CRIMINAL LAW
Table of Contents
I. Revised Penal Code (RPC) and related Special Laws ........................................... 1
A. Book 1 (Articles 1-99, RPC) [Exclude the provisions on civil liability] ........... 1
1. Fundamental principles ....................................................................................... 1
a.) Definition of Criminal Law................................................................................ 1
(i) Mala in Se and Mala Prohibita ....................................................................... 2
(ii) Construction of penal laws ............................................................................ 4
b) Scope of application and characteristics of Philippine criminal law ................... 6
(i) Generality....................................................................................................... 7
(ii)Territoriality .................................................................................................... 7
(iii)Prospectivity .................................................................................................. 8
(a) Effects of repeal/amendment of penal law ................................................. 8
c) Constitutional limitations on the power of Congress to enact penal laws .......... 8
(i) Equal protection ............................................................................................ 9
(ii) Due process .................................................................................................. 9
(iii) Non-imposition of cruel and unusual punishment or excessive fines ......... 10
(a) Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines (R.A. No.
9346)............................................................................................................. 10
(iv) Bill of attainder ........................................................................................... 10
(v) Ex post facto law ........................................................................................ 10
2. Felonies ............................................................................................................ 10
a) Classifications of felonies ............................................................................... 10
b) Elements of criminal liability ............................................................................ 10
c) Impossible crime.............................................................................................. 11
d) Stages of execution ......................................................................................... 13
e) Conspiracy and proposal................................................................................. 14
f) Multiple offenders (differences, rules, effects) .................................................. 18
(i) Recidivism................................................................................................... 18
(ii) Habituality (Reiteracion) .............................................................................. 18
(iii) Quasi-Recidivism ....................................................................................... 18
(iv) Habitual Delinquency ................................................................................. 18
g) Continuing crimes............................................................................................ 20
h) Complex crimes and special complex crimes .................................................. 21
3. Circumstances affecting criminal liability .......................................................... 26
a) Justifying circumstances ................................................................................. 27
(i) Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (R.A.
No.9262) .......................................................................................................... 29
(a) Battered woman syndrome ...................................................................... 29
, b) Exempting circumstances ............................................................................... 35
(i) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A. No. 9344); also refer to
Child and Youth Welfare Code (P.D. 603, as amended) .................................. 39
(a) Definition of child in conflict with the law .................................................. 39
(b) Minimum age of criminal responsibility .................................................... 39
(c) Determination of age ............................................................................... 39
(d) Exemption from criminal liability .............................................................. 39
(e) Treatment of child below age of responsibility ......................................... 39
(f) Status offenses under Sec. 57 of R.A. No. 9344 ...................................... 39
(g) Offenses not applicable to children under Sec. 58 of R.A. No. 9344 ....... 39
c) Mitigating circumstances ................................................................................. 42
d) Aggravating circumstances ............................................................................. 44
(i) Generic ........................................................................................................ 44
(ii) Qualifying .................................................................................................... 47
(a) Decree Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession,
Manufacture, Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition, of Firearms, Ammunition
or Explosives (P.D. 1866, as amended by R.A. No. 8294) as an aggravating
circumstance ................................................................................................. 47
(b) The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. No. 9165) ...... 48
(i) As a qualifying aggravating circumstance ........................................... 48
(ii) Immunity from prosecution and punishment, coverage ....................... 48
(iii) Minor offenders .................................................................................... 48
(iv) Application/Non- application of RPC provisions (Sec. 98, R.A. No.
9165) provisions (Sec. 98) cf. Art. 10, RPC ............................................... 48
e) Alternative circumstances ............................................................................... 49
f) Absolutory cause .............................................................................................. 49
4. Persons criminally liable/Degree of participation .............................................. 50
a) Decree Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal
Offenders (P.D.1829) .......................................................................................... 57
(i) Punishable acts ........................................................................................... 57
(ii) Compare with Art. 20, RPC (accessories exempt from criminal liability) ..... 57
5. Penalties ........................................................................................................... 57
a) General principles ........................................................................................... 58
(i) Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines (R.A. No.
9346) ................................................................................................................ 58
b) Purposes ......................................................................................................... 59
c) Classification ................................................................................................... 59
d) Duration and Effect.......................................................................................... 59
e) Application....................................................................................................... 59
(i) Indeterminate Sentence Law (R.A. No. 4103, as amended) ....................... 59
, (a) Application on the imposed sentence ...................................................... 59
(b) Coverage ................................................................................................. 59
(c) Conditions of parole ................................................................................. 59
(ii) Three-fold rule ............................................................................................. 59
(iii) Subsidiary imprisonment ............................................................................ 59
f) Execution and service ...................................................................................... 64
(i) Probation Law (P.D. 968, as amended by R.A. No. 10707) ........................ 65
(a) Definition of terms.................................................................................... 65
(b) Purpose ................................................................................................... 65
(c) Grant of probation, manner and conditions .............................................. 65
(d) Criteria of placing an offender on probation ............................................. 65
(e) Disqualified offenders .............................................................................. 65
(f) Period of probation ................................................................................... 65
(g) Arrest of probationer ................................................................................ 65
(h) Termination of probation; exception ........................................................ 65
see also: The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. No.
9165) ......................................................................................................... 65
(ii) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A. No. 9344); also ................ 68
refer to Child and Youth Welfare Code (P.D. 603, as amended)...................... 68
(a) Definition of child in conflict with the law .................................................. 68
(b) Exemption from criminal liability .............................................................. 68
(c) Juvenile justice and welfare system ......................................................... 68
6. Modification and extinction of criminal liability................................................... 69
a) Prescription of crime; Prescription of Violations of Special Laws (Act. No.
3326) ................................................................................................................... 70
b) Prescription of penalties .................................................................................. 70
c) Pardon by offended party ................................................................................ 73
d) Pardon by the Chief Executive ........................................................................ 73
e) Amnesty .......................................................................................................... 74
B. Book II (Articles 114-365, RPC) and specifically included Special Laws...... 74
1. Crimes Against National Security (Arts. 114-123).............................................. 74
a) Anti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery (P.D. 532) ........................................ 76
(i) Definition of terms ........................................................................................ 76
(ii) Punishable acts ........................................................................................... 76
b) Anti-Hijacking Law (P.D. 6235) ....................................................................... 78
(i) Punishable acts............................................................................................ 78
c) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. No. 9372) ................................................. 78
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism......................................................................... 78
(ii) Who are liable ............................................................................................. 78
2. Crimes Against the Fundamental Laws of the State (Articles 124-133) ............. 78
, a) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. No. 9372) ................................................. 80
(i) Period of detention ....................................................................................... 80
b) Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (R.A. No. 9745) ........................................................ 80
(i) Punishable acts............................................................................................ 80
(ii) Who are liable ............................................................................................. 80
3. Crimes Against Public Order (Articles 134-160) ................................................ 80
a) Decree Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession, Manufacture,
Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives (P.D.
1866, as amended by R.A. No. 8294), as further amended by the Comprehensive
Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (R.A. No. 10591) ............................... 86
b) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. No. 9372) .................................................. 86
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism......................................................................... 86
(ii) Who are liable ............................................................................................. 86
(iii) Absorption principle in relation to complex crimes ...................................... 86
4. Crimes Against Public Interest (Articles 161-187).............................................. 86
a) R.A. No. 9194 – Anti-Money Laundering Act .................................................. 88
(i) Punishable acts ......................................................................................... 88
(ii) Covered Transactions ............................................................................... 88
(iii) Suspicious Transactions............................................................................ 88
5. Crimes Relative to Opium and Other Prohibited Drugs ...................................... 89
a) The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. No. 9165) ............. 90
(i) Punishable acts ........................................................................................... 90
(ii) Who are liable ............................................................................................. 90
(iii) Attempt or conspiracy, effect on liability ..................................................... 90
(iv) Immunity from prosecution and punishment............................................... 90
(v) Custody and disposition of confiscated, seized and/or surrendered
dangerous drugs (Section 21, R.A. No. 9165) ................................................. 90
b) Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. No. 9165 ......................... 90
6. Crimes Against Public Morals (Articles 200-202) .............................................. 93
a) P.D. 1602 – Anti-Gambling Act as amended by R.A. 9287 – Illegal Numbers
Game – which repealed Articles 195-199 of the RPC ......................................... 93
(i) Punishable acts ......................................................................................... 93
b) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (R.A. No. 9208)................................. 93
(i) Punishable acts.......................................................................................... 93
7. Crimes Committed by Public Officers (Articles 203-245) .................................. 94
a) Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. No. 3019, as amended) ............. 99
(i) Coverage ................................................................................................... 99
(ii) Punishable acts .......................................................................................... 99
(iii) Exceptions .................................................................................................. 99
b) Anti-Plunder Act (R.A. No. 7080, as amended) ............................................. 106
Table of Contents
I. Revised Penal Code (RPC) and related Special Laws ........................................... 1
A. Book 1 (Articles 1-99, RPC) [Exclude the provisions on civil liability] ........... 1
1. Fundamental principles ....................................................................................... 1
a.) Definition of Criminal Law................................................................................ 1
(i) Mala in Se and Mala Prohibita ....................................................................... 2
(ii) Construction of penal laws ............................................................................ 4
b) Scope of application and characteristics of Philippine criminal law ................... 6
(i) Generality....................................................................................................... 7
(ii)Territoriality .................................................................................................... 7
(iii)Prospectivity .................................................................................................. 8
(a) Effects of repeal/amendment of penal law ................................................. 8
c) Constitutional limitations on the power of Congress to enact penal laws .......... 8
(i) Equal protection ............................................................................................ 9
(ii) Due process .................................................................................................. 9
(iii) Non-imposition of cruel and unusual punishment or excessive fines ......... 10
(a) Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines (R.A. No.
9346)............................................................................................................. 10
(iv) Bill of attainder ........................................................................................... 10
(v) Ex post facto law ........................................................................................ 10
2. Felonies ............................................................................................................ 10
a) Classifications of felonies ............................................................................... 10
b) Elements of criminal liability ............................................................................ 10
c) Impossible crime.............................................................................................. 11
d) Stages of execution ......................................................................................... 13
e) Conspiracy and proposal................................................................................. 14
f) Multiple offenders (differences, rules, effects) .................................................. 18
(i) Recidivism................................................................................................... 18
(ii) Habituality (Reiteracion) .............................................................................. 18
(iii) Quasi-Recidivism ....................................................................................... 18
(iv) Habitual Delinquency ................................................................................. 18
g) Continuing crimes............................................................................................ 20
h) Complex crimes and special complex crimes .................................................. 21
3. Circumstances affecting criminal liability .......................................................... 26
a) Justifying circumstances ................................................................................. 27
(i) Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (R.A.
No.9262) .......................................................................................................... 29
(a) Battered woman syndrome ...................................................................... 29
, b) Exempting circumstances ............................................................................... 35
(i) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A. No. 9344); also refer to
Child and Youth Welfare Code (P.D. 603, as amended) .................................. 39
(a) Definition of child in conflict with the law .................................................. 39
(b) Minimum age of criminal responsibility .................................................... 39
(c) Determination of age ............................................................................... 39
(d) Exemption from criminal liability .............................................................. 39
(e) Treatment of child below age of responsibility ......................................... 39
(f) Status offenses under Sec. 57 of R.A. No. 9344 ...................................... 39
(g) Offenses not applicable to children under Sec. 58 of R.A. No. 9344 ....... 39
c) Mitigating circumstances ................................................................................. 42
d) Aggravating circumstances ............................................................................. 44
(i) Generic ........................................................................................................ 44
(ii) Qualifying .................................................................................................... 47
(a) Decree Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession,
Manufacture, Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition, of Firearms, Ammunition
or Explosives (P.D. 1866, as amended by R.A. No. 8294) as an aggravating
circumstance ................................................................................................. 47
(b) The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. No. 9165) ...... 48
(i) As a qualifying aggravating circumstance ........................................... 48
(ii) Immunity from prosecution and punishment, coverage ....................... 48
(iii) Minor offenders .................................................................................... 48
(iv) Application/Non- application of RPC provisions (Sec. 98, R.A. No.
9165) provisions (Sec. 98) cf. Art. 10, RPC ............................................... 48
e) Alternative circumstances ............................................................................... 49
f) Absolutory cause .............................................................................................. 49
4. Persons criminally liable/Degree of participation .............................................. 50
a) Decree Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal
Offenders (P.D.1829) .......................................................................................... 57
(i) Punishable acts ........................................................................................... 57
(ii) Compare with Art. 20, RPC (accessories exempt from criminal liability) ..... 57
5. Penalties ........................................................................................................... 57
a) General principles ........................................................................................... 58
(i) Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines (R.A. No.
9346) ................................................................................................................ 58
b) Purposes ......................................................................................................... 59
c) Classification ................................................................................................... 59
d) Duration and Effect.......................................................................................... 59
e) Application....................................................................................................... 59
(i) Indeterminate Sentence Law (R.A. No. 4103, as amended) ....................... 59
, (a) Application on the imposed sentence ...................................................... 59
(b) Coverage ................................................................................................. 59
(c) Conditions of parole ................................................................................. 59
(ii) Three-fold rule ............................................................................................. 59
(iii) Subsidiary imprisonment ............................................................................ 59
f) Execution and service ...................................................................................... 64
(i) Probation Law (P.D. 968, as amended by R.A. No. 10707) ........................ 65
(a) Definition of terms.................................................................................... 65
(b) Purpose ................................................................................................... 65
(c) Grant of probation, manner and conditions .............................................. 65
(d) Criteria of placing an offender on probation ............................................. 65
(e) Disqualified offenders .............................................................................. 65
(f) Period of probation ................................................................................... 65
(g) Arrest of probationer ................................................................................ 65
(h) Termination of probation; exception ........................................................ 65
see also: The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. No.
9165) ......................................................................................................... 65
(ii) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A. No. 9344); also ................ 68
refer to Child and Youth Welfare Code (P.D. 603, as amended)...................... 68
(a) Definition of child in conflict with the law .................................................. 68
(b) Exemption from criminal liability .............................................................. 68
(c) Juvenile justice and welfare system ......................................................... 68
6. Modification and extinction of criminal liability................................................... 69
a) Prescription of crime; Prescription of Violations of Special Laws (Act. No.
3326) ................................................................................................................... 70
b) Prescription of penalties .................................................................................. 70
c) Pardon by offended party ................................................................................ 73
d) Pardon by the Chief Executive ........................................................................ 73
e) Amnesty .......................................................................................................... 74
B. Book II (Articles 114-365, RPC) and specifically included Special Laws...... 74
1. Crimes Against National Security (Arts. 114-123).............................................. 74
a) Anti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery (P.D. 532) ........................................ 76
(i) Definition of terms ........................................................................................ 76
(ii) Punishable acts ........................................................................................... 76
b) Anti-Hijacking Law (P.D. 6235) ....................................................................... 78
(i) Punishable acts............................................................................................ 78
c) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. No. 9372) ................................................. 78
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism......................................................................... 78
(ii) Who are liable ............................................................................................. 78
2. Crimes Against the Fundamental Laws of the State (Articles 124-133) ............. 78
, a) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. No. 9372) ................................................. 80
(i) Period of detention ....................................................................................... 80
b) Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (R.A. No. 9745) ........................................................ 80
(i) Punishable acts............................................................................................ 80
(ii) Who are liable ............................................................................................. 80
3. Crimes Against Public Order (Articles 134-160) ................................................ 80
a) Decree Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession, Manufacture,
Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives (P.D.
1866, as amended by R.A. No. 8294), as further amended by the Comprehensive
Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (R.A. No. 10591) ............................... 86
b) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. No. 9372) .................................................. 86
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism......................................................................... 86
(ii) Who are liable ............................................................................................. 86
(iii) Absorption principle in relation to complex crimes ...................................... 86
4. Crimes Against Public Interest (Articles 161-187).............................................. 86
a) R.A. No. 9194 – Anti-Money Laundering Act .................................................. 88
(i) Punishable acts ......................................................................................... 88
(ii) Covered Transactions ............................................................................... 88
(iii) Suspicious Transactions............................................................................ 88
5. Crimes Relative to Opium and Other Prohibited Drugs ...................................... 89
a) The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. No. 9165) ............. 90
(i) Punishable acts ........................................................................................... 90
(ii) Who are liable ............................................................................................. 90
(iii) Attempt or conspiracy, effect on liability ..................................................... 90
(iv) Immunity from prosecution and punishment............................................... 90
(v) Custody and disposition of confiscated, seized and/or surrendered
dangerous drugs (Section 21, R.A. No. 9165) ................................................. 90
b) Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. No. 9165 ......................... 90
6. Crimes Against Public Morals (Articles 200-202) .............................................. 93
a) P.D. 1602 – Anti-Gambling Act as amended by R.A. 9287 – Illegal Numbers
Game – which repealed Articles 195-199 of the RPC ......................................... 93
(i) Punishable acts ......................................................................................... 93
b) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (R.A. No. 9208)................................. 93
(i) Punishable acts.......................................................................................... 93
7. Crimes Committed by Public Officers (Articles 203-245) .................................. 94
a) Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. No. 3019, as amended) ............. 99
(i) Coverage ................................................................................................... 99
(ii) Punishable acts .......................................................................................... 99
(iii) Exceptions .................................................................................................. 99
b) Anti-Plunder Act (R.A. No. 7080, as amended) ............................................. 106
