability herein
Par.4 Par.4 established does not include exemption from
civil liability, which shall be enforced in
accordance with existing laws.
Imbecility (always exempt) exists while a
person of advanced age, has a mental
development of a child between 2 and 7 years of Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006
age.
Intervention
Insanity (exempt, except if on lucid intervals) SEC. 20. Children Below the Age of Criminal
Responsibility. If it has been determined that
when there is a complete deprivation of freedom the child taken into custody is fifteen
and intelligence of the will. Mere abnormality is
not enough. (15) years old or below, the authority which
will have an initial contact with the child has
the duty to immediately release the child to
Crazy (not an exemption) is not the same as the custody of his/her parents or guardian, or
insane. The popular conception of the word in the absence thereof, the child's nearest
“crazy” is being used to describe a person or an relative. Said authority shall give notice to
act unnatural or out of the ordinary. A man may the local social welfare and development
behave in a crazy manner but it does not officer who will determine the appropriate
necessarily and conclusively prove that he is programs in consultation with the child and
legally so. People vs. Florendo, 413 SCRA 132 to the person having custody over the child.
If the parents, guardians or nearest relatives
(2003)
cannot be located, or if they refuse to take
custody, the child may be released to any of
Effects of Insanity to the Accused: the following: a duly registered
nongovernmental or religious organization; a
a) At the time of the commission of the barangay official or a member of the
Crime – exempting. Barangay Council for the Protection of
Children (BCPC); a local social welfare and
development officer; or when and where
b) During trial – criminal proceedings will appropriate, the DSWD. If the child referred
be suspended. to herein has been found by the Local Social
Welfare and Development Office to be
c) After judgment or while serving abandoned, neglected or abused by his
sentence – the execution of judgment parents, or in the event that the parents will
or sentence will be suspended and the not comply with the prevention program, the
court shall order the accused to be proper petition for involuntary commitment
committed to a hospital. shall be filed by the DSWD or the Local
Social Welfare and Development Office
pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 603,
otherwise ,known as "The Child and Youth harm or injury to someone or to something not in the
Welfare Code". least in the mind of the actor – an accidental result
flowing out of a legal act. Indeed, accident is an event
14 years old and below that happens outside the sway of our will, and
Parents although it comes about through some act of our will,
Guardian it lies beyond the bounds of humanly foreseeable
consequences. In short, accident presupposes the
Nearest of kin lack of intention to commit the wrong done.
N.G.O. or religious (Talampas vs. People, G.R. No. 180219, November
organizations Barangay 23, 2011)
chairperson/officials DSWD
Art. 12, Par. 5 Under the Compulsion of an
Diversion Irresistable Force
SEC. 23. System of Diversion. Children in
conflict with the law shall undergo diversion The accused acts only not without a will but is
programs without undergoing court
proceedings subject to the conditions herein against his will. The irresistible force must be
provided: either physical force or violence and must come
(a) Where the imposable penalty for the from a third person and produces an effect upon
crime committee is not more than six (6) the individual that in spite of all resistance, it
years imprisonment, the law enforcement reduces him to a mere instrument and as such
officer or Punong Barangay with the incapable of committing a crime.
assistance of the local social welfare and
development officer or other members of Art. 12, Par. 6 Under the Impulse of an
the LCPC shall conduct mediation, family Uncontrollable Fear of an Equal or greater
conferencing and conciliation and, where Injury
appropriate, adopt indigenous modes of
conflict resolution in accordance with the
best interest of the child with a view to The fear must be insuperable and the person
accomplishing the objectives of restorative who acts under insuperable fear is completely
justice and the formulation of a diversion deprived of freedom.
program. The child and his/her family shall
be present in these activities. Actus me invito factus non est meus factus –
(b) In victimless crimes where the an act done against my will is not my act.
imposable penalty is not more than six (6)
years imprisonment, the local social
welfare and development officer shall meet Art. 12, Par. 7 Prevented by some Lawful
with the child and his/her parents or Insuperable Cause
guardians for the development of the
appropriate diversion and rehabilitation Insuperable cause – a cause which prevents a
program, in coordination with the BCPC; person to do what the law requires. It applies to
(c) Where the imposable penalty for the felonies by omission.
crime committed exceeds six (6) years
imprisonment, diversion measures may be Prescribed filing of cases, within:
resorted to only by the court.
12 hours for light felony
18 hours for less grave felony
16 and 17 years old acting with discernment 36 hours for grave felony
If 6 or less years of imprisonment: ADDITIONAL EXEMPTING CIRCUMSTANCES:
Reconciliation thru barangay or police
(by reason of jurisprudence)
If more than 6 years of imprisonment:
Suspended proceedings/trial • Absolutory causes – are those where
the act committed is a crime but for
reasons of public policy the accused is
Art. 12, Par. 4 Performing a Lawful Act with exempt from criminal liability.
Due Care
• Instigation – as exempting
[T]he legal provision pertinent to accident,
contemplates a situation where a person is in fact in circumstances for law and peace
the act of doing something legal, exercising due care, officers; does not apply to private
diligence and prudence, but in the process produces persons.
Article 332 provides for an absolutory cause in 8. That the offender is deaf and dumb, blind
the crimes of theft, estafa (or swindling) and
or otherwise suffering some physical defect
malicious mischief. It limits the responsibility of
the offender to civil liability and frees him from
which thus restricts his means of action,
criminal liability by virtue of his relationship to the defense, or communications with his fellow
offended party. x x x The “continuing affinity beings.
view”considers that, where statutes have
indicated an intent to benefit steprelatives or in 9. Such illness of the offender as would
laws, the “tie of affinity” between these people diminish the exercise of the willpower of the
and their relativesbymarriage is not to be offender without however depriving him of
regarded as terminated upon the death of one of the consciousness of his acts.
the married parties. [This] view is more consistent
with the language and spirit of Article 332(1) of the
Revised Penal Code. Intestate Estate of Manolita 10. And, finally, any other circumstances of a
Gonzales Vda. De Carungcong vs. People, G.R. No. similar nature and analogous to those above
181409, February 11, 2010. mentioned.
The act of the offended party must be 7. That the offender had voluntarily surrendered
unlawful or unjust. himself to a person in authority or his agents, or
that he had voluntarily confessed his guilt before
Exercise of a right or fulfillment of a duty is the court prior to the presentation of the
not a proper source of passion or evidence for the prosecution;
obfuscation.
Voluntary surrender cannot be appreciated The physical defect referred to in this paragraph
where the accused fled immediately after the must affect the means of action, defense or
killing and took him more than a monthanda half communication of the accused. It must relate to
to surrender to the authorities. Peolple vs. the offense committed.
Almendras, 372 SCRA 737
The fact that the accused is deaf is not
Voluntary surrender must be made to a person mitigating in homicide or rape.
in authority or his agent. The law does not
require that the surrender must be before or Art. 13, Par. 9
after the issuance of warrant of arrest. Surrender
to the Treasurer is not mitigating. He is a public 9. Such illness of the offender as would diminish
officer but not a person in authority. the exercise of the will power of the offender
without however, depriving him of the
Person in authority – one who is directly consciousness of his acts.
vested with jurisdiction which is the power to
govern and to execute the laws, whether as an The Supreme Court in the Marivic Genosa case
individual or a member of some court or only appreciated “battered woman’s syndrome”
governmental corporation, board or commission. only as a mitigating circumstance that
(Art. 152, RPC) diminishes will power.
Agent of a person in authority – one who by After the Genosa case RA 9282 was enacted
direct provision of the law or by election or by and now a new Justifying Circumstance. The
appointment by competent authority is charged battered woman does not incur both criminal
with the maintenance of public order and and civil liabilities. (also see p.12)
security of life and property and any private
person who comes to aid of a person in Art. 13, Par. 10
authority. (Art. 152, as amended by RA 1978)
10. Any other circumstances similar in nature
[T]he appellant’s alleged surrender to the
barangay chairman was not voluntary. On the
and analogous to those above mentioned.
contrary, it was solely motivated by self
preservation from what he feared was an Examples:
imminent retaliation from the immediate relatives • extreme poverty, as similar to state of
of Alfredo. Consequently, the same cannot be necessity
appreciated in his favor. People vs. dela Cruz, 416
SCRA 24 (November 18, 2003) • impulse of jealousy, similar to passion
and obfuscation
• voluntary return of funds in
Voluntary plea of guilty, to be mitigating:
malversation, similar to voluntary
• the offender spontaneously confessed surrender
his guilt
• over 60 years old with failing sight,
• the confession of guilt was made before analogous to a person over 70 years of
a competent court age and voluntary surrender
• the confession of guilt was made prior to
the presentation of evidence by the Chapter Four
prosecution CIRCUMSTANCE WHICH
AGGRAVATE CRIMINAL LIABILITY
Art. 13, Par. 8
Art. 14. Aggravating circumstances. — The
BASIS: Diminution of voluntariness following are aggravating circumstances:
8. That the offender is deaf and dumb, blind or 1. That advantage be taken by the offender of
otherwise suffering some physical defect which his public position.
thus restricts his means of action, defense or
communication with his fellow beings. 2. That the crime be committed in contempt
or with insult to the public authorities.
3. That the act be committed with insult or in any other artifice involving great waste and
disregard of the respect due the offended ruin.
party on account of his rank, age, or sex, or
that is be committed in the dwelling of the 13. That the act be committed with evident
offended party, if the latter has not given premeditation.
provocation.
14. That the craft, fraud or disguise be
4. That the act be committed with abuse of employed.
confidence or obvious ungratefulness.
15. That advantage be taken of superior
5. That the crime be committed in the palace strength, or means be employed to weaken
of the Chief Executive or in his presence, or the defense.
where public authorities are engaged in the
discharge of their duties, or in a place 16. That the act be committed with treachery
dedicated to religious worship. (alevosia).
6. That the crime be committed in the night There is treachery when the offender commits any
time, or in an uninhabited place, or by a of the crimes against the person, employing
band, whenever such circumstances may means, methods, or forms in the execution
facilitate the commission of the offense. thereof which tend directly and specially to insure
its execution, without risk to himself arising from
the defense which the offended party might make.
Whenever more than three armed
malefactors shall have acted together in the
17. That means be employed or
commission of an offense, it shall be deemed
circumstances brought about which add
to have been committed by a band.
ignominy to the natural effects of the act.
7. That the crime be committed on the 18. That the crime be committed after an
occasion of a conflagration, shipwreck, unlawful entry.
earthquake, epidemic or other calamity or
misfortune.
There is an unlawful entry when an entrance is
effected by a way not intended for the purpose.
8. That the crime be committed with the aid
of armed men or persons who insure or 19. That as a means to the commission of a
afford impunity. crime a wall, roof, floor, door, or window be
broken.
9. That the accused is a recidivist.
20. That the crime be committed with the aid
A recidivist is one who, at the time of his trial for of persons under fifteen years of age or by
one crime, shall have been previously convicted
means of motor vehicles, motorized
by final judgment of another crime embraced in
the same title of this Code. watercraft, airships, or other similar means.
(As amended by R.A. 5438).
10. That the offender has been previously
punished by an offense to which the law 21. That the wrong done in the commission
attaches an equal or greater penalty or for of the crime be deliberately augmented by
two or more crimes to which it attaches a causing other wrong not necessary for its
lighter penalty. commissions.
12. That the crime be committed by means of 1. Generic – that apply to all crimes. It
inundation, fire, poison, explosion, stranding increases the penalty up to maximum
of a vessel or international damage thereto, period prescribed in the crime. It may be
derailment of a locomotive, or by the use of offset by mitigating circumstance
Ex. Dwelling, nighttime, recidivism
If the accused could have perpetrated the crime Offended party must not give provocation.
without occupying his position, then there is no
abuse of public position. In the case before us, no If provocation was:
evidence was adduced to show that the killing of • Given by the owner of the dwelling;
Zandro Vargas was in any way facilitated by the • Sufficient; and,
accusedappellant’s public position. It was not
even shown whether the accusedappellant wore • Immediate to the commission of the
his uniform or used his service firearm when he crime.
committed the crime. People vs. Sumaoy, G.R. No. Then dwelling is NOT aggravating.
105961, October 22, 1996
Dwelling includes:
• Dependencies In the case at bar, the accused neither sought the
• Foot of the staircase (dissented) nighttime nor took advantage of it to commit the
• Enclosure under the house crime with greater facility or to escape. If he had
• Bed spacing hidden behind the tree and attacked the deceased
• Paternal home without warning or availed himself of the
darkness to prevent his being recognized or to
• House of relatives escape, then nocturnity would have been an
• Guest rooms aggravating circumstance. People vs. Coderes,
130 SCRA 134 (1981)
Art. 14, Par. 4
Nighttime – (Viada) that period of darkness
That the crime With abuse of confidence or beginning at the end of dusk and ending at
obvious ungratefulness dawn.
2. That the offender abused such trust by Uninhabitated place answers the issue: Whether
committing the crime against the or not in the place of the commission of the
offended party. offense there was a reasonable possibility of the
victim receiving some help.
3. That the abuse of confidence facilitated
the commission of the crime. Band – whenever more than three armed
malefactors shall have acted together in the
Ungratefulness must be obvious, i.e. manifest commission of an offense (all must be
and clear principals by direct participation).
As to nighttime, this circumstance is considered BASIS: Reference to the time of the commission
aggravating only when (1) it was especially of the crime.
sought by the offender; or (2) the offender took
advantage of it; or (3) it facilitated the commission
of the crime by ensuring the offender’s immunity REASON: Debased form of criminality met in
from identification or capture. x x x The mere fact one who, in the midst of a great calamity, instead
that the killing was committed at night would not of lending aid to the afflicted, adds to their
suffice to sustain nocturnity for, by, and of itself. suffering by taking advantage of their misfortune
People vs. Avendano, 396 SCRA 309 (2003) to despoil them.
Recidivism Reiteracion
Art. 14, Par. 9 Offender previously Offender previously
convicted by final punished
judgment
Recidivist (generic aggravating circumstance) Offense must be Offenses are not
embraced in the same title embraced in the same
BASIS: Greater perversity of the offender, as of the Code title of the Code
shown by his inclination to crimes. If present, always Not always aggravating;
aggravating depends on discretion of
Requisites: the court
When there is no actual design to kill a person in Disguise – resorting to any device to conceal
burning a house, it is plain arson even if a identity.
person is killed.
Art. 14, Par. 13 Applicable only for crimes against persons (e.g.
homicide). Sometimes with crimes against
Evident Premeditation persons and property (robbery with rape).
Requisites, the prosecution must prove: Abuse of superior strength cannot likewise be
appreciated even if there were at least two
1. The time when the offender determined assailants as superiority in number visavis that of
to commit the crime; the victim does not of itself warrant a finding of
abuse of superior strength. There must exist
proof that the attackers deliberately took
2. An act manifestly indicating that the advantage of their superior strength. People vs.
culprit has clung to his determination; Cantojos, 370 SCRA 105 (2001)
Chapter Five
ALTERNATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES INTOXICATION
When mitigating When aggravating
If not habitual When habitual
Art. 15. Their concept. — Alternative Not subsequent to the plan Intentional
circumstances are those which must be
taken into consideration as aggravating or DEGREE OF INSTRUCTION
mitigating according to the nature and When mitigating When aggravating
effects of the crime and the other conditions Low degree High degree
attending its commission. They are the When schooling was When offender took
relationship, intoxication and the degree of confined in studying and advantage of the
instruction and education of the offender. finishing caton only degree
RELATIONSHIP
Accessories are not liable for light felonies
Crimes When When
against mitigating aggravating
Persons Less serious Less serious physical Rules relative to light felonies:
physical injuries, slight physical • Punishable only when consummated
injuries, slight injuries, if the offended (Art.7, RPC)
physical party is higher in • Punishable if committed against persons
injuries, if the degree; or property, even if attempted or
offended frustrated (Art.7, RPC)
party is lower When admitted: • Only principals and accomplices are
in degree; ascendants, liable for light felonies (Art.16, RPC)
descendants, legitimate,
natural or adopted • Accessories are not liable for light
brothers or sisters, felonies, even if committed against
relatives by affinity within persons or property (Art.16, RPC)
the same degrees;
Chastity N/A Always aggravating Only natural persons can be active subject of
Property Robbery, N/A crime.
Usurpation, (No criminal, only civil
Fraudulent liability on theft, Reasons:
insolvency, swindling and
Arson malicious mischief)
• The RPC requires that the culprit should 3. Those who cooperate in the commission
have acted with personal malice or of the offense by another act without which it
negligence. would not have been accomplished.
• A juridical person cannot commit a crime
where willful purpose or malicious intent In conspiracy (committing felony), act of one is
is required. act of all. It may exist even without evident
premeditation.
• There is substitution of deprivation of
liberty (subsidiary imprisonment) for
pecuniary penalties in case of In abduction, all are liable even if only one acted
insolvency. with lewd design. (lewd = obscene)
• Other penalties consisting in
imprisonment and other deprivation of In multiple rape, each rapist is equally liable for
liberty, like destierro, can be executed the other rapes.
only against individuals.
Requisites of Par.1:
1. Participation in the criminal resolution
Juridical persons are criminally liable under (conspiracy);
certain special laws
2. Culprits carried out their plan and
personally took part in its execution, by
Examples: acts which directly tended to the same
• B.P. Blg. 68 – Corporation Code end.
• Com. Act No. 146 – Public Service Law
• B.P. Blg. 178 – Revised Securities Act Conditions:
• B.P. 881 – Omnibus Election Code
1. Directly forcing or inducing the other to
commit a crime;
In such cases, only the following are liable:
2. Principal by direct participation
• Principals committed the act induced.
O By direct participation
O By induction
Forcing to commit crime:
O By indispensable cooperation
• By irresistible force
• Accomplices
• By uncontrollable fear
Manager of a (juridical entity) is liable even Inducing to commit a crime:
when there is no evidence of his • Giving price, reward or promise
participation in the commission of the • Using words of command
offense
• Internal Revenue Code
Requisite of Par.2:
• Motor Vehicle Law
1. That the inducement be made directly
with the intention of producing the
Passive subject of crime holder of the injured commission of the crime, and
right. (man, juristic person, group, the State)
2. That such inducement be the
determining cause of the commission of
Corpse or animal cannot be passive subject the crime by material executor.
Exception: Art.353 of RPC, defamation against Principal by inducement Offender who made
memory of the dead. proposal to commit
Inducement to inducement to
commit crime commit crime
In case of doubt, the participation of the offender Accessory distinguished from principal and
will be considered that of an accomplice rather accomplice
than of a principal. • The accessory does not take direct part
or cooperate in, or induce, the
Accomplices Conspirators commission of crime.
Know and agree Know and agree • The accessory does not cooperate in
with criminal with criminal the commission of the offense by acts
design design either prior thereto or simultaneous
therewith.
Came to know Decided upon • The participation of the accessory in all
after principals such course of cases always takes place after the
decided action commission of the crime.
Concur only Decided that crime P.D. No. 1612 (AntiFencing Law of 1979)
be committed
Merely instruments Fencing – the act of any person who, with intent
whose acts not The authors of the to gain for himself or for another, shall buy,
essential crime receive, possess, keep, acquire, conceal, sell or
dispose of, or shall buy and sell, or in any other
manner deal in any article, item, object, or
To be considered as accomplice, the following anything, of value which he knows, or should be
must concur: known to him, to have been derived from the
1. That there be community of design, i.e. proceeds of the crime of robbery and theft.
knowing the criminal design;
Fence – includes any person, firm, association, or to be used in the investigation of, or
corporation or partnership or organization official proceedings in, criminal cases;
who/which commits the act of fencing. (c) harboring or concealing, or facilitating the
escape of, any person he knows, or has
reasonable ground to believe or suspect,
Value of Property Penalty
has committed any offense under existing
Above P22,000.00 Reclusion Temporal penal laws in order to prevent his arrest,
+ accessory penalty under
RPC; Max. 20 years prosecution and conviction;
(d) publicly using a fictitious name for the
Prision Mayor to its purpose of concealing a crime, evading
maximum periods: prosecution or the execution of a judgment,
+1 year every P10,000.00 or concealing his true name and other
value exceeding P22,000.00 personal circumstances for the same
P12,000.00 < x ≤ purpose or purposes;
Prision Mayor
P22,000.00 (e) delaying the prosecution of criminal cases
P6,000.00 < x ≤ Prision Correccional in its by obstructing the service of process or court
P12,000.00 medium and maximum orders or disturbing proceedings in the
periods fiscal's offices, in Tanodbayan, or in the
200.00 < x ≤ Prision Correccional in its courts;
P6,000.00 minimum and medium
(f) making, presenting or using any record,
periods
document, paper or object with knowledge of
P50.00 < x ≤ P200.00 Arresto Mayor in its medium its falsity and with intent to affect the course
period to Prision
Correccional or outcome of the investigation of, or official
proceedings in, criminal cases;
P5.00 < x ≤ P50.00 Arresto Mayor in its medium
period (g) soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept
P5.00 and below Arresto Mayor in its any benefit in consideration of abstaining
minimum period from, discounting, or impeding the
prosecution of a criminal offender;
Liability of Officials of Juridical Persons – the (h) threatening directly or indirectly another with
president or manager or any officer thereof who the infliction of any wrong upon his person,
honor or property or that of any immediate
knows or should have known the commission of
member or members of his family in order to
the offense. (Art.4) prevent such person from appearing in the
investigation of, or official proceedings in,
Presumption of Fencing – mere passion of any criminal cases, or imposing a condition,
goods, article, item, object or anything of value whether lawful or unlawful, in order to
which has been the subject of robbery or prevent a person from appearing in the
thievery shall be prima facie evidence of fencing investigation of or in official proceedings in,
criminal cases;
(i) giving of false or fabricated information to
mislead or prevent the law enforcement
P.D. No. 1829 (Obstruction of Justice) agencies from apprehending the offender or
from protecting the life or property of the
Penalty of prision correccional in its maximum victim; or fabricating information from the
period OR a fine of P1,000.00P6,000.00 OR data gathered in confidence by investigating
both. authorities for purposes of background
information and not for publication and
publishing or disseminating the same to
Prohibited acts: mislead the investigator or to the court.
Scale
Principal Penalties Accessory Penalties – those that are deemed
Capital punishment: included in the imposition of the principal
Death. penalties.
Simply said, no penalty shall be imposed not The law does not permit any court to impose a
bearing the nomenclature of under Art.25 above. sentence in the alternative, its duty being to
indicate the penalty imposed definitively and
R.A. 9346 prohibited the imposition of death positively.
penalty.
Fine/ Bond to keep the peace PhP
Signed into law June 24, 2006 and provided for Afflictive Over
the imposition of reclusion perpetua in lieu of P6,000.00
death penalty when the law violated makes use Correctional P200.00 to
of the nomenclature of the penalties of the RPC. P6,000.00
Light Penalty Less than
Principal Penalties – those expressly imposed P200.00
by the court in the judgment of conviction.
Art. 36. Pardon; its effect. — A pardon shall Article 38 is applicable in case the property of
not work the restoration of the right to hold the offender should not be sufficient for the
public office, or the right of suffrage, unless payment of all his pecuniary liabilities. The order
such rights be expressly restored by the of payment is provided above.
terms of the pardon. • If the offender has sufficient or no
property, then Article 38 has no use.
A pardon shall in no case exempt the culprit • Courts cannot disregard the order of
from the payment of the civil indemnity payment.
imposed upon him by the sentence. • There is reparation in the crime of rape
when the dress of the woman was torn.
Pardon may be granted only after conviction by
final judgment. If it is granted in general terms, it Art. 39. Subsidiary penalty. — If the convict
does not include accessory penalty. has no property with which to meet the fine
Exception: Absolute pardon. mentioned in the paragraph 3 of the nest
preceding article, he shall be subject to a
Pardon after 30 years does not remove subsidiary personal liability at the rate of one
Perpetual Absolute Disqualification. day for each eight pesos, subject to the
Exception: Such right be expressly restored following rules:
by the terms of the pardon.
1. If the principal penalty imposed be
Pardon by Chief Pardon by Offended prision correccional or arresto and
Executive (President) Party fine, he shall remain under
Extinguishes criminal Criminal liability is not confinement until his fine referred to
liability of offender extinguished in the preceding paragraph is
Cannot include civil Can waive civil liability the satisfied, but his subsidiary
liability offender must pay imprisonment shall not exceed one
Can only be granted In cases provided third of the term of the sentence, and
after conviction by final (Art.344), it must be given in no case shall it continue for more
judgment prior to criminal institution than one year, and no fraction or part
of a day shall be counted against the if convict has enough property to meet the fine
prisoner. and not exempt from execution, convict cannot
2. When the principal penalty imposed choose to serve subsidiary penalty instead of
be only a fine, the subsidiary paying the fine.
imprisonment shall not exceed six
months, if the culprit shall have been The word “principal” should be omitted.
prosecuted for a grave or less grave
felony, and shall not exceed fifteen The word “principal” referring to the penalty
days, if for a light felony. imposed is not the correct translation. As in
3. When the principal imposed is higher “when the penalty imposed ”.
than prision correccional, no
subsidiary imprisonment shall be
Subsidiary imprisonment is not an accessory
imposed upon the culprit. penalty.
4. If the principal penalty imposed is not
to be executed by confinement in a
penal institution, but such penalty is The culprit cannot be made to undergo
subsidiary imprisonment unless the judgment
of fixed duration, the convict, during
expressly so provides. (People vs. Fajardo, 65
the period of time established in the
Phil. 539, 542)
preceding rules, shall continue to
suffer the same deprivations as those
RULES AS TO SUBSIDIARY PENALTY
of which the principal penalty
consists.
1. If the penalty is Prision Correccional or
5. The subsidiary personal liability Arresto with Fine:
which the convict may have suffered 2. If penalty imposed is Fine only:
by reason of his insolvency shall not
relieve him, from the fine in case his 3. If penalty is higher than Prision
Correccional – no subsidiary
financial circumstances should
imprisonment.
improve. (As amended by RA 5465,
April 21, 1969). 4. If penalty imposed is not to be executed
by confinement but fixed duration –
same deprivations as 1, 2 and 3.
Subsidiary penalty – is a subsidiary personal
5. If financial circumstances of the convict
liability to be suffered by the convict who has no
should improve, he should still pay the
property to meet the fine, at the rate of one day
fine, notwithstanding the fact that the
for each eight pesos*.
convict suffered subsidiary personal
liability therefor.
*Amended by R.A. No. 10159
If the convict has no property with which to meet RULE 1 Example:
the fine mentioned in paragraph 3 of the next
preceding article, he shall be subject to a X is convicted of falsification by private individual
subsidiary personal liability at the rate of one (Art.172) and sentenced to 4 years 9 months
day for each amount equivalent to the and 10 days of prision correccional as maximum
highest minimum wage prevailing in the term of indeterminate penalty and pay a fine of
Philippines at the time of rendition of P223,000.00.
judgment of conviction by the trial court
Answer. If X has no property to meet the fine,
Prevailing minimum daily wage now (2012) is: he will have to suffer a subsidiary imprisonment
P426.00 (basic) + P20.00 (eCOLA) = P446.00 at the rate of one day for every P446.00 but not
to exceed 365 days:
No subsidiary liability for nonpayment of of
other pecuniary liability. 365 days in one year
x4 years
1,460 days in 4 years
R.A. No. 5465 has retroactive application since it
270 days in 9 months
is favorable to the accused. Only fines are 10 days
subject to subsidiary penalty. It applies only if the
convict has no property to meet the fine. But 1,740 days in 4 yrs + 9 mos + 10 days
X is sentenced to 4 years 9 months and 10 days 1. When the guilty person be more than
seventy years of age.
of destierro and pay a fine of P223,000.00. X
has no money to pay the fine. What would be
the subsidiary imprisonment? 2. When upon appeal or revision of the
case by the Supreme court, all the
Answer. X shall suffer an additional period of members thereof are not unanimous
destierro at the same rate of one day for every in their voting as to the propriety of
P446.00. the imposition of the death penalty.
For the imposition of said penalty or
P223,000.00/(P446.00/day) = 500 days for the confirmation of a judgment of
the inferior court imposing the death
Same rule applies for principal penalty of sentence, the Supreme Court shall
suspension and fine. render its decision per curiam, which
shall be signed by all justices of said
But for example, the principal penalty is not to court, unless some member or
exceed P11,150.00 and censure. If the accused members thereof shall have been
cannot pay the fine, there can be no subsidiary disqualified from taking part in the
liability because the penalty of censure has no consideration of the case, in which
fixed duration and is not to be executed by even the unanimous vote and
confinement. signature of only the remaining
justices shall be required.vi
No subsidiary penalty for violating Tax Code.
Cases where Death Penalty is not imposed:
Exceptions:
Examples of Special Complex Crime • Article 142 (accessory punished as
• Robbery with homicide, Art.294 par.1 principal)
• Rape with homicide, Art.335 • Article 250 (penalty for frustrated
• Kidnapping with homicide, Art.267 parricide, murder and homicide)
(as amended by R.A. No. 7659) • Article 346 (liability of ascendants,
guardians, teachers, or other persons
Cases where there are no complex crimes entrusted with custody of the offended
• Offense committed to conceal crime party – as principals)
• Offense inherent, absorbed or an
element of a crime Diminution of Degrees of Penalty (Art.5057)
• Offense punishable by special law
Stage of
Participation Execution Article
Art. 49. Penalty to be imposed upon the Degree
principals when the crime committed is s Consummated 46
different from that intended. — In cases in lower
from Principal Frustrated 50
which the felony committed is different from Principa
that which the offender intended to commit, l Attempted 51
the following rules shall be observed:
1 Accomplice Consummated 52
1. If the penalty prescribed for the 2 Accessory 53
felony committed be higher than that
corresponding to the offense which 2 Accomplice Frustrated 54
the accused intended to commit, the 3 Accessory 55
penalty corresponding to the latter
shall be imposed in its maximum 3 Accomplice Attempted 56
period. 4 Accessory 57
2. If the penalty prescribed for the Art. 58. Additional penalty to be imposed
felony committed be lower than that upon certain accessories. — Those
corresponding to the one which the accessories falling within the terms of
accused intended to commit, the paragraphs 3 of Article 19 of this Code who
penalty for the former shall be should act with abuse of their public
imposed in its maximum period. functions, shall suffer the additional penalty
of absolute perpetual disqualification if the
3. The rule established by the next principal offender shall be guilty of a grave
preceding paragraph shall not be felony, and that of absolute temporary
applicable if the acts committed by disqualification if he shall be guilty of a less
the guilty person shall also constitute grave felony.
an attempt or frustration of another
crime, if the law prescribes a higher Article 58 applies only to public officers who
penalty for either of the latter abused their public functions.
offenses, in which case the penalty
provided for the attempted or the Art. 59. Penalty to be imposed in case of
frustrated crime shall be imposed in failure to commit the crime because the
its maximum period. v means employed or the aims sought are
impossible. — When the person intending to
Article 49 applies only to error in personae. It commit an offense has already performed
does not apply to aberratio ictus and praeter the acts for the execution of the same but
intentionem. nevertheless the crime was not produced by
reason of the fact that the act intended was
General Rule: by its nature one of impossible
• Article 50 – 1 degree lower accomplishment or because the means
• Article 51 – 2 degrees lower employed by such person are essentially
inadequate to produce the result desired by
him, the court, having in mind the social
danger and the degree of criminality shown 3. When the penalty prescribed for the
by the offender, shall impose upon him the crime is composed of one or two
penalty of arresto mayor or a fine from 200 to indivisible penalties and the
500 pesos. maximum period of another divisible
penalty, the penalty next lower in
Penalty for impossible crime is arresto degree shall be composed of the
mayor or a fine ranging from 200 to 500 medium and minimum periods of the
pesos. proper divisible penalty and the
maximum periods of the proper
Art. 60. Exception to the rules established in divisible penalty and the maximum
Articles 50 to 57. — The provisions period of that immediately following
contained in Articles 50 to 57, inclusive, of in said respective graduated scale.
this Code shall not be applicable to cases in
which the law expressly prescribes the 4. When the penalty prescribed for the
penalty provided for a frustrated or crime is composed of several
attempted felony, or to be imposed upon periods, corresponding to different
accomplices or accessories. divisible penalties, the penalty next
lower in degree shall be composed of
Accessories punished 1degree the period immediately following the
lower (instead of 2degrees) minimum prescribed and of the two
next following, which shall be taken
• Knowingly using counterfeited seal or from the penalty prescribed, if
forged signature of the President possible; otherwise from the penalty
(Art.162) immediately following in the above
mentioned respective graduated
• Illegal possession and use of false
treasury or bank note (Art. 168) scale.
• Using falsified dispatch (Art.173 par.2)
• Using falsified document (Art.173 par.3) 5. When the law prescribes a penalty for
a crime in some manner not
Art. 61. Rules for graduating penalties. — For especially provided for in the four
the purpose of graduating the penalties preceding rules, the courts,
which, according to the provisions of proceeding by analogy, shall impose
Articles 50 to 57, inclusive, of this Code, are corresponding penalties upon those
to be imposed upon persons guilty as guilty as principals of the frustrated
principals of any frustrated or attempted felony, or of attempt to commit the
felony, or as accomplices or accessories, the same, and upon accomplices and
following rules shall be observed: accessories.
1. When the penalty prescribed for the The lower penalty shall be taken from the
graduated scale (no. 1) in Article 71:
felony is single and indivisible, the
penalty next lower in degrees shall be 1. Death
that immediately following that 2. Reclusion Perpetua RP
indivisible penalty in the respective 3. Reclusion Temporal RT
graduated scale prescribed in Article 4. Prision Mayor PM
71 of this Code. 5. Prision Correccional PC
6. Arresto Mayor AMa
7. Destierro D
2. When the penalty prescribed for the
8. Arresto Menor AMe
crime is composed of two indivisible
9. Public Censure C
penalties, or of one or more divisible
penalties to be impose to their full 10. Fine F
extent, the penalty next lower in
degree shall be that immediately The indivisible penalties are (1) death, (2)
following the lesser of the penalties reclusion perpetua and (3) public censure.
prescribed in the respective
graduated scale.
Illustration of rules:
Maximum
circumstance inherent in the crime to For the purpose of this article, a person shall
such a degree that it must of be deemed to be habitual delinquent, is
necessity accompany the within a period of ten years from the date of
commission thereof. his release or last conviction of the crimes of
serious or less serious physical injuries,
3. Aggravating or mitigating robo, hurto, estafa or falsification, he is
circumstances which arise from the found guilty of any of said crimes a third
moral attributes of the offender, or time or oftener.
from his private relations with the
offended party, or from any other Examples:
personal cause, shall only serve to
aggravate or mitigate the liability of Article 62.
the principals, accomplices and
accessories as to whom such Par. 1 – dwelling in trespass, means of fire in
circumstances are attendant. arson, derailment of locomotive in Art.330;
1. When there are neither aggravating Courts cannot lower the penalty by a
nor mitigating circumstances, they degree if with aggravating circumstance.
shall impose the penalty prescribed 6. Courts cannot impose a greater penalty
by law in its medium period. than prescribed by law in its maximum
period; no matter how many aggravating
2. When only a mitigating circumstance are present.
circumstances is present in the
commission of the act, they shall Art. 65. Rule in cases in which the penalty is
impose the penalty in its minimum not composed of three periods. — In cases
period. in which the penalty prescribed by law is not
composed of three periods, the courts shall
3. When an aggravating circumstance is apply the rules contained in the foregoing
present in the commission of the act, articles, dividing into three equal portions of
they shall impose the penalty in its time included in the penalty prescribed, and
maximum period. forming one period of each of the three
portions.
4. When both mitigating and
aggravating circumstances are Article 65 simply provides for the alternative
present, the court shall reasonably in obtaining artificially three periods when
offset those of one class against the the penalty does not have any.
other according to their relative
weight.
Art. 66. Imposition of fines. — In imposing
fines the courts may fix any amount within
5. When there are two or more the limits established by law; in fixing the
mitigating circumstances and no amount in each case attention shall be given,
aggravating circumstances are not only to the mitigating and aggravating
present, the court shall impose the circumstances, but more particularly to the
penalty next lower to that prescribed wealth or means of the culprit.
by law, in the period that it may deem
applicable, according to the number Outline of this rule:
and nature of such circumstances.
1. The courts can fix any amount of the
fine within the limits established by law.
6. Whatever may be the number and 2. The court must consider:
nature of the aggravating a. Mitigating and aggravating
circumstances, the courts shall not circumstance; and,
impose a greater penalty than that b. More particularly, the wealth or
prescribed by law, in its maximum means of the culprit.
period.
7. Within the limits of each period, the
Article 67 applies when all the requisites of
court shall determine the extent of
the exempting circumstance of accident (Art.
the penalty according to the number 12 par. 4) are not present.
and nature of the aggravating and
mitigating circumstances and the
greater and lesser extent of the evil If all the conditions of Art.12 par.4 are not
produced by the crime. present, the act should be considered reckless
imprudence if the act is executed without taking
Outline of the rules: those precautions or measures which the most
common prudence would require. This will fall
under Art.365 par.1.
1. No aggravating and no mitigating –
medium period.
2. Only mitigating – minimum period. Article 68 has been partly repealed by
3. Only an aggravating – maximum period. Republic Act No. 9344
4. Offsetting of mitigating and aggravating A child in conflict with law shall be entitled of a
circumstances. penalty next lower than that prescribed by law,
5. When there are 2 mitigating and no but in the proper periods.
aggravating, next lower penalty applies.
Art. 69. Penalty to be imposed when the convict's sentence shall not be more than
crime committed is not wholly excusable. — threefold the length of time corresponding to
A penalty lower by one or two degrees than the most severe of the penalties imposed
that prescribed by law shall be imposed if upon him. No other penalty to which he may
the deed is not wholly excusable by reason be liable shall be inflicted after the sum total
of the lack of some of the conditions of those imposed equals the same maximum
required to justify the same or to exempt period.
from criminal liability in the several cases
mentioned in Article 11 and 12, provided that Such maximum period shall in no case
the majority of such conditions be present. exceed forty years.
The courts shall impose the penalty in the
period which may be deemed proper, in view In applying the provisions of this rule the
of the number and nature of the conditions duration of perpetual penalties (pena
of exemption present or lacking. perpetua) shall be computed at thirty years.
(As amended)
Penalty to be imposed when the crime
committed is not wholly excusable: 1 or 2
degrees lower if the majority of the conditions for The ThreeFold Rule*
justification or exemption in the cases provided 1. Maximum duration of the convict’s
in Arts. 11 and 12 are present. sentence: 3 times the most severe
penalty imposed
Art. 70. Successive service of sentence. — 2. Maximum duration: shall not exceed 40
When the culprit has to serve two or more years
penalties, he shall serve them 3. Subsidiary imprisonment: This shall be
simultaneously if the nature of the penalties excluded in computing for the maximum
will so permit otherwise, the following rules duration.
shall be observed: *The threefold rule shall apply only when the convi ct is
In the imposition of the penalties, the order to serve 4 or more sentences successively.
of their respective severity shall be followed
so that they may be executed successively Art. 71. Graduated scales. — In the case in
or as nearly as may be possible, should a which the law prescribed a penalty lower or
pardon have been granted as to the penalty higher by one or more degrees than another
or penalties first imposed, or should they given penalty, the rules prescribed in Article
have been served out. 61 shall be observed in graduating such
penalty.
For the purpose of applying the provisions of
the next preceding paragraph the respective The lower or higher penalty shall be taken
severity of the penalties shall be determined from the graduated scale in which is
in accordance with the following scale: comprised the given penalty.
1. Death,
2. Reclusion perpetua, The courts, in applying such lower or higher
3. Reclusion temporal, penalty, shall observe the following
4. Prision mayor, graduated scales:
5. Prision correccional,
6. Arresto mayor, SCALE NO. 1
7. Arresto menor, 1. Death,
8. Destierro, 2. Reclusion perpetua,
9. Perpetual absolute disqualification, 3. Reclusion temporal,
10 Temporal absolute disqualification 4. Prision mayor,
11. Suspension from public office, the right 5. Prision correccional,
to vote and be voted for, the right to follow a 6. Arresto mayor,
profession or calling, and 7. Destierro,
12. Public censure. 8. Arresto menor,
9. Public censure,
Notwithstanding the provisions of the rule 10. Fine.
next preceding, the maximum duration of the
SCALE NO. 2 must expressly state that the offender shall suffer
1. Perpetual absolute disqualification, the subsidiary imprisonment in case of
2. Temporal absolute disqualification insolvency. (People vs. Fajardo, 65 Phil. 539, 542)
3. Suspension from public office, the
right to vote and be voted for, the Article 74 may be disregarded since there is
right to follow a profession or calling, no imposition of Death.
4. Public censure,
5. Fine. Article 75. Increasing or reducing the penalty
of fine by one or more degrees. — Whenever
Art. 25 Art. 70 Art. 71 it may be necessary to increase or reduce
Penalties are Classifies Provides for the the penalty of fine by one or more degrees, it
classified into: penalties for scales which
(1) principal and purpose of should be shall be increased or reduced, respectively,
(2) accessory successive observed in for each degree, by onefourth of the
penalties. The service of graduating the maximum amount prescribed by law, without
principal sentence, penalties by however, changing the minimum.
penalties are according to their degrees in
subdivided into severity. accordance with
capital, afflictive, Art. 61 The same rules shall be observed with
correctional and regard of fines that do not consist of a fixed
light. amount, but are made proportional.
Destierro Destierro is Destierro is placed
classified as placed under above Arresto
correctional Arresto Menor Menor. Example:
penalty; Arresto according to A certain crime is punished by a fine of not less
Menor is a light severity.
penalty.
than P200.00 but not more than P6,000.00. One
fourth of the maximum of PP6,000.00 is
P1,500.00. The fine immediately higher in
In Scale No.1 all personal penalties such as degree in accordance with this article will be
deprivation of liberty are grouped together; from P200.00 to P7,500.00.
Under Scale No. 2 are grouped all penalties
consisting in deprivation of political rights
The minimum shall not to be changed. In case
the minimum is not fixed by law, the
Art. 72. Preference in the payment of the civil determination of amount shall be left to the
liabilities. — The civil liabilities of a person sound discretion of the court.
found guilty of two or more offenses shall be
satisfied by following the chronological
Article 76 simply shows the manner divisible
order of the dates of the judgments rendered
penalties are divided into three periods.
against him, beginning with the first in order
of time.
Exception: The division of arresto mayor into
three equal parts does not follow the rule.
The order of payment of civil liabilities is not • Minimum – 1 month and 1 day to 2 months
based on the dates of the commission of the • Medium – 2 months and 1 day to 4 months
crime. While criminal liability is satisfied by • Maximum – 4 months and 1 day to 6 months
successive service of the sentences in order of
respective severity (Art.70), civil liability is Art. 77. When the penalty is a complex one
satisfied by following the chronological order of composed of three distinct penalties. — In
the dates of the final judgment.
cases in which the law prescribes a penalty
composed of three distinct penalties, each
Article 73 presumes that accessory penalties one shall form a period; the lightest of them
are deemed imposed. shall be the minimum the next the medium,
and the most severe the maximum period.
The accessory penalties provided for in Article
40 to 45 are deemed imposed by the courts Whenever the penalty prescribed does not
without the necessity of making an express have one of the forms specially provided for
pronouncement of their imposition. in this Code, the periods shall be distributed,
applying by analogy the prescribed rules.
Subsidiary imprisonment is not an accessory
penalty and therefore, the judgment of conviction
7. Those who violated the terms of 3. While serving sentence, No.1 and No.2
conditional pardon (Art.159); shall be observed.
8. Those who are already serving final 4. But payment of civil or pecuniary
judgment upon the approval of liabilities shall not be suspended.
Indeterminate Sentence Law.
9. Penalties other than imprisonment. If the offender was insane at the time
of the commission of the crime, he is
Chapter Five exempt from criminal liability (Art.12
EXECUTION AND SERVICE OF PENALTIES par.1)
Section One. — General Provisions
Article 80 is repealed by Sec.38 of R.A. No.
Art. 78. When and how a penalty is to be 9344, under suspended sentence of a minor.
executed. — No penalty shall be executed
except by virtue of a final judgment. SEC. 38. Automatic Suspension of Sentence.
Once the child who is under eighteen (18) years
A penalty shall not be executed in any other of age at the time of the commission of the
form than that prescribed by law, nor with offense is found guilty of the offense charged, the
any other circumstances or incidents than court shall determine and ascertain any civil
those expressly authorized thereby. liability which may have resulted from the offense
committed. However, instead of pronouncing the
judgment of conviction, the court shall place the
In addition to the provisions of the law, the child in conflict with the law under suspended
special regulations prescribed for the sentence, without need of application: Provided,
government of the institutions in which the however, That suspension of sentence shall still
penalties are to be suffered shall be be applied even if the juvenile is already eighteen
observed with regard to the character of the years (18) of age or more at the time of the
work to be performed, the time of its pronouncement of his/her guilt.
performance, and other incidents connected
therewith, the relations of the convicts
among themselves and other persons, the Upon suspension of sentence and after
relief which they may receive, and their diet. considering the various circumstances of the
child, the court shall impose the appropriate
disposition measures as provided in the Supreme
The regulations shall make provision for the Court Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with the Law.
separation of the sexes in different xxx
institutions, or at least into different SEC. 40. Return of the Child in Conflict with
departments and also for the correction and the Law to Court. If the court finds that the
reform of the convicts. objective of the disposition measures imposed
upon the child in conflict with the law have not
The judgment must be final before it can be been fulfilled, or if the child in conflict with the law
executed, because the accused may still appeal has willfully failed to comply with the conditions of
within 15 days from its promulgation. But if his/her disposition or rehabilitation program, the
deendant has expressly waived in writing his right child in conflict with the law shall be brought
to appeal, the judgment becomes final before the court for execution of judgment.
immediately. (Rule 120, Sec.7, Rules of Court)
If said child in conflict with the law has reached
eighteen (18) years of age while under
Article 79 merely reiterated Art.12 par.1 suspended sentence, the court shall determine
whether to discharge the child in accordance with
Rule regarding execution and service of this Act, to order execution of sentence, or to
penalties in case of insanity: extend the suspended sentence for a certain
specified period or until the child reaches the
maximum age of twentyone (21) years.
1. Becomes imbecile after final sentence,
execution is suspended (personal
penalty); Articles 8185 pertaining to administration of
death penalty are no longer applicable.
2. If he recovers his reason, sentence shall
be executed unless the penalty has
prescribed; Article 86 provides the place or penal
establishment for execution of sentence
The term of prescription shall not run when If Prescription of Penalty Article 26 prevails
the offender is absent from the Philippine over Article 9.
Archipelago.
The prescription shall be interrupted when the Art. 93. Computation of the prescription of
proceedings are instituted against the guilty penalties. — The period of prescription of
person, and shall begin to run again if the penalties shall commence to run from the
proceedings are dismissed for reasons not date when the culprit should evade the
constituting jeopardy. (Sec. 2, Act No. 3326) service of his sentence, and it shall be
interrupted if the defendant should give
Outline of the provisions: himself up, be captured, should go to some
1. Period of prescription shall run from the foreign country with which this Government
day the crime is discovered by the has no extradition treaty, or should commit
offended party, the authorities or their another crime before the expiration of the
agents. period of prescription.
2. It is interrupted by filing o the complaint
or information.
Evasion of service of the sentence is an
3. It commences again when such essential element of prescription of
proceedings terminate without the penalties.
accused being convicted or acquitted or
are unjustifiably stopped for any reason
Chapter Two
not imputable to him.
PARTIAL EXTINCTION OF
4. The term of prescription shall not run
when the offender is absent from the CRIMINAL LIABILITY
Philippines.
Art. 94. Partial Extinction of criminal liability.
— Criminal liability is extinguished partially:
Article 92 refers to prescription of penalty
1. By conditional pardon;
2. By commutation of the sentence; and
Penalty (RPC) Prescription
3. For good conduct allowances which
Death, Reclusion Perpetua 20 years the culprit may earn while he is
Other afflictive penalties 15 years serving his sentence.
Correctional penalties (except 10 years
Arresto Mayor) Conditional Pardon Parole
Arresto mayor 5 years May be given any time May be given after the
Light penalties 1 year after final judgment prisoner has served the
minimum penalty
For violation of pardon, the The convict cannot be
convict may be ordered prosecuted under
Q1: X committed a crime for which the law rearrested or Art.159; he can be
provides a fine of P200.00 as penalty. What is reincarcerated by the rearrested and
the prescriptive period of crime President reincarcerated to serve
the unserved portion of
A1: Two months. The issue here is not the original penalty
prescription of penalty.
Article 95 speaks of obligations incurred by
If Prescription of Crime Article 9 prevails peson granted a conditional pardon.
over Article 26
Article 96 speaks of the effects of
Q2: X was convicted, cannot pay the fine of commutation of service, i.e. substituting the
P200.00 and was made to serve subsidiary original sentence with lesser periods.
imprisonment. While serving sentence, he
escaped, evading the sentence. What is the
Art. 97. Allowance for good conduct. — The
prescriptive period?
good conduct of any prisoner in any penal
3. Probation Officer within sixty 60 days As a general rule, an offense causes two
shall submit to the Judge the report. If classes of injuries:
favorable to the accused, the Judge will
immediately set for a hearing; 1. Social injury – produced by the
4. Judge shall render a decision or a disturbance and alarm which are the
resolution on the application for outcome of offense.
probation. 2. Personal injury – caused to the victim
of the crime who may have suffered
Disqualified offenders (Sec.9, P.D. No. 968): damage, either to his person, his
1. Sentenced to serve a maximum term of property, his honor or his chastity.
imprisonment of more than six (6)
years); Civil liability arising from offenses
2. Convicted of subversion or any crime
against national security or the public Every person who, contrary to law, willfully or
order; negligently causes damage to another, shall
indemnify the latter for the same. (Art. 20, NCC)
3. Who have previously been convicted by
final judgment of an offense punished by
Civil obligations arising from criminal offenses
imprisonment of not less than one shall be governed by the penal laws. (Art. 1161,
month and one day and/or a fine of not NCC)
less than two hundred pesos;
4. Who have been once on probation Exception: If the felony committed could not or
(under P.D. No. 968); did not cause any damage, the offender is not
5. Who are serving sentence at the time civilly liable even if he is criminally liable.
the substantive provisions of [P.D. No.
968] became applicable (pursuant to If the person is criminally and civilly liable is
Sec. 33, P.D. 968, as amended by P.D. acquitted, does this mean extinction of his
No. 1990) civil liability?
"The conclusion of respondent judge that "probation The extinction of penal action does not carry
will depreciate the seriousness of the offense with it extinction of the civil. However, civil
committed" is based principally on the admission by action based on delict shall be deemed
the petitioner himself, as reflected in the report of the
extinguished if there is a finding in a final
probation officer, that he [petitioner] was actually
caught in the act of selling marijuana cigarettes. x x x judgment in the criminal action that the act or
omission from which the civil liability may
rise does not exist. (Sec.2 Par. 4 Rule 111,
The observation of the Solicitor General on this
increase in penalty is apropos: Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure)
The implication is clear. The penalties were Article 101 specified the rules regarding civil
increased to take it out of the range of probationable liability in certain cases.
offenses. Thus, the State has spoken and considers
that this is one case where probation will depreciate
the offense committed, and will not serve the ends of Civil liability of persons exempt from
justice and the best interest of the community, criminal liability
particularly, the innocent and gullible young. • No civil liability in Par.4 of Art.12 which
Underscoring supplied.(Tolentino vs. Alconcel, 121 SCRA 92)
provides for injury caused by mere
accident.
• Also no civil liability in Par.7 of Art.12
(when prevented by insuperable cause)
Title Five • There is no civil liability under justifying
CIVIL LIABILITY circumstances.
Chapter One
PERSON CIVILLY LIABLE FOR FELONIES Article 102 refers to subsidiary civil liability
of innkeepers, tavernkeepers, and
Art. 100. Civil liability of a person guilty of proprietors of establishments.
felony. — Every person criminally liable for a
felony is also civilly liable.
It is not necessary that the effects of the guest person not being an heir of the
be actually delivered to the innkeeper. It is deceased. (Art. 2206 par.2, NCC)
enough that they are within the inn. 4. Moral damages for mental anguish in
favor of the spouse, descendants and
Article 103 refers to subsidiary civil liability ascendants of the deceased. (Art. 2206
of other persons (particularly schools and par.3, NCC)
industries) 5. Exemplary damages in certain cases.
(Art. 2230, NCC)
Elements:
1. The employer, teacher, person or Rape with Homicide imposed* with:
corporation is engaged in any kind of • P100,000.00 civil indemnity
industry. • P75,000.00 moral damages
2. Any of their servants, pupils, workmen, • P25,000.00 temperate damages
apprentices or employees commits a • P100,000.00 exemplary damages
*In People vs. Gumimba G.R. No. 174056 Feb. 27, 2007
felony while in the discharge of his
duties.
3. The said employee is insolvent* and has Temperate damages – to be awarded if the
not satisfied his civil liability. court finds that some pecuniary loss has been
suffered but its amount cannot be proven with
*broke, impoverished certainty.
Chapter Three
EXTINCTION AND SURVIVAL OF
CIVIL LIABILITY
SPECIAL TOPICS:
In engaging minor prostitutes
R.A. No. 7610 R.A. No. 9208
Not considered Considered trafficking,
trafficking considering: ACT, MEANS
and PURPOSE