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1hls refers Lo Lhe peLlLlon for ball flled by !"#"$%&$' ())"**&$' Amado Pernandez on !une 26,
1934, and renewed on uecember 22, 1933. A slmllar peLlLlon, flled on uecember 28, 1933, had
been denled by a resoluLlon of Lhls courL daLed lebruary 2, 1934. AlLhough noL sLaLed ln sald
resoluLlon, Lhe same was due malnly Lo Lhese clrcumsLances:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary 1he prosecuLlon malnLalns LhaL
Pernandez ls charged wlLh, and has been convlcLed of, rebelllon complexed wlLh murders,
arsons and robberles, for whlch Lhe caplLal punlshmenL, lL ls clalmed, may be lmposed, alLhough
Lhe lower courL senLenced hlm merely Lo llfe lmprlsonmenL. upon Lhe oLher hand, Lhe defense
conLends, among oLher Lhlngs, LhaL rebelllon cannoL be complexed wlLh murder, arson, or
robbery. lnasmuch as Lhe lssue Lhus ralsed had noL been prevlously seLLled squarely, and Lhls
courL was Lhen unable, as yeL, Lo reach a deflnlLe concluslon Lhereon, lL was deemed besL noL Lo
dlsLurb, for Lhe Llme belng, Lhe course of acLlon Laken by Lhe lower courL, whlch denled ball Lo
Lhe movanL. AfLer maLure dellberaLlon, our consldered oplnlon on sald lssue ls as follows:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he flrsL Lwo paragraphs of Lhe amended lnformaLlon ln Lhls case read:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he underslgned accuses (1) Amado v. Pernandez allas vlcLor allas Sollman allas Amado allas
AvP allas vlcLor Sollman, (2) Culllermo Capadocla allas Puan 8anLlllng allas Cap allas C.
Capadocla, (3) Marlano . 8algos allas 8akal allas 1ony CollanLes allas 8onlfaclo, (4) Alfredo
Saulo allas Lllas allas lred allas A.8.S. allas A.8., (3) Andres 8alsa, !r. allas 8en allas Andy (6)
Cenaro de la Cruz allas Conzalo allas Corlo allas Arong, (7) Aqulllno 8unsol allas Anong, (8)
Adrlano Samson allas uanoy, (9) !uan !. Cruz allas !ohnny 2, allas !essle Wllson allas Wllllam, (10)
!acobo Lsplno, (11) Amado 8acanday, (12) lermln 8odlllas, and (13) !ullan Lumanog allas
Manue, of Lhe crlme of rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, arsons and robberles commlLLed as
follows:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1haL on or abouL March 13, 1943, and for some Llme before Lhe sald daLe and conLlnuously
LhereafLer unLll Lhe presenL Llme, ln Lhe ClLy of Manlla, hlllpplnes, and Lhe place whlch Lhey had
chosen as Lhe nerve cenLer of all Lhelr rebelllous acLlvlLles ln Lhe dlfferenL parLs of Lhe
hlllpplnes, Lhe sald accused, consplrlng, confederaLlng, and cooperaLlng wlLh each oLher, as
well as wlLh Lhe LhlrLy-one (31) !"#"$%&$'+ charged ln crlmlnal cases nos. 14071, 14082, 14270,
14313, and 14344 of Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of Manlla (declded May 11, 1931) and also wlLh
oLhers whose whereabouLs and ldenLlLles are sLlll unknown, Lhe sald accused and Lhelr co-
consplraLors, belng Lhen offlcers and/or members of, or oLherwlse assoclaLed wlLh Lhe Congress
of Labor CrganlzaLlons (CLC) formerly known as Lhe CommlLLee on Labor CrganlzaLlon (CLC), an
acLlve agency, organ, and lnsLrumenLallLy of Lhe CommunlsL arLy of Lhe hlllpplnes (.k..),
wlLh cenLral offlces ln Manlla and chapLers and afflllaLed or assoclaLed labor unlons and oLher
'mass organlzaLlons' ln dlfferenL places ln Lhe hlllpplnes, and as such agency, organ, and
lnsLrumenLallLy, fully cooperaLes ln, and synchronlzes lLs acLlvlLles wlLh Lhe rebelllous acLlvlLles
of Lhe 'Pukbong Magpalayang 8ayan, (P.M.8.) and oLher organs, agencles, and lnsLrumenLallLles
of Lhe CommunlsL arLy of Lhe hlllpplnes (.k..) Lo Lhereby assure, faclllLaLe, and effecL Lhe
compleLe and permanenL success of Lhe armed rebelllon agalnsL Lhe 8epubllc of Lhe hlllpplnes,
as Lhe hereln !"#"$%&$'+ and Lhelr co-consplraLors have ln facL synchronlzed Lhe acLlvlLles of Lhe
CLC wlLh Lhe rebelllous acLlvlLles of Lhe PM8 and oLher agencles, organs and lnsLrumenLallLles
of Lhe CommunlsL arLy of Lhe hlllpplnes and have oLherwlse masLer- mlnded or promoLed Lhe
cooperaLlve efforLs beLween Lhe CLC and PM8 and oLher agencles, organs, and
lnsLrumenLallLles of Lhe .k.. ln Lhe prosecuLlon of Lhe rebelllon agalnsL Lhe 8epubllc of Lhe
hlllpplnes, and belng Lhen also hlgh ranklng offlcers and/or members of, or oLherwlse afflllaLed
wlLh, Lhe CommunlsL arLy of Lhe hlllpplnes (.k..), whlch ls now acLlvely engaged ln an armed
rebelllon agalnsL Lhe CovernmenL of Lhe hlllpplnes Lhrough acLs Lherefor commlLLed and
planned Lo be furLher commlLLed ln Manlla and oLher places ln Lhe hlllpplnes, and of whlch
parLy Lhe 'Pukbong Mapagpalaya ng 8ayan' (PM8), oLherwlse or formerly known as Lhe
'Pukbalahaps' (Puks), ls Lhe armed force, dld Lhen and Lhere wlllfully, unlawfully and felonlously
help, supporL, promoLe, malnLaln, cause, dlrecL and/or command Lhe 'Pukbong Mapagpalaya ng
8ayan' (PM8) or Lhe 'Pukbalahaps' (Puks) Lo rlse publlcly and Lake arms agalnsL Lhe 8epubllc of
Lhe hlllpplnes, or oLherwlse parLlclpaLe ln such armed publlc uprlslng, for Lhe purpose of
removlng Lhe LerrlLory of Lhe hlllpplnes from Lhe alleglance Lo Lhe governmenL and laws
Lhereof as ln facL Lhe sald 'Pukbong Mapagpalaya ng 8ayan' or 'Pukbalahaps' have rlsen publlcly
and Laken arms Lo aLLaln Lhe sald purpose by Lhen and Lhere maklng armed ralds, sorLles and
ambushes, aLLacks agalnsL pollce, consLabulary and army deLachmenLs as well as lnnocenL
clvlllans, and as a necessary means Lo commlL Lhe crlme of rebelllon, ln connecLlon LherewlLh
and ln furLherance Lhereof, have Lhen and Lhere commlLLed acLs of murder, plllage, looLlng,
plunder, arson, and planned desLrucLlon of prlvaLe and publlc properLy Lo creaLe and spread
chaos, dlsorder, Lerror, and fear so as Lo faclllLaLe Lhe accompllshmenL of Lhe aforesald purpose,
as follows, Lo wlL:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1hen follows a descrlpLlon of Lhe murders, arsons and robberles allegedly perpeLraLed by Lhe
accused as a necessary means Lo commlL Lhe crlme of rebelllon, ln connecLlon LherewlLh and ln
furLherance Lhereof."
ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code provldes LhaL:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
When a slngle acL consLlLuLes Lwo or more grave or less grave felonles, or when an offense ls a
necessary means for commlLLlng Lhe oLher, Lhe penalLy for Lhe mosL serlous crlme shall be
lmposed, Lhe same Lo be applled ln lLs maxlmum perlod."
lL ls obvlous, from Lhe language of Lhls arLlcle, LhaL Lhe same presupposes Lhe commlsslon of
Lwo (2) or more crlmes, and, hence, does noL apply when Lhe culprlL ls gullLy of only one crlme.
ArLlcle 134 of sald code reads:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he crlme of rebelllon or lnsurrecLlon ls commlLLed by rlslng publlcly and Laklng arms agalnsL
Lhe CovernmenL for Lhe purpose of removlng from Lhe alleglance Lo sald CovernmenL or lLs
laws, Lhe LerrlLory of Lhe hlllpplne lslands or any parL Lhereof, of any body of land, naval or
oLher armed forces, or of deprlvlng Lhe Chlef LxecuLlve or Lhe LeglslaLure, wholly or parLlally, of
any of Lhelr powers or prerogaLlves."
ursuanL Lo ArLlcle 133 of Lhe same code any person, merely parLlclpaLlng or execuLlng Lhe
commands of oLhers ln a rebelllon shall suffer Lhe penalLy of prlslon mayor ln lLs mlnlmum
perlod."
1he penalLy ls lncreased Lo prlslon mayor and a flne noL Lo exceed 20,000 for any person who
promoLes, malnLalns or heads a rebelllon or lnsurrecLlon or who, whlle holdlng any publlc offlce
or employmenL, Lakes parL Lhereln":chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1. engaglng ln war agalnsL Lhe forces of Lhe governmenL",
2. desLroylng properLy", or
3. commlLLlng serlous vlolence",
4. exacLlng conLrlbuLlons or"
3. dlverLlng publlc funds from Lhe lawful purpose for whlch Lhey have been approprlaLed".
WheLher performed slngly or collecLlvely, Lhese flve (3) classes of acLs consLlLuLe only one
offense, and no more, and are, alLogeLher, sub[ecL Lo only one penalLy - prlslon mayor and a
flne noL Lo exceed 20,000. 1hus for lnsLance, a publlc offlcer who asslsLs Lhe rebels by Lurnlng
over Lo Lhem, for use ln flnanclng Lhe uprlslng, Lhe publlc funds enLrusLed Lo hls cusLody, could
nelLher be prosecuLed for malversaLlon of such funds, aparL from rebelllon, nor accused and
convlcLed of Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh malversaLlon of publlc funds. 1he reason ls LhaL
such malversaLlon ls lnherenL ln Lhe crlme of rebelllon commlLLed by hlm. ln facL, he would noL
be gullLy of rebelllon had he noL so mlsapproprlaLed sald funds. ln Lhe lmposlLlon, upon sald
publlc offlcer, of Lhe penalLy for rebelllon lL would even be lmproper Lo conslder Lhe aggravaLlng
clrcumsLance of advanLage Laken by Lhe offender of hls publlc poslLlon, Lhls belng an essenLlal
elemenL of Lhe crlme he had perpeLraLed. now, Lhen, lf Lhe offlce held by sald offender and Lhe
naLure of Lhe funds malversed by hlm cannoL aggravaLe Lhe penalLy for hls offense, lL ls clear
LhaL nelLher may lL worsen Lhe very crlme commlLLed by Lhe culprlL by glvlng rlse, elLher Lo an
lndependenL crlme, or Lo a complex crlme. needless Lo say, a mere parLlclpanL ln Lhe rebelllon,
who ls noL a publlc offlcer, should noL be placed aL a more dlsadvanLageous poslLlon Lhan Lhe
promoLers, malnLalners or leaders of Lhe movemenL, or Lhe publlc offlcers who [oln Lhe same,
lnsofar as Lhe appllcaLlon of ArLlcle 48 ls concerned.
Cne of Lhe means by whlch rebelllon may be commlLLed, ln Lhe words of sald ArLlcle 133, ls by
engaglng ln war agalnsL Lhe forces of Lhe governmenL" and commlLLlng serlous vlolence" ln
Lhe prosecuLlon of sald war". 1hese expresslons lmply everyLhlng LhaL war connoLes, namely, chan
roblesvlrLualawllbraryresorL Lo arms, requlslLlon of properLy and servlces, collecLlon of Laxes and conLrlbuLlons,
resLralnL of llberLy, damage Lo properLy, physlcal ln[urles and loss of llfe, and Lhe hunger, lllness
and unhapplness LhaL war leaves ln lLs wake - excepL LhaL, very ofLen, lL ls worse Lhan war ln
Lhe lnLernaLlonal sense, for lL lnvolves lnLernal sLruggle, a flghL beLween broLhers, wlLh a
blLLerness and passlon or ruLhlessness seldom found ln a conLesL beLween sLrangers. 8elng
wlLhln Lhe purvlew of engaglng ln war" and commlLLlng serlous vlolence", sald resorL Lo arms,
wlLh Lhe resulLlng lmpalrmenL or desLrucLlon of llfe and properLy, consLlLuLes noL Lwo or more
offense, buL only one crlme - LhaL of rebelllon plaln and slmple. 1hus, for lnsLance, lL has been
held LhaL Lhe crlme of Lreason may be commlLLed 'by execuLlng elLher a slngle or slmllar
lnLenLlonal overL acLs, dlfferenL or slmllar buL dlsLlncL, and for LhaL reason, lL may be consldered
one slngle conLlnuous offense. (CulnLo vs. veluz, 77 hll., 801, 44 Cff. Caz., 909.)" (eople vs.
acheco, 93 hll., 321.)
lnasmuch as Lhe acLs speclfled ln sald ArLlcle 133 consLlLuLe, we repeaL, one slngle crlme, lL
follows necessarlly LhaL sald acLs offer no occaslon for Lhe appllcaLlon of ArLlcle 48, whlch
requlres Lherefor Lhe commlsslon of, aL leasL, Lwo crlmes. Pence, Lhls courL has never ln Lhe
pasL, convlcLed any person of Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder". WhaL ls more, lL
appears LhaL ln every one of Lhe cases of rebelllon publlshed ln Lhe hlllpplne 8eporLs,
Lhe !"#"$%&$'+were convlcLed of slmple rebelllon, alLhough Lhey had kllled several persons,
someLlmes peace offlcers (u. S. vs. Lagnason, 3 hll., 472, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryu. S. vs. 8aldello, 3 hll., 309, u. S.
vs. Ayala, 6 hll., 131, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryLeague vs. eople, 73 hll., 133).
lollowlng a parallel llne are our declslons ln Lhe more recenL cases of Lreason, resulLlng from
collaboraLlon wlLh Lhe !apanese durlng Lhe war ln Lhe aclflc. ln facL, sald cases wenL furLher
Lhan Lhe aforemenLloned cases of rebelllon, ln LhaL Lhe Lheory of Lhe prosecuLlon Lo Lhe effecL
LhaL Lhe accused ln sald Lreason cases were gullLy of Lhe complex crlme of Lreason wlLh murder
and oLher crlmes was expressly and repeaLedly re[ecLed Lhereln. 1hus, commenLlng on Lhe
declslon of Lhe eople's CourL flndlng Lhe accused ln eople vs. rleLo (80 hll., 138, 43 Cff. Caz.,
3329) gullLy of cralaw Lhe crlme of Lreason complexed by murder and physlcal ln[urles" and
senLenclng hlm Lo deaLh, and on Lhe conLenLlon of Lhe SollclLor Ceneral LhaL rleLo had
commlLLed Lhe complex crlme of Lreason wlLh homlclde", Lhls courL, speaklng Lhrough Mr.
!usLlce 1uason, sald:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he execuLlon of some of Lhe guerrllla suspecLs menLloned ln Lhese counLs and Lhe lnfllcLlon of
physlcal ln[urles on oLhers are noL offenses separaLe from Lreason. under Lhe hlllpplne Lreason
law and under Lhe unlLed SLaLes consLlLuLlon deflnlng Lreason, afLer whlch Lhe former was
paLLerned, Lhere musL concur boLh adherence Lo Lhe enemy and glvlng hlm ald and comforL.
Cne wlLhouL Lhe oLher does noL make Lreason.
ln Lhe naLure of Lhlngs, Lhe glvlng of ald and comforL can only be accompllshed by some klnd of
acLlon. lLs very naLure parLakes, of a deed or physlcal acLlvlLy as opposed Lo a menLal operaLlon.
(Cramer vs. u.S., anLe.) 1hls deed or physlcal acLlvlLy may be, and ofLen ls, ln lLself a crlmlnal
offense under anoLher penal sLaLuLe or provlslon. Lven so, when Lhe deed ls charged as an
elemenL of Lreason lL becomes ldenLlfled wlLh Lhe laLLer crlme and cannoL be Lhe sub[ecL of a
separaLe punlshmenL, or used ln comblnaLlon wlLh Lreason Lo lncrease Lhe penalLy as ArLlcle 48
of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code provldes. !usL as one cannoL be punlshed for possesslng oplum ln a
prosecuLlon for smoklng Lhe ldenLlcal drug, and a robber cannoL be held gullLy of coerclon or
Lrespass Lo a dwelllng ln a prosecuLlon for robbery, because possesslon of oplum and force and
Lrespass are lnherenL ln smoklng and ln robbery respecLlvely, so may noL a !"#"$%&$' be made
llable for murder as a separaLe crlme or ln con[uncLlon wlLh anoLher offense where, as ln Lhls
case, lL ls averred as a consLlLuLlve lngredlenL of Lreason cralaw . Where murder or physlcal ln[urles are
charged as overL acLs of Lreason cralaw Lhey cannoL be regarded separaLely under Lhelr general
denomlnaLlon." (lLallcs supplled.)
Accordlngly, we convlcLed Lhe accused of slmple Lreason and senLenced hlm Lo llfe
lmprlsonmenL.
ln eople vs. Labra, 81 hll., 377, 46 Cff. Caz., Supp. no. 1, p. 139, we used Lhe followlng
language:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he lower courL found ())"**&$' gullLy noL only of Lreason, buL of murder, for Lhe kllllng of
1omas Abella, and, followlng Lhe provlslons of ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code senLenced
hlm Lo deaLh, Lhe maxlmum penalLy provlded by arLlcle 114.
1he lower courL erred ln flndlng ())"**&$' gullLy of Lhe murder of 1omas Abella. 1he arresL and
kllllng of 1omas Abella for belng a guerllla, ls alleged ln counL 3 of Lhe lnformaLlon, as one of Lhe
elemenLs of Lhe crlme of Lreason for whlch ())"**&$' ls prosecuLed. Such elemenL consLlLuLe a
parL of Lhe legal basls upon whlch ())"**&$' sLands convlcLed of Lhe crlme of Lreason. 1he kllllng
of 1omas Abella cannoL be consldered as legal ground for convlcLlng ())"**&$' of any crlme
oLher Lhan Lreason. 1he essenLlal elemenLs of a glven crlme cannoL be dlslnLegraLed ln dlfferenL
parLs, each one sLand as a separaLe ground Lo convlcL Lhe accused of a dlfferenL crlme or
crlmlnal offense. 1he elemenLs consLlLuLlng a glven crlme are lnLegral and lnseparable parLs of a
whole. ln Lhe conLemplaLlon of Lhe law, Lhey cannoL be used for double or mulLlple purposes.
1hey can only be used for Lhe sole purpose of showlng Lhe commlsslon of Lhe crlme of whlch
Lhey form parL. 1he facLual complexlLy of Lhe crlme of Lreason does noL endow lL wlLh Lhe
funcLlonal ablllLy of worm mulLlpllcaLlon or amoeba reproducLlon. CLherwlse, Lhe accused wlll
have Lo face as many prosecuLlons and convlcLlons as Lhere are elemenLs ln Lhe crlme of
Lreason, ln open vlolaLlon of Lhe consLlLuLlonal prohlblLlon agalnsL double [eopardy." (lLallcs
supplled.)
1he same concluslon was reached ln eople vs. AllboLod 82 hll., 164, 46 Cff. Caz., 1003, desplLe
Lhe dlrecL parLlclpaLlon of Lhe !"#"$%&$' Lhereln ln Lhe malLreaLmenL and kllllng of several
persons.
ln eople vs. vllo 82 hll., 324, 46 Cff. Caz., 2317, we held:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he eople's CourL, however, erred ln classlfylng Lhe crlme as Lreason wlLh murder. 1he kllllng
of Amado SaLorre and one Segundo ls charged as an elemenL of Lreason, and lL Lherefore
becomes ldenLlfled wlLh Lhe laLLer crlme, and cannoL be Lhe sub[ecL of a separaLe punlshmenL or
used ln comblnaLlon wlLh Lreason Lo lncrease Lhe penalLy as ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code
provldes." (eople vs. rleLo, L-399, 43 Cff. Caz. 3329. See, also eople vs. Labra, L-886, 46 Cff.
Caz., [Supp. Lo no. 1], 139.)" (lLallcs supplled.)
1o Lhe same effecL was our declslon ln eople vs. 8oble 83 hll., 1, 46 Cff. Caz., 4207. We sLaLed
Lhereln:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he courL held LhaL Lhe facLs alleged ln Lhe lnformaLlon ls a complex crlme of Lreason wlLh
murders, wlLh Lhe resulL LhaL Lhe penalLy provlded for Lhe mosL serlous offense was Lo be
lmposed on lLs maxlmum degree. vlewlng Lhe case from Lhe sLandpolnL of modlfylng
clrcumsLances, Lhe courL belleved LhaL Lhe same resulL obLalned. lL oplned LhaL Lhe kllllngs were
murders quallfled by Lreachery and aggravaLed by Lhe clrcumsLances of evldenL premedlLaLlon,
superlor sLrengLh, cruelLy, and an armed band.
We Lhlnk Lhls ls error. 1he LorLures and murders seL forLh ln Lhe lnformaLlon are merged ln and
formed parL of Lhe Lreason. 1hey were ln Lhls case Lhe overL acLs whlch, besldes LralLorous
lnLenLlon supplled a vlLal lngredlenL ln Lhe crlme." (lLallcs supplled.)
1he accused ln eople vs. uelgado 83 hll., 9, 46 Cff. Caz., 4213, had been convlcLed by Lhe
eople's CourL of Lhe crlme of Lreason complexed wlLh Lhe crlme of murder" and senLenced Lo
Lhe exLreme penalLy. ln our declslon, penned by Mr. !usLlce MonLemayor, we expressed
ourselves as follows:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he ())"**&$' hereln was and ls a llllplno clLlzen. Pls adherence Lo Lhe !apanese forces of
occupaLlon and glvlng Lhem ald and comforL by acLlng as Lhelr spy, undercover man,
lnvesLlgaLor, and even klller when necessary Lo cow and compel Lhe lnhablLanLs Lo surrender
Lhelr flrearms and dlsclose lnformaLlon abouL Lhe guerrlllas has been fully esLabllshed. Pls
manner of lnvesLlgaLlon and malLreaLmenL of some of hls vlcLlms llke 1ereso Sanchez and
aLrlclo Sulco, was so cruel, bruLal and lnhuman LhaL lL ls almosL unbellevable LhaL a llllplno can
commlL and pracLlce such aLroclLles especlally on hls own counLrymen. 8uL, evldenLly, war,
confuslon and opporLunlsm can and do produce characLers and monsLer unknown durlng peace
and normal Llmes.
1he eople's CourL found Lhe ())"**&$' gullLy of Lreason complexed wlLh murder. 1he SollclLor
Ceneral, however, malnLalns LhaL Lhe offense commlLLed ls slmple Lreason, clLlng Lhe docLrlne
lald down by Lhls courL ln Lhe case of eople vs. rleLo, (L-399, 43 Cff. Caz., 3329) buL
accompanled by Lhe aggravaLlng clrcumsLance under ArLlcle 14, paragraph 21, of Lhe 8evlsed
enal Code, and noL compensaLed by any mlLlgaLlng clrcumsLance, and he recommends Lhe
lmposlLlon of Lhe penalLy of deaLh. We agree wlLh Lhe SollclLor Ceneral LhaL on Lhe basls of Lhe
rullng of Lhls courL ln Lhe case of eople vs. rleLo, supra, Lhe ())"**&$' may be convlcLed only a
Lreason, and LhaL Lhe kllllng and lnfllcLlon of physlcal ln[urles commlLLed by hlm may noL be
separaLed from Lhe crlme of Lreason buL should be regarded as acLs performed ln Lhe
commlsslon of Lreason, alLhough, as sLaLed ln sald case, Lhe bruLallLy wlLh whlch Lhe kllllng or
physlcal ln[urles were carrled ouL may be Laken as an aggravaLlng clrcumsLance." (lLallcs
supplled.)
and reduced Lhe penalLy from deaLh Lo llfe lmprlsonmenL and a flne of 20,000.
ldenLlcal were Lhe perLlnenL feaLures of Lhe case of eople vs. Adlawan, 83 hll., 194, 46 Cff.
Caz., 4299, ln whlch, Lhrough Mr. !usLlce 8eyes (A), we declared:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
cralaw we flnd merlL ln Lhe conLenLlon LhaL ())"**&$' should have noL been convlcLed of Lhe so called
'Complex crlme of Lreason wlLh murder, robbery, and rape.' 1he kllllngs, robbery, and raplng
menLloned ln Lhe lnformaLlon are Lhereln alleged noL as speclflc offenses buL as mere elemenLs
of Lhe crlme of Lreason for whlch Lhe accused ls belng prosecuLed. 8elng merged ln and
ldenLlfled wlLh Lhe general charged Lhey cannoL be used ln comblnaLlon wlLh Lhe Lreason Lo
lncrease Lhe penalLy under ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code. (eople vs. rleLo, L-399,
!anuary 29, 1948, 43 Cff. Caz., 3329.) ())"**&$' should, Lherefore, be held gullLy of Lreason
only." (lLallcs supplled.)
ln eople vs. SuralLa, 83 hll., 714, 47 Cff. Caz., 4393, Lhe language used was:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
cralaw 8uL Lhe eople's CourL erred ln flndlng Lhe ())"**&$' gullLy of Lhe complex crlme of Lreason
wlLh murder, because murder was an lngredlenL of Lhe crlme of Lreason, as we have hereLofore
held ln several cases. (lLallcs supplled.)
1hls was relLeraLed ln eople vs. navea, 87 hll., 1, 47 Cff. Caz., Supp. no. 12, p. 232:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he SollclLor Ceneral recommends LhaL Lhe ())"**&$' be senLenced for Lhe complex crlme of
Lreason wlLh murder. We have already ruled, however, LhaL where, as ln Lhe presenL case, Lhe
kllllng ls charged as an elemenL of Lreason, lL 'becomes ldenLlfled wlLh Lhe laLLer crlme and
cannoL be Lhe sub[ecL of a separaLe punlshmenL, or used ln comblnaLlon wlLh Lreason Lo
lncrease Lhe penalLy as ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code provldes." (lLallcs supplled.)
1he quesLlon aL bar was, also, Laken up ln Lhe case of Crlsologo vs. eople and vlllalobos (94
hll., 477), declded on lebruary 26, 1934. 1he facLs and Lhe rule Lhereln lald down are seL forLh
ln our unanlmous declslon ln sald case, from whlch we quoLe:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he ,"'-'-.$"/ !uan u. Crlsologo, a capLaln ln Lhe uSAllL durlng Lhe lasL world war and aL Lhe
Llme of Lhe flllng of Lhe presenL peLlLlon a lleuLenanL colonel ln Lhe Armed lorces of Lhe
hlllpplnes, was on March 12, 1946, accused of Lreason under ArLlcle 114 of Lhe 8evlsed enal
Code ln an lnformaLlon flled ln Lhe eople's CourL. 8uL before Lhe accused could be broughL
under Lhe [urlsdlcLlon of Lhe courL, he was on !anuary 13, 1947, lndlcLed for vlolaLlons of
CommonwealLh AcL no. 408, oLherwlse known as Lhe ArLlcles of War, before a mlllLary courL
creaLed by auLhorlLy of Lhe Army Chlef of SLaff, Lhe lndlcLmenL conLalnlng Lhree charges, Lwo of
whlch, Lhe flrsL and Lhlrd, were Lhose of Lreason conslsLlng ln glvlng lnformaLlon and ald Lo Lhe
enemy leavlng Lo Lhe capLure of uSAllL offlcers and men and oLher persons wlLh anLl-!apanese
repuLaLlon and ln urglng members of Lhe uSAllL Lo surrender and cooperaLe wlLh Lhe enemy,
whlle Lhe second was LhaL of havlng cerLaln clvlllans fllled ln Llme of war. lound lnnocenL of Lhe
flrsL and Lhlrd charges buL gullLy of Lhe second, he was on May, 8, 1947, senLenced by Lhe
mlllLary courL Lo llfe lmprlsonmenL.
WlLh Lhe approval on !une 17, 1948, of 8epubllc AcL no. 311 abollshlng Lhe eople's CourL, Lhe
crlmlnal case ln LhaL courL agalnsL Lhe ,"'-'-.$"/ was, pursuanL Lo Lhe provlslons of sald AcL,
Lransferred Lo Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of Zamboanga and Lhere Lhe charges of Lreason were
ampllfled. Arralgned ln LhaL courL upon Lhe amended lnformaLlon, ,"'-'-.$"/ presenLed a
moLlon Lo quash, challenglng Lhe [urlsdlcLlon of Lhe courL and pleadlng double [eopardy because
of hls prevlous senLence ln Lhe mlllLary courL. 8uL Lhe courL denled Lhe moLlon and,
afLer ,"'-'-.$"/ had pleaded noL gullLy, proceeded Lo Lrlal, whereupon, Lhe presenL peLlLlon for
cerLlorarl and prohlblLlon was flled ln Lhls courL Lo have Lhe Lrlal [udge deslsL from proceedlng
wlLh Lhe Lrlal and dlsmlss Lhe case.
lL ls, however, clalmed LhaL Lhe offense charged ln Lhe mlllLary courL dlfferenL from LhaL
charged ln Lhe clvll courL and LhaL even granLlng LhaL Lhe offense was ldenLlcal Lhe mlllLary courL
had no [urlsdlcLlon Lo Lake cognlzance of Lhe same because Lhe eople's CourL had prevlously
acqulred [urlsdlcLlon over Lhe case wlLh Lhe resulL LhaL Lhe convlcLlon ln Lhe courL marLlal was
vold. ln supporL of Lhe flrsL polnL, lL ls urged LhaL Lhe amended lnformaLlon flled ln Lhe CourL of
llrsL lnsLance of Zamboanga conLalns overL acLs dlsLlncL from Lhose charged ln Lhe mlllLary
courL. 8uL we noLe LhaL whlle cerLaln overL acLs speclfled ln Lhe amended lnformaLlon ln Lhe
Zamboanga courL were noL speclfled ln Lhe lndlcLmenL ln Lhe courL marLlal, Lhey all are
embraced ln Lhe general charge of Lreason, whlch ls a conLlnuous offense and one who commlLs
lL ls noL crlmlnally llable for as many crlmes as Lhere are overL acLs, because all overL acL 'he has
done or mlghL have done for LhaL purpose consLlLuLe buL a slngle offense.' (CulnLo vs. veluz, 44.
Cff. Caz., 909, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryeople vs. acheco, L-4730, promulgaLed !uly 31, 1933.) ln oLher words, slnce
Lhe offense charged ln Lhe amended lnformaLlon ln Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of Zamboanga ls
Lreason, Lhe facL LhaL Lhe sald lnformaLlon conLalns an enumeraLlon of addlLlonal ovarL acLs noL
speclflcally menLloned ln Lhe lndlcLmenL before Lhe mlllLary courL ls lmmaLerlal slnce Lhe new
alleged overL acLs do noL ln Lhemselves consLlLuLe a new and dlsLlncL offense from LhaL of
Lreason, and Lhls courL has repeaLedly held LhaL a person cannoL be found gullLy of Lreason and
aL Lhe same Llme also gullLy of overL acLs speclfled ln Lhe lnformaLlon for Lreason even lf Lhose
overL acLs, consldered separaLely, are punlshable by law, for Lhe slmple reason LhaL Lhose overL
acLs are noL separaLe offenses dlsLlncL from LhaL of Lreason buL consLlLuLe lngredlenLs Lhereof."
(lLallcs supplled.)
1hus, lnsofar as Lreason ls concerned, Lhe oplnlon of Lhls courL, on Lhe quesLlon wheLher sald
crlme may be complexed wlLh murder, when Lhe former was commlLLed Lhrough Lhe laLLer, and
lL ls so alleged ln Lhe lnformaLlon, had poslLlvely and clearly crysLallzed lLself ln Lhe negaLlve as
early as !anuary 29, 1948.
We have noL overlooked Lhe declslon ln eople vs. Labra (L-1240, declded on May 12, 1949), Lhe
dlsposlLlve parL of whlch parLly reads:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Wherefore, Lhe verdlcL of gullLy musL be afflrmed. ArLlcles 48, 114 and 248 of Lhe 8evlsed enal
Code are appllcable Lo Lhe offense of Lreason wlLh murder. Powever for lack of sufflclenL voLes
Lo lmpose Lhe exLreme penalLy, Lhe ())"**&$' wlll be senLenced Lo llfe lmprlsonmenL cralaw .."
AlLhough lL menLlons ArLlcles 48 and 248 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code and Lhe offense of Lreason
wlLh murder," lL should be noLed LhaL we afflrmed Lhereln Lhe acLlon of Lhe eople's CourL,
whlch, accordlng Lo Lhe openlng sLaLemenL of our declslon, convlcLed Labra of Lreason
aggravaLed wlLh murder". 8esldes, Lhe appllcablllLy of sald arLlcles was noL dlscussed ln sald
declslon. lL ls obvlous, from a mere perusal Lhereof, LhaL Lhls courL had no lnLenLlon of passlng
upon such quesLlon. CLherwlse, lL would have explalned why lL dld noL follow Lhe rule lald down
ln Lhe prevlous cases of rleLo, Labra (AugusL 10, 1948), AllboLod, vllo, 8oble, uelgado and
Adlawan (supra), ln whlch Lhe lssue was expllclLly examlned and declded ln Lhe negaLlve. Cur
conLlnued adherence Lo Lhls vlew ln Lhe subsequenL cases of SuralLa, navea, acheco and
Crlsologo, wlLhouL even a passlng reference Lo Lhe second Labra case, shows LhaL we dld noL
conslder Lhe same as reflecLlng Lhe oplnlon of Lhe courL on sald quesLlon. AL any raLe, lnsofar as
lL suggesLs oLherwlse, Lhe poslLlon Laken ln Lhe second Labra case musL be deemed reversed by
our declslons ln sald cases of SuralLa, navea, acheco and Crlsologo.
lL ls Lrue LhaL Lreason and rebelllon are dlsLlncL and dlfferenL from each oLher. 1hls does noL
deLracL, however, from Lhe rule LhaL Lhe lngredlenLs of a crlme form parL and parcel Lhereof,
and, hence, are absorbed by Lhe same and cannoL be punlshed elLher separaLely Lherefrom or
by Lhe appllcaLlon of ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code. 8esldes Lhere ls more reason Lo apply
sald rule ln Lhe crlme of rebelllon Lhan ln LhaL of Lreason, for Lhe law punlshlng rebelllon (ArLlcle
133, 8evlsed enal Code) speclflcally menLlons Lhe acL of engaglng ln war and commlLLlng
serlous vlolence among lLs essenLlal elemenLs - Lhus clearly lndlcaLlng LhaL everyLhlng done ln
Lhe prosecuLlon of sald war, as a means necessary Lherefor, ls embraced Lhereln - unllke Lhe
provlslon on Lreason (ArLlcle 114, 8evlsed enal Code) whlch ls less expllclL Lhereon.
lL ls urged LhaL, lf Lhe crlme of assaulL upon a person ln auLhorlLy or an agenL of a person ln
auLhorlLy may be commlLLed wlLh physlcal ln[urles (u. S. vs. MonLlel, 9 hll., 162), homlclde
(eople vs. Lo[o, 32 hll., 390) and murder (u. S. vs. Clnosolongo, 23 hll., 171, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryu. S. vs.
8aluyoL, 40 hll., 383), and rape may be perpeLraLed wlLh physlcal ln[urles (u. S. vs. Andaya, 34
hll., 690), Lhen rebelllon may, slmllarly, be complexed wlLh murder, arson, or robbery. 1he
concluslon does noL follow, for engaglng ln war, serlous vlolence, physlcal ln[urles and
desLrucLlon of llfe and properLy are lnherenL ln rebelllon, buL noL ln assaulL upon persons ln
auLhorlLy or agenLs of persons ln auLhorlLy or ln rape. 1he word rebelllon" evokes, noL merely a
challenge Lo Lhe consLlLuLed auLhorlLles, buL, also, clvll war, on a blgger or lesser scale, wlLh all
Lhe evlls LhaL go wlLh lL, whereas, nelLher rape nor assaulL upon persons ln auLhorlLy connoLes
necessarlly, or even generally, elLher physlcal ln[urles, or murder. 1
ln supporL of Lhe Lheory LhaL a rebel who kllls ln furLherance of Lhe lnsurrecLlon ls gullLy of Lhe
complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder, our aLLenLlon has been called Lo ArLlcle 244 of Lhe old
enal Code of Lhe hlllpplnes, readlng:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Los dellLos parLlculares comeLldos en una rebellon o sedlclon, o con moLlvo de ellas, seran
casLlgados respecLlvamenLe segun las dlsposlclones de esLe Codlgo.
Cuando no puedan descubrlrse sus auLores seran penados como Lales los [efes prlnclpales de la
rebellon o sedlclon."
and Lo Lhe followlng observaLlons of Cuello Calon (uerecho enal, vol. ll, p. 110), ln relaLlon
LhereLo:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Se esLablece aqul que el en una rebellon o sedlclon, o con moLlvo de ellas, comeLe oLros dellLos
(v.g., roba, maLa o leslona), sera responsable de esLos ademas de los dellLos de rebellon o
sedlclon. La dlflculLad conslsLe en esLos casos en separar los accldenLes de la rebellon o sedlclon
de los dellLos lndependlenLes de esLas, y como las leyes no conLlenen en esLe punLo precepLo
alguno apllcable, su soluclon ha quedado encomendada a los Lrlbunales. La [urlsprudencla que
esLos han senLado consldera como accldenLes de la rebellon o sedlclon - cuya crlmlnalldad
queda embedlda en la de esLos dellLos, y, por LanLo, no son punlbles especlalmenLe - los
hechos de escasa gravedad (v.g., aLenLados, desacaLos, leslones menos graves), chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarypor el
conLrarlo, las lnfracclones graves, como el aseslnaLo o las leslones graves, se conslderan como
dellLos lndependlenLes de la rebellon o de la sedlclon."
lL should be noLed, however, LhaL sald ArLlcle 244 of Lhe old enal Code of Lhe hlllpplnes has
noL been lncluded ln our 8evlsed enal Code. lf Lhe appllcablllLy of ArLlcle 48 Lo rebelllon was
deLermlned by Lhe exlsLence of sald ArLlcle 244, Lhen Lhe ellmlnaLlon of Lhe laLLer would be
lndlcaLlve of Lhe conLrary.
8esldes, Lhe crlme of rebelllon, referred Lo by Cuello Calon, was LhaL punlshed ln Lhe Spanlsh
enal Code, ArLlcle 243 of whlch provldes:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Son reos de rebellon los que se alzaren publlcamenLe y en ablerLa hosLllldad conLra el Coblerno
para cualqulera de los ob[eLosslgulenLes:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1. uesLronar al 8ey, deponer al 8egenLe o 8egencla del 8elno, o prlvarles de su llberLad
personal u obllgarles a e[ecuLar un acLo conLrarlo a su volunLad.
2. lmpedlr la celebraclon dc las elecclones para ulpuLados a CorLes o Senadores en Lodo el
8elno, o la reunlon leglLlma de las mlsmas.
3. ulsolver las CorLes o lmpedlr la dellberaclon de alguno de los Cuerpos Coleglsladores o
arrancarles alguna resoluclon.
4. L[ecuLar cualqulera de los dellLos prevlsLos en el arLlculo 163.
3. SusLraer el 8elno o parLe de el o algun cuerpo de Lropa de Llerra o de mar, o cualqulera oLra
clase de fuerza armada, de la obedlencla del Supremo Coblerno.
6. usar y e[ercer por sl o despo[ar a los MlnlsLros de la Corona de sus faculLades
consLlLuclonales, o lmpedlrles o coarLarles su llbre e[erclclo. (ArLlculo 167, Codlgo enal de 1830.
- veanse las demas concordanclas del arLlculo 181.)"
1hus, Lhe Spanlsh enal Code dld noL speclflcally declare LhaL rebelllon lncludes Lhe acL of
engaglng ln war agalnsL Lhe forces of Lhe CovernmenL and of uslng serlous vlolence for Lhe
purposes sLaLed ln ArLlcle 134 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code. ln vlew of Lhls express sLaLuLory
lncluslon of Lhe acLs of war and serlous vlolence among Lhe lngredlenLs of rebelllon ln Lhe
hlllpplnes, lL ls clear LhaL Lhe dlsLlncLlon made by Cuello Calon beLween grave and less grave
offenses commlLLed ln Lhe course of an lnsurrecLlon cannoL be accepLed ln Lhls [urlsdlcLlon.
Agaln, lf boLh classes of offenses are parL and parcel of a rebelllon, or means necessary Lherefor,
nelLher law nor loglc [usLlfles Lhe excluslon of Lhe one and Lhe lncluslon of Lhe oLher. ln facL,
Cuello Calon admlLs LhaL Lhe dlfflculLy lles ln separaLlng Lhe accldenLs of rebelllon or sedlLlon
from Lhe offenses lndependenL Lherefrom." Lrgo, offenses LhaL are noL lndependenL Lherefrom,
buL consLlLuLlng an lnLegral parL Lhereof commlLLed, preclsely, Lo carry ouL Lhe uprlslng Lo lLs
successful concluslon - are beyond Lhe purvlew of ArLlcle 244. lndeed, Lhe above quoLed
sLaLemenL of Cuello Calon - Lo Lhe effecL LhaL grave felonles commlLLed ln Lhe course of an
lnsurrecLlon are lndependenL Lherefrom - was based upon a declslon of Lhe Supreme CourL of
Spaln of lebruary 3, 1872, whlch we flnd reporLed ln Lhe Codlgo enal de llllplnas, by !ose erez
8ublo, as follows:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Ll 1rlbunal Supremo de !usLlcla en senLencla de 3 de lebrero de 1872, Llene declarado:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary Cue
segun los arLlculos 184 del Codlgo enal de 1830, y 239 del reformado (1870), los dellLos
parLlculares comeLldos en una rebellon o sedlclon o con moLlvo de ellas se casLlgan
respecLlvamenLe segun las dlsposlclones de los mlsmos Codlgos, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryy con arreglo al decreLo de
amnlsLla de 9 de AgosLo de 1876 esLan solo comprendldos en aquella gracla las personas
senLencladas, procesadas o su[aLas a responsabllldad por dellLos pollLlcos de cualqulera especle
-comeLldos desde el 29 de SepLlembre de 1868, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryCue el aseslnaLo del Cobernador Clvll de
8urgos no fue resulLado de movlmlenLo alguno pollLlco, slno de un mero LumulLo que lmprlmlo
el fanaLlsmo, y cuya unlca aparenLe Lendencla era lmpedlr que aquel funclonarlo lnvenLarlase
clerLos ob[eLos arLlsLlcos que se declan exlsLenLes en la CaLedral:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary Cue esLo lo demuesLran las
salva[es voces de muerLe proferldas por los aseslnos conLra la persona del Cobernador, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarysln
que al e[ecuLar en el mlsmo reclnLo del Lemplo los horrorosos hechos que aparecen en la causa,
alzasen bandera pollLlca alguna nl dleran oLro grlLo que el, en aquel momenLo sacrllego e lmplo,
de 'vlva la rellglon:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary' Cue la apreclar la Sala senLencladora los hechos referenLes al Cobernador
Clvll de dellLo de aseslnaLo, penarlo con arreglo al Codlgo y declarar lnapllcable el clLado uecreLo
de AmnlsLla, no ha comeLldo el error de derecho senalado en los casos 1. 3. del arLlculo 4. de
la ley sobre esLableclmlenLo de la casaclon crlmlnal, nl lnfrlngldo los arLlculos 230 y 239 del
Codlgo enal de 1870." (age 239, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarylLallcs supplled.) (See, also, Ll Codlgo enal", by Pldalgo
Carcla, vol. l, p. 623.)'
lL ls apparenL LhaL sald case ls noL ln polnL. 1here was no lssue Lhereln on wheLher murder may
be complexed wlLh rebelllon or sedlLlon. 1he quesLlon for deLermlnaLlon was wheLher Lhe klllers
of Lhe vlcLlm were gullLy of Lhe common crlme of murder, or should have been convlcLed only of
rebelllon or sedlLlon. 1he courL adopLed Lhe flrsL alLernaLlve, noL because of Lhe gravlLy of Lhe
acLs performed by Lhe accused, buL because Lhey had no pollLlcal moLlvaLlon. Moreover,
Lhe1%,%2&*034#%526"*-7$5&8#""#9"$65#5: Lo sald quoLaLlon from Cuello Calon reads:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Los aLenLados desacaLos y leslones a la auLorldad u oLros dellLos conLra el orden publlco
comeLldos en la sedlclon o con moLlvo de ella, no son dellLos dlsLlnLos de la sedlclon, 3 ocLubre
1903, 19 novlembre 1906, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryla reslsLencla o acomeLlmlenLo a la fuerza publlca por los
sedlclosos es accldenLe de la rebellon, 23 mayo 1890.
Ll aseslnaLo de un gobernador comeLldo en el curso de un LumulLo debe penarse como un
dellLo comun de aseslnaLo, 3 febrero 1872. Sln embargo, la [urlsprudencla, LraLandose de clerLos
dellLos, es vacllanLe, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryasl, v. g., el acomeLlmlenLo al LenlenLe de alcalde se ha declarado en un
fallo lndependlenLe de la perLurbaclon LumulLuarla promovlda para lmpedlr al alcalde el
cumpllmlenLo de sus provldenclas, 16 marzo 1883, mlenLras que un hecho analogo se ha
conslderado en oLra senLenda ya clLada como accldenLe de la rebellon, 3 CcLubre 1903. Ll
acomeLlmlenLo de los sedlclosos a la fuerza publlca es accldenLe de la sedlclon y no uno de los
dellLos parLlculares a que se reflere esLe arLlculo, 23 de mayo 1890. LnLre esLos dellLos a que
alude el precepLo se hallan las leslones que puedan causar los sedlclosos, 19 novlembre 1906."
(1%,%2&*034#%526"*-7$5&8#""#9"$65#5: 21, ll Cuelo Calon, uerecho enal, pp. 110-111.) (lLallcs supplled.)
1hus ln a declslon, daLed May 2, 1934, Lhe Supreme CourL of Spaln held:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Conslderando que la noLa deferenclal enLre los dellLos de rebellon y sedlclon, de una parLe, y el
de aLenLado, esLa consLlLulda por la clrcunsLancla de alzamlenLo publlco que caracLerlza a los
prlmeros, los cuales, por su lndole generlca, absorben a los de aLenLado y demas lnfracclones
que duranLe su comlslon y con su moLlvo se comeLan, y aflrmandose como hecho en la
senLencla recurrlda que el procesado Marlano LsLeban MarLlnez reallzo, en unlon de oLros, el
aLendado que se le lmpuLa sln alzarse publlcamenLe, cae por su base el recurso fundado en
supuesLo dlsLlnLo." (!urlsprudencla Crlmlnal, 1omo 130, p. 331.) (lLallcs supplled.)
1o Lhe same effecL are, llkewlse, Lhe followlng:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
La provocaclon y el aLaque a la Cuardla Clvll por palsanos alzadoz LumulLuarlamenLe para
lmpedlr al uelegado de un Cobernador clvll el cumpllmlenLo de sus provldenclas, no pueden
esLlmarse consLlLuLlvos de un dellLo dlsLlnLo del de sedlclon, nl ser, por LanLo, perseguldos y
penados separadamenLe.
La reslsLencla o el acomeLlmlenLo de los sublevados a la fuerza publlca consLlLuye, en su caso,
una clrcunsLancla o accldenLe de la sedlclon y no es dellLo de los que el Codlgo enal en esLe
arLlculo (formerly ArLlcle 244, now ArLlcle 227) supone que pueden comeLerse en ella o con su
moLlvo, los cuales denomlna dellLos parLlculares, y manda que se penen conforme a las
dlsposlclones del proplo Codlgo. (S. 23-3-890, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryC. 23-6-890, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryL. 44, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarypaglna 671)" (ll uocLrlna
enal del 1rlbunal Supremo, p. 2411.) (lLallcs supplled.)
La Audlencla condeno como auLores de aLenLado a dos de los amoLlnados que agredleron al
alcalde, e lnLerpuesLo recurso de casaclon conLra la senLencla, el 1rlbunal Supremo la casa y
anula, Lenlendo en cuenLa lo dlspuesLo en el arLlculo 230 (numero 3.) del Codlgo enal,
'Conslderando que el acLo llevado a cabo por el grupo consLlLuye una verdadera sedlclon, sln
que sea llclLo el dlvldlr esLe hecho y callflcarlo de aLenLado respecLo a las personas que
agredleron a dlcho alcalde, porque el acomeLlmlenLo fue un accldenLe de la sedlclon, de la cual
eran Lodos responsables, ya se efecLuara por los agrupados en con[unLo o por uno solo, por ser
comun el ob[eLo que se proponlan y no lndlvldual, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryy al callflcar y penar esLe hecho la Audencla
de Cerona, de aLenLado cralaw, ha lncurrldo en error de derecho e lnfrlngldo los arLlculos 230 y
slgulenLes del Codlgo enal, por no haberlos apllcado, y el 263, numero 2., en relaclon con el
264, numeros 1. y 3., por su apllcaclon cralaw" (SenL. 3 ocLubre 1903. - Cac. 12 ulclembre)
(Lnclclopedla !urldlca Lspanola, 1omo xxvlll p. 230).
1hese cases are ln accord wlLh Lhe LexL of sald ArLlcle 244, whlch refers, noL Lo all offenses
commlLLed ln Lhe course of a rebelllon or on Lhe occaslon Lhereof, buL only Lo dellLos
parLlculares" or common crlmes. now, whaL are dellLos parLlculares" as Lhe phrase ls used ln
sald arLlcle 244? We quoLe from vlada:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Las dlsposlclon del prlmer parrafo de esLe arLlculo no puede ser mas [usLa, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarycon arreglo a ella,
los dellLos parLlculares o comunes comeLldos en una rebellon er sedlclon no deberan repuLarse
como accldenLes lnherenLes a esLas, slno como dellLos especlales, a dlcha rebellon y sedlclon
a[enos, los que deberan ser respecLlvamenLe casLlgados con las penas que en esLe Codlgo se las
senalan. ero, que dellLos deberan conslderarse como comunes, y cuales como consLlLuLlvos de
la propla rebellon o sedlclon? Ln cuanLo a la rebellon, no ofrece esLa cuesLlon dlflculLad alguna,
pues Lodo hecho que no esLe comprendldo en uno y oLro de los ob[eLos especlflcados en los sels
numeros del arLlculo 243 sera exLrano a la rebellon, y sl se hallare deflnldo en algun oLro arLlculo
del Codlgo, con arreglo a esLe debera ser casLlgado como dellLo parLlcular. ero LraLandose de la
sedlclon, comprendlendose como ob[eLos de la mlsma, en los numeros 3., 4. y 3. del arLlculo
230, hechos que consLlLuyen oLros LanLos aLaques a las personas o a la propledad, cuales se
conslderan como accldenLes lnherenLes a la proprla sedlclon, y cuales deberan repuLarse como
dellLos parLlculares o comunes? Ln cuanLo a los casos de los numeros 4. y 3., esLlmanos que el
ob[eLo pollLlco y soclal que se requlera para la reallzaclon de los acLos en aquellos comprendldos
es el que debe servlrnos de norma y gula para dlsLlngulr lo lnherenLe a la sedlclon de lo que es
a[eno o exLrano a ella. Cuando no exlsLa ese ob[eLo pollLlco y soclal, el acLo de odlo o venganza
e[ercldo conLra los parLlculares o cualqulera clase del LsLado, y el aLenLado conLra las
propledades de los cludadanos o corporaclones menLados en el numero 3. del arLlculo 230, no
seran consLlLuLlvos del dellLo de sedlclon, slno que deberan ser apreclados y casLlgados como
dellLos comunes, segun las dlsposlclones respecLlvas de esLe Codlgo - y por lo que Loca a los
acLos de odlo o venganza e[ercldos en la persona o blenes de alguna AuLorldad o sus agenLes,
esLlmamos que deberan repuLarse como dellLos comunes Lodos aquellos hechos lnnecesarlos 2
para la consecuclon del fln parLlcular que se propusleran los sedlclosos - y como esenclales,
consLlLuLlvos de la propla sedlclon Lodos aquellos acLos de odlo o venganza que sean medlo
raclonalmenLe necesarlo para el logro del ob[eLo especlal a que se encamlnaran los esfuerzos de
los sublevados. Asl, en el caso de la CuesLlon 1 expuesLa en el comenLarlo del arLlculo 238, es
evldenLe que el fln que se propusleron los sedlclosos fue no pagar el lmpuesLo a cuya cobranza
lba a proceder el comlslonado, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarypero para lograr esLe ob[eLo, como lo lograron, fue preclso
hacer sallr del pueblo al e[ecuLor, y a esLe efecLo, lo amenazaron, lo perslguleron y llegaron
hasLa leslonarle. Lsas amenazas y leslones no pudleron apreclarse, nl las apreclo Lampoco la Sala
senLencladora, como dellLo comun, slno como accldenLe lnherenLe a la mlsma sedlclon, por
cuanLo fueron un medlo raclonalmenLe necesarlo para la consecuclon del fln deLermlnado que
se propusleron los culpables.
ero cuando Lal necesldad desaparece, cuando se hlere por herlr, cuando se maLa por maLar, el
hecho ya, no puede ser conslderado como un accldenLe proplo de la sedlclon, slno como un
dellLo especlal, al que debe apllcarse la pena al mlsmo correspondlenLe." (lll vlada, pp. 311-
312.) (lLallcs supplled.)
Cuello Calon ls even more lllumlnaLlng. Pe says:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
La docLrlna clenLlflca consldera los dellLos llamados pollLlcos como lnfracclones de un caracLer
especlal dlsLlnLas de los denomlnados dellLos comunes. ue esLa apreclaclon ha nacldo la dlvlslon
de los dellLos, desde el punLo de vlsLa de su naLuraleza lnLrlnseca, en dellLos pollLlcos y dellLos
comunes o de derecho comun.
Se repuLan dellLos comunes aquellos que leslonan blenes [urldlcos lndlvlduales (v. gr., los
dellLos conLra la vlda, conLra la honesLldad, conLra la propledad, eLc.)
La noclon del dellLo pollLlco no parece Lan clara. uesde luego revlsLen esLe caracLer los que
aLenLan conLra el orden pollLlco del LsLado, conLra su orden exLerno (lndependencla de la
naclon, lnLegrldad del LerrlLorlo, eLc.), o conLra el lnLerno (dellLos conLra el !efe del LsLado,
conLra la forma de Coblerno, eLc.). ero Lamblen pueden ser conslderados como pollLlcos Lodos
los dellLos, cualesqulera que sean lncluso los de derecho comun, cuando fueron comeLldos por
movlles pollLlcos. ueben, por LanLo, esLlmarse como lnfracclones de esLa clase, no solo las que
ob[eLlvamenLe Lengan Lal caracLer por el lnLeres pollLlco que leslonan, slno Lamblen las que,
aprecladas sub[eLlvamenLe, manlflesLan una moLlvaclon de caracLer pollLlco.
Asl podrla formulares esLa deflnlclon:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary es dellLo pollLlco el comeLldo conLra el orden pollLlco
del LsLado, asl como Lodo dellLo de cualqulera oLra clase deLermlnado por movlles pollLlcos."
(Cuello Calon, uerecho enal, 1omo l, pp. 247-249.)
ln shorL, pollLlcal crlmes are Lhose dlrecLly almed agalnsL Lhe pollLlcal order, as well as such
common crlmes as may be commlLLed Lo achleve a pollLlcal purpose. 1he declslve facLor ls Lhe
lnLenL or moLlve. lf a crlme usually regarded as common llke homlclde, ls perpeLraLed for Lhe
purpose of removlng from Lhe alleglance Lo Lhe CovernmenL Lhe LerrlLory of Lhe hlllpplnes
lslands or any parL Lhereof," Lhen sald offense becomes sLrlpped of lLs common" complexlon,
lnasmuch as, belng parL and parcel of Lhe crlme of rebelllon, Lhe former acqulres Lhe pollLlcal
characLer of Lhe laLLer.
Conformably wlLh Lhe foregolng, Lhe case of murder agalnsL Lhe !"#"$%&$' ln u. S. vs. Lardlzabal
(1 hll., 729) - an lnsurgenL who kllled a prlsoner of war because he was Loo weak Lo march
wlLh Lhe reLreaLlng rebel forces, and could noL be lefL behlnd wlLhouL endangerlng Lhe safeLy of
Lhe laLLer - was dlsmlssed upon Lhe ground LhaL Lhe execuLlon of sald prlsoner of war formed
parL of, and was lncluded ln, Lhe crlme of sedlLlon, whlch, ln Lurn, was covered by an amnesLy,
Lo Lhe beneflLs of whlch sald !"#"$%&$' was enLlLled.
1rue, ln u. S. vs. AlfonL (1 hll., 113), Lhe commander of an unorganlzed group of lnsurgenLs was,
pursuanL Lo ArLlcle 244 of our old enal Code, convlcLed of homlclde for havlng shoL and kllled a
woman who was drlvlng a vehlcle. 8uL Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh homlclde was noL
consldered ln LhaL case. AparL from Lhls, Lhe accused falled Lo esLabllshed Lhe relaLlon beLween
her deaLh and Lhe lnsurrecLlon. WhaL ls more, lL was nelLher proved nor alleged LhaL he had
been prompLed by pollLlcal reasons. ln oLher words, hls offense was lndependenL from Lhe
rebelllon. 1he laLLer was merely Lhe occaslon for Lhe commlsslon of Lhe former.
lL ls noLeworLhy LhaL Lhe aforemenLloned declslons of Lhls courL and Lhe Supreme CourL of Spaln
ln cases of Lreason, rebelllon and sedlLlon, are ln llne wlLh Lhe Lrend ln oLher counLrles, as well as
ln Lhe fleld of lnLernaLlonal relaLlons. 8eferrlng Lo Lhe quesLlon as Lo whaL offenses are pollLlcal
ln naLure, lL was sald ln ln re LzeLa (62 led. 8ep., 972):chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
WhaL consLlLuLes an offense of a pollLlcal characLer has noL yeL been deLermlned by [udlclal
auLhorlLy. Slr !ames SLephens, ln hls work, PlsLory of Lhe Crlmlnal Law of Lngland (volume 2, p.
71), Lhlnks LhaL lL should be 'lnLerpreLed Lo mean LhaL fuglLlve crlmlnals are noL Lo be
surrendered for exLradlLlon crlmes lf Lhose crlmes were lncldenLal Lo and formed a parL of
pollLlcal dlsLurbances.' Mr. !ohn SLuarL Mlll, ln Lhe house of commons, ln 1866, whlle dlscusslng
an amendmenL Lo Lhe acL of 'exLradlLlon, on whlch Lhe LreaLy beLween Lngland and lrance was
founded, gave Lhls deflnlLlon:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary Any offense commlLLed ln Lhe course of or furLherlng of clvll
war, lnsurrecLlon, or pollLlcal commoLlon.' Pansard's uebaLes vol. 184, p. 2113. ln Lhe CasLlonl
Case, supra, declded ln 1891, Lhe quesLlon was dlscussed by Lhe mosL emlnenL counsel aL Lhe
Lngllsh bar, and consldered by dlsLlngulshed [udges, wlLhouL a deflnlLlon belng framed LhaL
would draw a flxed and cerLaln llne beLween a munlclpal or common crlme and one of pollLlcal
characLer. 'l do noL Lhlnk,' sald uenman, !., 'lL ls necessary or deslrable LhaL we should aLLempL
Lo puL lnLo language, ln Lhe shape of an exhausLlve deflnlLlon, exacLly Lhe whole sLaLe of Lhlngs,
or every sLaLe of Lhlngs, whlch mlghL brlng a parLlcular case wlLhln Lhe descrlpLlon of an offense
of a pollLlcal characLer.' ln LhaL case, CasLlonl was charged wlLh Lhe murder of one 8ossl, by
shooLlng hlm wlLh a revolver, ln Lhe Lown of 8elllnzona, ln Lhe canLon of 1lclno, ln SwlLzerland.
1he deceased, 8ossl, was a member of Lhe sLaLe councll of Lhe canLon of 1lclno. CasLlonl was a
clLlzen of Lhe same canLon. lor some Llme prevlous Lo Lhe murder, much dlssaLlsfacLlon had
been felL and expressed by a large number of lnhablLanLs of 1lclno aL Lhe mode ln whlch Lhe
pollLlcal parLy Lhen ln power were conducLlng Lhe governmenL of Lhe canLon. A requesL was
presenLed Lo Lhe governmenL for a revlslon of Lhe consLlLuLlon of Lhe canLon and, Lhe
governmenL havlng decllned Lo Lake a popular voLe on LhaL quesLlon, a number of Lhe clLlzens of
8elllnzona, among whom was CasLlonl, selzed Lhe arsenal of Lhe Lown, from whlch Lhey Look
rlfles and ammunlLlon, dlsarmed Lhe gendarmes, arresLed and bound or handcuffed several
persons connecLed wlLh Lhe governmenL, and forced Lhem Lo march ln fronL of Lhe armed crowd
Lo Lhe munlclpal palace. Admlsslon Lo Lhe palace was demanded ln Lhe name of Lhe people, and
was refused by 8ossl and anoLher member of Lhe governmenL, who were ln Lhe palace. 1he
crowd Lhen broke open Lhe ouLer gaLe of Lhe palace, and rushed ln, pushlng before Lhem Lhe
governmenL offlclals whom Lhey had arresLed and bound. CasLlonl, who was armed wlLh a
revolver, was among Lhe flrsL Lo enLer. A second door, whlch was locked, was broken open, and
aL Lhls Llme, or lmmedlaLely afLer, 8ossl, who was ln Lhe passage, was shoL Lhrough Lhe body
wlLh a revolver, and dled, very soon afLerwards. Some oLher shoLs were flred, buL no one else
was ln[ured. CasLlonl fled Lo Lngland. Pls exLradlLlon was requesLed by Lhe federal councll of
SwlLzerland. Pe was arresLed and Laken before a pollce maglsLraLe, as provlded by Lhe sLaLuLe,
who held hlm for exLradlLlon. AppllcaLlon was made by Lhe accused Lo Lhe hlgh courL of [usLlce
of Lngland for a wrlL of habeas corpus. Pe was represenLed by Slr Charles 8ussell, now lord chlef
[usLlce. 1he aLLorney general, Slr 8lchard WebsLer, appeared for Lhe crown, and Lhe sollclLor
general, Slr Ldward Clarke, and 8oberL Woodfal, for Lhe federal councll of SwlLzerland. 1hls
array of dlsLlngulshed counsel, and Lhe hlgh characLer of Lhe courL, commends Lhe case as one
of Lhe hlghesL auLhorlLy. lL appeared from an admlsslon by one of Lhe parLles engaged ln Lhe
dlsLurbances 'LhaL Lhe deaLh of 8ossl was a mlsforLune, and noL necessary for Lhe rlslng.' 1he
oplnlons of Lhe [udges as Lo Lhe pollLlcal characLer of Lhe crlme charged agalnsL CasLlonl, upon
Lhe facLs sLaLed, ls exceedlngly lnLeresLlng, buL l need only refer Lo Lhe followlng passages. !udge
uenman says:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he quesLlon really ls wheLher, upon Lhe facLs, lL ls clear LhaL Lhe man was acLlng as one of a
number of persons engaged ln acLs of vlolence of a pollLlcal characLer wlLh a pollLlcal ob[ecL, and
as parL of Lhe pollLlcal movemenL and rlslng ln whlch he was Laklng parL.'
!udge Pawklns, ln commenLlng upon Lhe characLer of pollLlcal offenses, sald:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
'l cannoL help Lhlnklng LhaL everybody knows Lhere are many acLs of a pollLlcal characLer done
wlLhouL reason, done agalnsL all reason, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarybuL aL Lhe same Llme one cannoL look Loo hardly, and
welgh ln golden scales Lhe acLs of men hoL ln Lhelr pollLlcal exclLemenL. We know LhaL ln heaL,
and ln heaLed blood, men ofLen do Lhlngs whlch are agalnsL and conLrary Lo reason, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarybuL none
Lhe less an acL of Lhls descrlpLlon may be done for Lhe purpose of furLherlng and ln furLherance
of a pollLlcal rlslng, even Lhough lL ls an acL whlch may be deplored and lamenLed, as even cruel
and agalnsL all reason, by Lhose who can calmly reflecL upon lL afLer Lhe baLLle ls over.'
Slr !ames SLephens, whose deflnlLlon as an auLhor has already been clLed, was one of Lhe
[udges, and [olned ln Lhe vlews Laken as Lo Lhe pollLlcal characLer of Lhe crlme charged agalnsL
CasLlonl. 1he prlsoner was dlscharged. Applylng, by analogy, Lhe acLlon of Lhe Lngllsh courL ln
LhaL case Lo Lhe four cases now before me, under conslderaLlon, Lhe concluslon follows LhaL Lhe
crlmes charged here, assoclaLed as Lhey are wlLh Lhe acLual confllcL of armed forces, are of a
pollLlcal characLer.
1he drafL of a LreaLy on lnLernaLlonal enal Law, adopLed by Lhe congress of MonLevldeo ln
1888, and recommended by Lhe lnLernaLlonal Amerlcan Conference Lo Lhe governmenLs of Lhe
LaLln-Amerlcan naLlons ln 1890, conLalns Lhe followlng provlslons (ArLlcle 23):chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
'ollLlcal offenses, offenses subverslve of Lhe lnLernal and exLernal safeLy of a sLaLe or common
offenses connecLed wlLh Lhese, shall noL warranL exLradlLlon. 1he deLermlnaLlon of Lhe
characLer of Lhe offense ls lncumbenL upon Lhe naLlons upon whlch Lhe demand for exLradlLlon
ls made, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand lLs declslon shall be made under and accordlng Lo Lhe provlslons of Lhe law
whlch shall prove Lo be mosL favorable Lo Lhe accused:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary'
l am noL aware LhaL any parL of Lhls Code has been made Lhe basls of LreaLy sLlpulaLlons
beLween any of Lhe Amerlcan naLlons, buL Lhe arLlcle clLed may be aL leasL accepLed as
expresslng Lhe wlsdom of leadlng [urlsLs and dlplomaLs. 1he arLlcle ls lmporLanL wlLh respecL Lo
Lwo of lLs feaLures:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary (1) provldes LhaL a fuglLlve shall noL be exLradlLed for an offense
connecLed wlLh a pollLlcal offense, or wlLh an offense subverslve of Lhe lnLernal or exLernal
safeLy of Lhe sLaLe, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand (2) Lhe declslon as Lo Lhe characLer of Lhe offense shall be made under
and accordlng Lo Lhe provlslons of Lhe law whlch shall prove mosL favorable Lo Lhe accused. 1he
flrsL provlslon ls sancLloned by Calvo, who, speaklng of Lhe exempLlon from exLradlLlon of
persons charged wlLh pollLlcal offenses, says:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
'1he exempLlon even exLends Lo acLs connecLed wlLh pollLlcal crlmes or offenses, and lL ls
enough, as says Mr. luasLln Pello, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryLhaL a common crlme be connecLed wlLh a pollLlcal acL,
LhaL lL be Lhe ouLcome of or be ln Lhe ouLcome of or be ln Lhe execuLlon of such, Lo be covered
by Lhe prlvllege whlch proLecLs Lhe laLLer' Calvo, urolL lnL. (3me ed.) p. 413, secLlon 1262.
1he second provlslon of Lhe arLlcle ls founded on Lhe broad prlnclples of humanlLy found
everywhere ln Lhe crlmlnal law, dlsLlngulshlng lLs admlnlsLraLlon wlLh respecL Lo even Lhe worsL
feaLures of our clvlllzaLlon from Lhe cruelLles of barbarlsm. When Lhls arLlcle was under
dlscusslon ln Lhe lnLernaLlonal Amerlcan conference ln WashlngLon, Mr. Sllva, of Colombla,
submlLLed some observaLlons upon Lhe dlfflculLy of drawlng a llne beLween an offense of a
pollLlcal characLer and a common crlme, and lncldenLally referred Lo Lhe crlme of robbery, ln
Lerms worLhy of some conslderaLlon here. Pe sald:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
'ln Lhe revoluLlons, as we conducL Lhem ln our counLrles, Lhe common offenses are necessarlly
mlxed up wlLh Lhe pollLlcal ln many cases. A colleague Ceneral Caamano (of Lcuador) knows
how we carry on wars. A revoluLlonlsL needs horses for movlng, beef Lo feed hls Lroops, eLc., chan
roblesvlrLualawllbraryand slnce he does noL go lnLo Lhe publlc markeLs Lo purchase Lhese horses and LhaL beef, nor
Lhe arms and saddles Lo mounL and equlp hls forces, he Lakes Lhem from Lhe flrsL pasLure or
shop he flnd aL hand. 1hls ls called robbery everywhere, and ls a common offense ln Llme of
peace, buL ln Llme of war lL ls a clrcumsLance closely allled Lo Lhe manner of waglng lL.'
lnLernaLlonal Amerlcan Conference, vol. 2, p. 613." (lLallcs supplled.)
We quoLe Lhe followlng from 1%,%2&*034#%526"*-7$5&8#""#9"$65#5: (23) on pages 249-230, vol. l, of Cuello Calon's
aforesald work on uerecho enal."
Ln algunos Codlgo y leyes de fecha proxlma ya se halla una deflnlclon de esLos dellLos. Ll
Codlgo penal ruso, en el arLlculo 38, deflne como 'dellLos conLra revoluclonarlos' los hechos
encamlnados a derrocar o deblllLar el poder de los Conse[os de Lraba[adores y campeslnos y de
los goblernos de la unlon de 8epubllcas soclallsLas sovleLlcas, a desLrulr o deblllLar la segurldad
exLerlor de la unlon de 8epubllcas SovleLlcas y las conqulsLas economlcas, pollLlcas y naclonales
fundamenLales de la revoluclon proleLarla.' Ll Codlgo enal lLallano de 1930 consldera en eu
arLlculo 8. como dellLo pollLlco 'Lodo dellLo que ofenda un lnLeres pollLlco del LsLado o un
derecho pollLlco del cludadano.' 1amblen se repuLa pollLlco el dellLo comun deLemlnado, en
Lodo o en parLe por moLlvos pollLlcos. Ln la ley alemana de exLradlclon de 23 dlclembre 1929 se
deflnen asl:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary 'Son dellLos pollLlcos los aLenLados punlbles dlrecLamenLe e[ecuLados conLra la
exlsLencla o la segurldad del LsLado, conLra el [efe o conLra un mlembro del goblerno del LsLado
como Lal, conLra una corporaclon consLlLuclonal, conLra los derechos pollLlcos las buenas
relaclones con el exLran[ero.' parrafo 3., 2.
La 6a. Conferencla para la unlflcaclon del uerecho penal (Copenhague, 31 agosLo - 3
sepLlembre 1933) adopLo la slgulenLe noclon del dellLo pollLlco:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1. or dellLos pollLlcos se enLlenden los dlrlgldos conLra la organlzaclon y funclonamlenLo del
LsLado o conLra los derechos que de esLa organlzaclon y funclonamlenLo provlenen para el
culpable.
2. 1amblen se conslderan como dellLos pollLlcos los dellLos de derecho comun que consLlLuyen
hechos conexos con la e[ecuclon de los dellLos prevlsLos en secclon 1.:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary como los hechos
dlrlgldos a favorecer la e[ecuclon de un dellLo pollLlco o a permlLlr al auLor de esLe dellLo
susLraerse a la apllcaclon de la ley penal.
3. no se conslderaran dellLos pollLlcos aquellos a los que su auLor sea lnducldo por un moLlvo
egolsLa y vll.
4. no se conslderaran dellLos los que creen un pellgro para la comunldad o un esLado de
Lerror." (lLallcs supplled.)
1hus, naLlonal, as well as lnLernaLlonal, laws and [urlsprudence overwhelmlngly favor Lhe
proposlLlon LhaL common crlmes, perpeLraLed ln furLherance of a pollLlcal offense, are dlvesLed
of Lhelr characLer as common" offenses and assume Lhe pollLlcal complexlon of Lhe maln crlme
of whlch Lhey are mere lngredlenLs, and, consequenLly, cannoL be punlshed separaLely from Lhe
prlnclpal offense, or complexed wlLh Lhe same, Lo [usLlfy Lhe lmposlLlon of a graver penalLy.
1here ls one oLher reason - and a fundamenLal one aL LhaL - why ArLlcle 48 of our enal Code
cannoL be applled ln Lhe case aL bar. lf murder were noL complexed wlLh rebelllon, and Lhe Lwo
crlmes were punlshed separaLely (assumlng LhaL Lhls could be done), Lhe followlng penalLles
would be lmposable upon Lhe movanL, namely:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary (1) for Lhe crlme of rebelllon, a flne noL
exceedlng 20,000 and prlslon mayor, ln Lhe correspondlng perlod, dependlng upon Lhe
modlfylng clrcumsLances presenL, buL never exceedlng 12 years of prlslon mayor, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand (2) for
Lhe crlme of murder, recluslon Lemporal ln lLs maxlmum perlod Lo deaLh, dependlng upon Lhe
modlfylng clrcumsLances presenL. ln oLher words, ln Lhe absence of aggravaLlng clrcumsLances,
Lhe exLreme penalLy could noL be lmposed upon hlm. Powever, under ArLlcle 48, sald penalLy
would have Lo be meLed ouL Lo hlm, even ln Lhe absence of a slngle aggravaLlng clrcumsLance.
1hus, sald provlslon, lf consLrued ln conformlLy wlLh Lhe Lheory of Lhe prosecuLlon, would be
unfavorable Lo Lhe movanL.
upon Lhe oLher hand, sald ArLlcle 48 was enacLed for Lhe purpose of favorlng Lhe culprlL, noL of
senLenclng hlm Lo a penalLy more severe Lhan LhaL whlch would be proper lf Lhe several acLs
performed by hlm were punlshed separaLely. ln Lhe word of 8odrlguez navarro:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
La unlflcaclon de penas en los casos de concurso de dellLos a que hace referencla esLe arLlculo
(73 del Codlgo de 1932), esLa basado francamenLe en el prlnclplo pro reo." (ll uocLrlna enal del
1rlbunal Supremo de Lspana, p. 2168.) 3
We are aware of Lhe facL LhaL Lhls observaLlon refers Lo ArLlcle 71 (laLer 73) of Lhe Spanlsh enal
Code (Lhe counLerparL of our ArLlcle 48), as amended ln 1908 and Lhen ln 1932, readlng:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Las dlsposlclones del arLlculo anLerlor no son apllcables en el caso de que un solo hecho
consLlLuya dos o mas dellLos, o cuando el uno de ellos sea medlo necesarlo para comeLer el oLro.
Ln esLos casos solo se lmpondra la pena correspondlenLe al dellLo mas grave en su grado
maxlmo, hasLa el llmlLe que represenLe la suma de las que pudleran lmponerse, penando
separadamenLe los dellLos.
Cuando la pena asl compuLada exceda de esLe llmlLe, se sanclonaran los dellLos por separado."
(8odrlguez navarro, uocLrlno enal del 1rlbunal Supremo, vol. ll, p. 2163.)
and LhaL our ArLlcle 48 does noL conLaln Lhe quallflcaLlon lnserLed ln sald amendmenL,
resLrlcLlng Lhe lmposlLlon of Lhe penalLy for Lhe graver offense ln lLs maxlmum perlod Lo Lhe
case when lL does noL exceed Lhe sum LoLal of Lhe penalLles lmposable lf Lhe acLs charged were
dealL wlLh separaLely. 1he absence of sald llmlLaLlon ln our enal Code does noL, Lo our mlnd,
affecL subsLanLlally Lhe splrlL of sald ArLlcle 48. lndeed, lf one acL consLlLuLes Lwo or more
offenses, Lhere can be no reason Lo lnfllcL a punlshmenL graver Lhan LhaL prescrlbed for each
one of sald offenses puL LogeLher. ln dlrecLlng LhaL Lhe penalLy for Lhe graver offense be, ln such
case, lmposed ln lLs maxlmum perlod, ArLlcle 48 could have had no oLher purpose Lhan Lo
prescrlbe a penalLy lower Lhan Lhe aggregaLe of Lhe penalLles for each offense, lf lmposed
separaLely. 1he reason for Lhls benevolenL splrlL of ArLlcle 48 ls readlly dlscernlble. When Lwo or
more crlmes are Lhe resulL of a slngle acL, Lhe offender ls deemed less perverse Lhan when he
commlLs sald crlmes Lhru separaLe and dlsLlncL acLs. lnsLead of senLenclng hlm for each crlme
lndependenLly from Lhe oLher, he musL suffer Lhe maxlmum of Lhe penalLy for Lhe more serlous
one, on Lhe assumpLlon LhaL lL ls less grave Lhan Lhe sum LoLal of Lhe separaLe penalLles for each
offense.
uld Lhe framers of ArLlcle 48 have a dlfferenL purpose ln deallng Lhereln wlLh an offense whlch ls
a means necessary for Lhe commlsslon of anoLher? 1o begln wlLh, Lhe culprlL cannoL, Lhen, be
consldered as dlsplaylng a greaLer degree of mallce Lhan when Lhe Lwo offenses are
lndependenL of each oLher. Cn Lhe conLrary, slnce one offense ls a necessary means for Lhe
commlsslon of Lhe oLher, Lhe evll lnLenL ls one, whlch, aL leasL, quanLlLaLlvely, ls lesser Lhan
when Lhe Lwo offenses are unrelaLed Lo each oLher, because, ln such evenL, he ls Lwlce gullLy of
havlng harbored crlmlnal deslgns and of carrylng Lhe same lnLo execuLlon. lurLhermore, lL musL
be presumed LhaL Lhe ob[ecL of ArLlcle 48, ln lLs enLlreLy, ls only one. We cannoL assume LhaL Lhe
purpose of Lhe lawmaker, aL Lhe beglnnlng of Lhe slngle senLence of whlch sald arLlcle conslsLs,
was Lo favor Lhe accused, and LhaL, before Lhe senLence ended, Lhe former had a change of
hearL and Lurned abouL face agalnsL Lhe laLLer. lf Lhe second parL of ArLlcle 48 had been meanL
Lo be unfavorable Lo Lhe accused - and, hence, Lhe exacL opposlLe of Lhe flrsL parL - each
would have been placed ln, separaLe provlslons, lnsLead of ln one slngle arLlcle. lf Lhe flrsL parL
soughL Lo lmpose, upon Lhe culprlL, a penalLy less grave Lhan LhaL whlch he would deserve lf Lhe
Lwo or more offenses resulLlng from hls slngle acL were punlshed separaLely, Lhen Lhls, also,
musL be Lhe purpose of Lhe second parL, ln deallng wlLh an offense whlch ls a necessary means
for Lhe commlsslon of anoLher.
1he accuracy of Lhls concluslon ls borne ouL by Lhe facL LhaL, slnce 1830, when Lhe counLerparL
of our ArLlcle 48 was lnserLed ln Lhe enal Code of Spaln, or for over a cenLury, lL does noL
appear Lo have been applled by Lhe Supreme CourL Lhereof Lo crlmes of murder commlLLed ln
furLherance of an lnsurrecLlon.
lncldenLally, we cannoL accepL Lhe explanaLlon LhaL crlmes commlLLed as a means necessary for
Lhe success of a rebelllon had Lo be prosecuLed separaLely under Lhe provlslons of ArLlcle 239 of
Lhe enal Code of Spaln, whlch ls Lhe counLerparL of ArLlcle 244 of our old enal Code. 1o begln
wlLh, Lhese arLlcles are parL of a subsLanLlve law. 1hey do noL govern Lhe manner or meLhod of
prosecuLlon of Lhe culprlLs. 1hen agaln, sald precepLs ordaln LhaL common crlmes commlLLed
durlng a rebelllon or sedlLlon, or on Lhe occaslon Lhereof, shall be respecLlvely punlshed
accordlng Lo Lhe provlslons of Lhls Code." Among such provlslons was ArLlcle 90 (laLer ArLlcle 71,
Lhen ArLlcle 73) of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code, and ArLlcle 89 of our old enal Code, of whlch ArLlcle
48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code of Lhe hlllpplnes ls a subsLanLlal reproducLlon. Pence, had Lhe
Supreme CourL of Spaln or Lhe hlllpplnes belleved LhaL murders commlLLed as a means
necessary Lo aLLaln Lhe alms of an uprlslng were common" crlmes, Lhe same would have been
complexed wlLh Lhe rebelllon or sedlLlon, as Lhe case may be.
1he cases of eople vs. Cabrera (43 hll., 64) and eople vs. Cabrera (43 hll., 82) have noL
escaped our aLLenLlon. 1hose cases lnvolved members of Lhe consLabulary who rose publlcly, for
Lhe purpose of performlng acLs of haLe and vengeance upon Lhe pollce force of Manlla, and ln
an encounLer wlLh Lhe laLLer, kllled some members Lhereof. Charged wlLh and convlcLed of
sedlLlon ln Lhe flrsL case, Lhey were accused of murder ln Lhe second case. 1hey pleaded double
[eopardy ln Lhe second case, upon Lhe ground LhaL Lhe facLs alleged ln Lhe lnformaLlon were
Lhose seL forLh ln Lhe charge ln Lhe flrsL case, ln whlch Lhey had been convlcLed. 1hls plea was
re[ecLed upon Lhe ground LhaL Lhe organlc law prohlblLed double [eopardy for Lhe same offense,
and LhaL Lhe offense of sedlLlon ls dlsLlncL and dlfferenL from LhaL of murder, alLhough boLh
were Lhe resulL of Lhe same acL.
1he quesLlon wheLher one offense was lnherenL ln, or ldenLlfled wlLh, Lhe oLher was noL
dlscussed or even consldered ln sald cases. 8esldes, Lhe lower courL applled, ln Lhe murder case
ArLlcle 89 of Lhe old enal Code - whlch ls Lhe counLerparL of ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal
Code - buL Lhls CourL refused Lo do so. Agaln, slmply because one acL may consLlLuLe Lwo or
more offenses, lL does noL follow necessarlly LhaL a person may be prosecuLed for one afLer
convlcLlon for Lhe oLher, wlLhouL vlolaLlng Lhe ln[uncLlon agalnsL double [eopardy. lor lnsLance,
lf a man flres a shoLgun aL anoLher, who suffers Lhereby several ln[urles, one of whlch produced
hls deaLh, may he, afLer convlcLlon for murder or homlclde, based upon sald faLal ln[ury, be
accused or convlcLed, ln a separaLe case, for Lhe non-faLal ln[urles susLalned by Lhe vlcLlm? Cr
may Lhe former be convlcLed of Lhe complex crlme of murder or homlclde wlLh serlous and/or
less serlous physlcal ln[urles? 1he mere formulaLlon of Lhese quesLlons sufflces Lo show LhaL Lhe
llmlLaLlon of Lhe rule on double [eopardy Lo a subsequenL prosecuLlon for Lhe same offense does
noL consLlLuLe a llcense for Lhe separaLe prosecuLlon of Lwo offenses resulLlng from Lhe same
acL, lf one offense ls an essenLlal elemenL of Lhe oLher. AL any raLe, as regards Lhls phase of Lhe
lssue, whlch was noL Louched ln Lhe Cabrera cases, Lhe rule Lhereln lald down musL necessarlly
be consldered modlfled by our declslon ln Lhe cases of eople vs. Labra (46 Cff. Caz., Supp. no.
1, p. 139) and Crlsologo vs. eople and vlllalobos (supra), lnsofar as lnconslsLenL LherewlLh.
1he maln argumenL ln supporL of Lhe Lheory seeklng Lo complex rebelllon wlLh murder and
oLher offenses ls LhaL war" - wlLhln Lhe purvlew of Lhe laws on rebelllon and sedlLlon - may
be waged" or levled" wlLhouL kllllng. 1hls premlse does noL warranL, however, Lhe concluslon
- drawn Lherefrom - LhaL any kllllng done ln furLherance of a rebelllon or sedlLlon ls
lndependenL Lherefrom, and may be complexed LherewlLh, upon Lhe ground LhaL desLrucLlon of
human llfe ls noL lndlspensable Lo Lhe waglng or levylng of war. A person may klll anoLher
wlLhouL lnfllcLlng physlcal ln[urles upon Lhe laLLer, such, for lnsLance, as by polsonlng, drownlng,
suffocaLlon or shock. ?eL lL ls admlLLed LhaL he who faLally sLabs anoLher cannoL be convlcLed of
homlclde wlLh physlcal ln[urles. So Loo, lL ls undenlable LhaL Lreason may be commlLLed wlLhouL
LorLurlng or murderlng anybody. ?eL, lL ls well-seLLled LhaL a clLlzen who glves ald and comforL Lo
Lhe enemy by Laklng dlrecL parL ln Lhe malLreaLmenL and assasslnaLlon of hls (clLlzen's)
counLrymen, ln furLherance of Lhe wlshes of sald enemy, ls gullLy of plaln Lreason, noL
complexed wlLh murder or physlcal ln[urles, Lhe laLer belng - as charged and proven - mere
lngredlenLs of Lhe former. now Lhen, lf homlclde may be an lngredlenL of Lreason, why can lL noL
be an lngredlenL of rebelllon? 1he proponenLs of Lhe ldea of rebelllon complexed wlLh
homlclde,. eLc., have noL even Lrled Lo answer Lhls quesLlon. nelLher have Lhey assalled Lhe
wlsdom of our aforemenLloned declslons ln Lreason cases.
1he CourL ls consclous of Lhe keen lnLeresL dlsplayed, and Lhe conslderable efforLs exerLed, by
Lhe LxecuLlve ueparLmenL ln Lhe apprehenslon and prosecuLlon of Lhose belleved Lo be gullLy of
crlmes agalnsL publlc order, of Lhe llves losL, and Lhe Llme and money spenL ln connecLlon
LherewlLh, as well as of Lhe posslble lmpllcaLlons or repercusslons ln Lhe securlLy of Lhe SLaLe.
1he careful conslderaLlon glven Lo sald pollcy of a coordlnaLe and co-equal branch of Lhe
CovernmenL ls reflecLed ln Lhe Llme consumed, Lhe exLenslve and lnLenslve research work
underLaken, and Lhe many meeLlngs held by Lhe members of Lhe courL for Lhe purpose of
elucldaLlng on Lhe quesLlon under dlscusslon and of seLLllng Lhe same.
1he role of Lhe [udlclal deparLmenL under Lhe ConsLlLuLlon ls, however, - clear - Lo seLLle
[usLlceable conLroversles by Lhe appllcaLlon of Lhe law. And Lhe laLLer musL be enforced as lL ls
- wlLh all lLs flaws and defecLs, noL affecLlng lLs valldlLy - noL as Lhe [udges would have lL. ln
oLher words, Lhe courLs musL apply Lhe pollcy of Lhe SLaLe as seL forLh ln lLs laws, regardless of
Lhe wlsdom Lhereof.
lL ls evldenL Lo us LhaL Lhe pollcy of our sLaLuLes on rebelllon ls Lo conslder all acLs commlLLed ln
furLherance Lhereof - as speclfled ln ArLlcles 134 and 133 of Lhe 8evlsed:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary enal Code - as
consLlLuLlng only one crlme, punlshable wlLh one slngle penalLy - namely, LhaL prescrlbed ln
sald ArLlcle 133. lL ls lnLeresLlng Lo noLe, ln Lhls connecLlon, LhaL Lhe penalLles provlded ln our
old enal Code (ArLlcles 230 Lo 232) were much sLlffer, namely:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1. Llfe lmprlsonmenL Lo deaLh - for Lhe promoLers, malnLalners and leaders of Lhe rebelllon,
and, also, for subordlnaLe offlcers who held poslLlons of auLhorlLy, elLher clvll or eccleslasLlcal, lf
Lhe purpose of Lhe movemenL was Lo proclalm Lhe lndependence of any porLlon of Lhe
hlllpplne LerrlLory,
2. 8ecluslon Lemporal ln lLs maxlmum perlod - for sald promoLers, malnLalners and leaders of
Lhe lnsurrecLlon, and for lLs subordlnaLe offlcers, lf Lhe purpose of Lhe rebelllon was any of Lhose
enumeraLed ln ArLlcle 229, excepL LhaL menLloned ln Lhe precedlng paragraph,
3. 8ecluslon Lemporal:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary (a) for subordlnaLe offlcers oLher Lhan Lhose already adverLed Lo, chan
roblesvlrLualawllbraryand (b) for mere parLlclpanLs ln Lhe rebelllon falllng under Lhe flrsL paragraph of no. 2 of
ArLlcle 174, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand
4. rlslon mayor ln lLs medlum perlod Lo recluslon Lemporal ln lLs mlnlmum perlod - for
parLlclpanLs noL falllng under no. 3.
AfLer Lhe cesslon of Lhe hlllpplnes Lo Lhe unlLed SLaLes, Lhe rlgors of Lhe old enal Code were
Lempered. lLs aforemenLloned provlslons were superseded by secLlon 3 of AcL no. 292, whlch
reduced Lhe penalLy Lo lmprlsonmenL for noL more Lhan Len (10) years and a flne noL exceedlng
$10,000, or 20,000, for every person who lnclLes, seLs on fooL, asslsLs or engages ln any
rebelllon or lnsurrecLlon cralaw or who glves ald and comforL Lo any one so engaglng ln such rebelllon
or lnsurrecLlon." Such llberal aLLlLude was adhered Lo by Lhe auLhors of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code.
1he penalLles Lhereln are subsLanLlally ldenLlcal Lo Lhose prescrlbed ln AcL 292. AlLhough Lhe
8evlsed enal Code lncreased sllghLly Lhe penalLy of lmprlsonmenL for Lhe promoLers,
malnLalners and leaders of Lhe uprlslng, as well as for publlc offlcers [olnlng Lhe same, Lo a
maxlmum noL exceedlng Lwelve (12) years of prlslon mayor, lL reduced Lhe penalLy of
lmprlsonmenL for mere parLlclpanLs Lo noL more Lhan elghL (8) years of prlslon mayor, and
ellmlnaLed Lhe flne.
1hls benlgn mood of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code becomes more slgnlflcanL when we bear ln mlnd lL
was approved on uecember 8, 1930 and became effecLlve on !anuary 1, 1932. AL LhaL Llme Lhe
communlsLs ln Lhe hlllpplnes had already glven ample proof of Lhelr wldespread acLlvlLles and
of Lhelr deslgns and poLenLlallLles. rlor LhereLo, Lhey had been under survelllance by Lhe agenLs
of Lhe law, who gaLhered evldence of Lhelr subverslve movemenLs, culmlnaLlng ln Lhe
prosecuLlon of LvangellsLa, Manahan (37 hll., 334, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrary37 hll., 372), Capadocla (37 hll., 364),
leleo (37 hll., 431), nabong (37 hll., 433), and oLhers. ln facL, Lhe flrsL lnformaLlon agalnsL Lhe
flrsL Lwo alleged LhaL Lhey commlLLed Lhe crlme of lnclLlng Lo sedlLlon on and durlng Lhe monLh
of november, 1930, and for someLlme prlor and subsequenL LhereLo."
As lf Lhls were noL enough, Lhe very ConsLlLuLlon adopLed ln 1933, lncorporaLed a formal and
solemn declaraLlon (ArLlcle ll, secLlon 3) commlLLlng Lhe CommonwealLh, and, Lhen Lhe 8epubllc
of Lhe hlllpplnes, Lo Lhe promoLlon of soclal [usLlce". Soon laLer, CommonwealLh AcL no. 103,
creaLlng Lhe CourL of lndusLrlal 8elaLlons, was passed. 1hen followed a number of oLher sLaLuLes
lmplemenLlng sald consLlLuLlonal mandaLe. lL ls noL necessary Lo go lnLo Lhe deLalls of sald
leglslaLlve enacLmenLs. Sufflce lL Lo say LhaL Lhe same are predlcaLed upon a recognlLlon of Lhe
facL LhaL a good many of Lhe problems confronLlng Lhe SLaLe are due Lo soclal and economlc
evlls, and LhaL, unless Lhe laLLer are removed or, leasL mlnlmlzed, Lhe former wlll keep on
harasslng Lhe communlLy and affecLlng Lhe well-belng of lLs members.
1hus, Lhe seLLled pollcy of our laws on rebelllon, slnce Lhe beglnnlng of Lhe cenLury, has been
one of declded lenlency, ln comparlson wlLh Lhe laws enforce durlng Lhe Spanlsh reglme. Such
pollcy has noL suffered Lhe sllghLesL alLeraLlon. AlLhough Lhe CovernmenL has, for Lhe pasL flve
or slx years, adopLed a more vlgorous course of acLlon ln Lhe apprehenslon of vlolaLors of sald
law and ln Lhelr prosecuLlon Lhe esLabllshed pollcy of Lhe SLaLe, as regards Lhe punlshmenL of
Lhe culprlLs has remalned unchanged slnce 1932. lL ls noL for us Lo conslder Lhe merlLs and
demerlLs of such pollcy. 1hls falls wlLhln Lhe provlnce of Lhe pollcy-maklng branch of Lhe
governmenL Lhe Congress of Lhe hlllpplnes. Powever, Lhe followlng quoLaLlon from Cuello
Calon lndlcaLes Lhe schools of LhoughL on Lhls sub[ecL and Lhe reason LhaL may have lnfluenced
our lawmakers ln maklng Lhelr cholce:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
uuranLe muchos slglos, hasLa Llempos relaLlvamenLe cercanos, se repuLaban los hechos que
hoy llamamos dellLos pollLlcos como mas graves y pellgrosos que los crlmenes comunes. Se
conslderaba que mlenLras esLos solo causan un dano lndlvldual, aquellos producen profundas
perLurbaclones en la vlda collecLlva llegando a poner en pellgro la mlsma vlda del LsLado. Ln
consonancla con esLas ldeas fueron reprlmldos con exLraordlnarla severldad y deslgnados con la
denomlnaclon romana de dellLos de lesa ma[esLad se caLalogaron en las leyes penales como los
crlmenes mas Lemlbles.
ero desde hace poco mas de un slglo se ha reallzado en esLe punLo una Lransformaclon
profunda merced a la cual la dellncuencla pollLlca de[o de apreclarse con los severos crlLerlos de
anLano quedando someLlda a un reglmen penal, por regla general suave y benevolo.
Ll orlgen de esLe camblo se remonLa, segun oplnlon muy dlfundlda, a la revoluclon que Luvo
lugar en lrancla en el ano 1830. Ll goblerno de Luls lellpe esLableclo una honda separaclon
enLre los dellLos comunes y los pollLlcos, slendo esLos someLldos a una penalldad mas suave y
sus auLores excepLuados de la exLradlclon. lrradlando a oLros palses Luvleron esLas Lan gran
dlfuslon que en casl Lodos los de reglmen llberal-lndlvlduallsLa se ha llegado a crear un
LraLamlenLo desprovlsLo de severldad para la represlon de esLos hechos. no solo las penas con
que se conmlnaron perdleron gran parLe de su anLlgua dureza, slno qua en algunos palses se
creo un reglmen penal mas suave para esLos dellcuenLes, en oLros se abollo para ellos la pena de
muerLe. 1an profundo conLrasLe enLre el anLlguo y el acLual LraLamlenLo de la crlmlnalldad
pollLlca en la mayorla de los palses solo puede ser expllcado por las ldeas nacldas y dlfundldas
ba[o los reglmenes pollLlcos llberalesacerca de esLos dellLos y dellncuenLes. or una parLe se ha
aflrmado que la crlmlnalldad da esLos hechos no conLlene la mlsma lnmoralldad que la
dellncuencla comun, que es Lan solo relaLlva, qua depende del Llempo, del lugar, da las
clrcumsLanclas, de las lnsLlLuclones del pals. CLros lnvocan la elevaclon de los movlles y
senLlmlenLos deLermlnanLes de esLos hechos, el amor a la paLrla, la adheslon fervlenLe a
deLermlnadas ldeas o prlnclplos, el esplrlLu de sacrlflclo por el Lrlunfo de un ldeal.
ConLra su LraLo benevolo, del que no pocas veces se han beneflclado pellgrosos malhechores,
se ha lnlclado hace algun Llempo una fuerLe reacclon (vease Cap. xv, 3., b), que llego a alcanzar
conslderable severldad en las leglslaclones de Llpo auLorlLarlo, y que Lamblen ha hallado eco, en
forma mas suave, en las de oLros palses de consLlLuclon democraLlca en los que, especlalmenLe
en los ulLlmos anos, la frecuencla de aglLaclones pollLlcas y soclales ha orlglnado la publlcaclon
de numerosas leyes encamlnadas a la proLecclon penal del LsLado." (Cuello Calon, uerecho
enal, 1omo 1, pp. 230-232.)
Such evlls as may resulL from Lhe fallure of Lhe pollcy of Lhe law punlshlng Lhe offense Lo
doveLall wlLh Lhe pollcy of Lhe law enforclng agencles ln Lhe apprehenslon and prosecuLlon of
Lhe offenders are maLLers whlch may be broughL Lo Lhe aLLenLlon of Lhe deparLmenLs
concerned. 1he [udlclal branch cannoL amend Lhe former ln order Lo sulL Lhe laLLer. 1he CourL
cannoL lndulge ln [udlclal leglslaLlon wlLhouL vlolaLlng Lhe prlnclple of separaLlon of powers, and,
hence, undermlnlng Lhe foundaLlon of our republlcan sysLem. ln, shorL, we cannoL accepL Lhe
Lheory of Lhe prosecuLlon wlLhouL causlng much blgger harm Lhan LhaL whlch would allegedly
resulL from Lhe adopLlon of Lhe opposlLe vlew.
ln concluslon, we hold LhaL, under Lhe allegaLlons of Lhe amended lnformaLlon
agalnsL!"#"$%&$'-())"**&$' Amado v. Pernandez, Lhe murders, arsons and robberles descrlbed
Lhereln are mere lngredlenLs of Lhe crlme of rebelllon allegedly commlLLed by sald !"#"$%&$'+,
as means necessary" 4 for Lhe perpeLraLlon of sald offense of rebelllon, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryLhaL Lhe crlme
charged ln Lhe aforemenLloned amended lnformaLlon ls, Lherefore, slmple rebelllon, noL Lhe
complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, arsons and robberles, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryLhaL Lhe maxlmum
penalLy lmposable under such charge cannoL exceed Lwelve (12) years of prlslon mayor and a
flne of 20,000, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand LhaL, ln conformlLy wlLh Lhe pollcy of Lhls courL ln deallng wlLh accused
persons amenable Lo a slmllar punlshmenL, sald !"#"$%&$' may be allowed ball.
lL ls urged LhaL, ln Lhe exerclse of lLs dlscreLlon, Lhe CourL should deny Lhe moLlon under
conslderaLlon, because Lhe securlLy of Lhe SLaLe so requlres, and because Lhe [udgmenL of
convlcLlon appealed from lndlcaLes LhaL Lhe evldence of gullL of Amado v. Pernandez ls sLrong.
Powever, as held ln a resoluLlon of Lhls courL, daLed !anuary 29, 1933, ln Lhe case of MonLano
vs. Ccampo (C.8. L-6332):chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
cralaw Lo deny ball lL ls noL enough LhaL Lhe evldence of gullL ls sLrong, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarylL musL also appear LhaL ln
case of convlcLlon Lhe !"#"$%&$''s crlmlnal llablllLy would probably call for a caplLal punlshmenL.
no clear or concluslve showlng before Lhls CourL has been made."
ln facL, ln Lhe case aL bar, !"#"$%&$' Amado v. Pernandez was senLenced by Lhe lower courL,
noL Lo Lhe exLreme penalLy, buL Lo llfe lmprlsonmenL. lurLhermore, lndlvldual freedom ls Loo
baslc, Loo LranscendenLal and vlLal ln a republlcan sLaLe, llke ours, Lo be denled upon mere
general prlnclples and absLracL conslderaLlon of publlc safeLy. lndeed, Lhe preservaLlon of llberLy
ls such a ma[or preoccupaLlon of our pollLlcal sysLem LhaL, noL saLlsfled wlLh guaranLeelng lLs
en[oymenL ln Lhe very flrsL paragraph of secLlon (1) of Lhe 8lll of 8lghLs, Lhe framers of our
ConsLlLuLlon devoLed paragraphs (3), (4), (3), (6), (7), (8), (11), (12), (13), (14), (13), (16), (17),
(18), and (21) of sald secLlon (1) Lo Lhe proLecLlon of several aspecLs of freedom. 1hus, ln llne
wlLh Lhe leLLer and splrlL of Lhe fundamenLal law, we sald ln Lhe aforemenLloned case of
MonLano vs. Ccampo:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Lxcluslon from ball ln caplLal offenses belng an excepLlon Lo Lhe oLherwlse absoluLe rlghL
guaranLeed by Lhe consLlLuLlon, Lhe naLural Lendency of Lhe courLs has been Loward a falr and
llberal appreclaLlon, raLher Lhan oLherwlse, of Lhe evldence ln Lhe deLermlnaLlon of Lhe degree
of proof and presumpLlon of gullL necessary Lo warranL a deprlvaLlon of LhaL rlghL."
x x x x x x x x x
ln Lhe evaluaLlon of Lhe evldence Lhe probablllLy of fllghL ls one oLher lmporLanL facLor Lo be
Laken lnLo accounL. 1he sole purpose of conflnlng accused ln [all before convlcLlon, lL has been
observed, ls Lo secure hls presence aL Lhe Lrlal. ln oLher words, lf denlal of ball ls auLhorlzed ln
caplLal cases, lL ls only on Lhe Lheory LhaL Lhe proof belng sLrong, Lhe !"#"$%&$' would flee, lf he
has Lhe opporLunlLy, raLher Lhan face Lhe verdlcL of Lhe [ury. Pence, Lhe excepLlon Lo Lhe
fundamenLal rlghL Lo be balled should be applled ln dlrecL raLlo Lo Lhe exLenL of Lhe probablllLy
of evaslon of prosecuLlon.
1he posslblllLy of escape ln Lhls case, bearlng ln mlnd Lhe !"#"$%&$''s offlclal and soclal
sLandlng and hls oLher personal clrcumsLances, seem remoLe lf noL nll."
1hls vlew applles fully Lo Amado v. Pernandez, wlLh Lhe parLlcularlLy LhaL Lhere ls an addlLlonal
clrcumsLance ln hls favor - he has been deLalned slnce !anuary 1931, or for more Lhan flve (3)
years, and lL may sLlll Lake some Llme Lo dlspose of Lhe case, for Lhe same has noL been, and ls
noL ln a poslLlon Lo be, lncluded, as yeL, ln our calendar, lnasmuch as Lhe brlefs for
some ())"**&$'+- oLher Lhan Pernandez - as well as Lhe brlef for Lhe CovernmenL, are
pendlng submlsslon. lL should be noLed, also, LhaL Lhe declslon appealed from Lhe opposlLlon Lo
Lhe moLlon ln quesLlon do noL reveal saLlsfacLorlly and concreLe, poslLlve acL of Lhe accused
showlng, sufflclenLly, LhaL hls provlnclal release, durlng Lhe pendency of Lhe appeal, would
[eopardlze Lhe securlLy of Lhe SLaLe.
Wherefore, Lhe aforemenLloned moLlon for ball of !"#"$%&$'- ())"**&$' Amado v. Pernandez ls
hereby granLed and, upon Lhe flllng of a bond, wlLh sufflclenL sureLles, ln Lhe sum of 30,000,
and lLs approval by Lhe courL, leL sald !"#"$%&$'-())"**&$' be provlslonally released. lL ls B?
?)E=)=E(
>IJI+8 ;/./8 )K5K+8 $(8 #I3LM+LI $NOK4* INP )K5K+( 2(#(,(8 ../8 Q*NQ3J(
#KNOR*N8 2(8 Q*NQ3J+ MN LSK JK+34L(

BKTIJILK ?TMNM*N+
!(+<==(> ./> ,$--*%&$%@034#%526"*-7$5&8#""#9"$65#5:
Amado v. Pernandez and oLhers were charged ln Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of Manlla wlLh Lhe
crlme of rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, arsons and robberles. 1he body of Lhe lnformaLlon
charged LhaL he and hls co-!"#"$%&$'+ consplred and LhaL as a necessary means Lo commlL Lhe
crlme of rebelllon, ln connecLlon LherewlLh and ln furLherance Lhereof," have Lhen and Lhere
commlLLed acLs of murder, plllage, looLlng, plunder, arson, and planned desLrucLlon of prlvaLe
and publlc properLy Lo creaLe and spread chaos, dlsorder, Lerror, and fear so as Lo faclllLaLe Lhe
accompllshmenL of Lhe aforesald purpose," and reclLed Lhe dlfferenL crlmes commlLLed by
Lhe!"#"$%&$'+. AfLer Lrlal Amado v. Pernandez was found gullLy and senLenced Lo suffer llfe
lmprlsonmenL from whlch [udgmenL and senLence he appealed. 1he appeal ls pendlng ln Lhls
CourL.
upon Lhe ground LhaL Lhere ls no complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder, Lhe penalLy provlded
for Lo be lmposed upon persons found gullLy of rebelllon belng prlslon mayor and a flne noL Lo
exceed 20,000 only, 1 Lhe ma[orlLy granLs Lhe peLlLlon for ball flled by Lhe ())"**&$'.
SecLlon 1, paragraph 16, ArLlcle lll, of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon provldes:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
All persons shall before convlcLlon be ballable by sufflclenL sureLles, excepL Lhose charged wlLh
caplLal offenses when evldence of gullL ls sLrong. Lxcesslve ball shall noL be requlred. (lLallcs
supplled.)
1he perLlnenL secLlons of 8ule 110 provlde:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
SLC. 3. Cffenses less Lhan caplLal before convlcLlon by Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance. - AfLer
[udgmenL by a [usLlce of Lhe peace and before convlcLlon by Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance,
Lhe!"#"$%&$' shall be admlLLed Lo ball as of rlghL.
SLC. 4. noncaplLal offenses afLer convlcLlon by Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance. - AfLer convlcLlon by
Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance !"#"$%&$' may, upon appllcaLlon, be balled aL Lhe dlscreLlon of Lhe
courL.
SLC. 3. CaplLal offenses deflned. A caplLal offense, as Lhe Lerm ls used ln Lhls rule, ls an offense
whlch, under Lhe law exlsLlng aL Lhe Llme of lLs commlsslon, and aL Lhe Llme of Lhe appllcaLlon Lo
be admlLLed Lo ball, may be punlshed by deaLh.
SLC. 6. CaplLal offenses noL ballable. - no person ln cusLody for Lhe commlsslon of a caplLal
offense shall be admlLLed Lo ball lf Lhe evldence of hls gullL ls sLrong.
SLC. 7. CaplLal offenses - burden of proof. - Cn Lhe hearlng of an appllcaLlon for admlsslon Lo
ball made by any person who ls ln cusLody for Lhe commlsslon of a caplLal offense, Lhe burden of
showlng LhaL evldence of gullL ls sLrong ls on Lhe prosecuLlon.
SLC. 13. 8all on appeal. - 8all upon appeal musL conform ln all respecLs as provlded for ln
oLher cases of ball.
Accordlng Lo Lhls 8ule, a !"#"$%&$' ln a crlmlnal case afLer a [udgmenL of convlcLlon by Lhe
!usLlce of Lhe eace CourL and before convlcLlon by Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance ls enLlLled Lo ball.
AfLer convlcLlon by Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance he, upon appllcaLlon, may sLlll be balled ln non-
caplLal offenses buL aL Lhe dlscreLlon of Lhe courL. When Lhe lnformaLlon charges a caplLal
offense Lhe !"#"$%&$' ls noL enLlLled Lo ball lf Lhe evldence of hls gullL ls sLrong. Cf course Lhls
means before convlcLlon. AfLer convlcLlon for a caplLal offense, Lhe !"#"$%&$' has absoluLely no
rlghL Lo ball, because even before convlcLlon a !"#"$%&$' charged wlLh caplLal offense ls noL
enLlLled Lo ball lf Lhe evldence of gullL ls sLrong. So LhaL should a !"#"$%&$' charged wlLh a
caplLal offense apply for ball before convlcLlon, Lhe prosecuLlon musL esLabllsh and show LhaL
Lhe evldence of Lhe !"#"$%&$''s gullL ls sLrong lf Lhe appllcaLlon for ball be ob[ecLed Lo. AfLer
convlcLlon of a!"#"$%&$' charged wlLh a caplLal offense Lhere ls no sLronger evldence of hls gullL
Lhan Lhe [udgmenL rendered by Lhe Lrlal courL. 1he [udgmenL ls enLlLled Lo full falLh and credlL.
unLll afLer Lhe evldence shall have been revlewed and Lhe revlewlng courL shall have found LhaL
Lhe Lrlal courL commlLLed error ln convlcLlng Lhe !"#"$%&$' of Lhe crlme charged, Lhe [udgmenL
and senLence of Lhe Lrlal courL ln such crlmlnal case musL be Laken aL lLs face value and be glven
full falLh and credlL by Lhls CourL.
WlLhouL a revlew of Lhe evldence presenLed ln Lhe case, Lhe ma[orlLy has Laken up and dlscussed
Lhe quesLlon wheLher, under and pursuanL Lo Lhe provlslons of arLlcle 133 of Lhe 8evlsed enal
Code, Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder may arlse or exlsL or be commlLLed and has
reached Lhe concluslon LhaL murder as an lncldenL Lo rebelllon, ls lnLegraLed, lmblbed,
lncorporaLed, or absorbed ln, or parL and parcel of, Lhe lasL menLloned crlme. lor LhaL reason lL
ls of Lhe oplnlon LhaL, as Lhe lnformaLlon flled agalnsL Amado v. Pernandez does noL charge a
caplLal offense, he may be admlLLed Lo ball aL Lhe dlscreLlon of Lhe CourL.
Lven lf Lhe ma[orlLy oplnlon LhaL Lhe crlme charged ln Lhe lnformaLlon ls rebelllon only - a non-
caplLal offense - be correcL, sLlll Lhe granLlng of ball afLer convlcLlon ls dlscreLlonary, and l see
no plauslble reason for Lhe reversal of Lhls CourL's prevlous sLand, because Lhe securlLy of Lhe
SLaLe ls aL sLake.
lor Lhese reasons l dlssenL.

ABCD1A(EBF> ./> ,$--*%&$%@034#%526"*-7$5&8#""#9"$65#5:
unable Lo agree Lo Lhe resoluLlon of Lhe ma[orlLy, l am consLralned Lo dlssenL Lherefrom, noL so
much from Lhe parL Lhereof granLlng Lhe moLlon for ball, as where lL holds noL only LhaL Lhere
can be no complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, robbery, arson, eLc., buL LhaL Lhese
crlmes when commlLLed durlng and on Lhe occaslon of a rebelllon, are absorbed by Lhe laLLer.
1he new docLrlne now belng lald down besldes belng, Lo my mlnd, qulLe radlcal and ln open and
clear conLravenLlon of publlc pollcy, ls fundamenLal and of far-reachlng consequences, and l feel
lL my duLy noL only Lo volce my dlssenL buL also Lo sLaLe Lhe reasons ln supporL Lhereof.
1he resoluLlon clLes and quoLes ArLlcle 133 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code Lo supporL lLs Lheory LhaL
Lhe flve acLs enumeraLed Lhereln parLlcularly Lhose of engaglng ln war agalnsL Lhe forces of Lhe
governmenL, desLroylng properLy and commlLLlng serlous vlolence, cover all Lhe murders,
robberles, arsons, eLc., commlLLed on Lhe occaslon of or durlng a rebelllon, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand lL proceeds Lo
asserL LhaL Lhe expresslons used ln sald arLlcle, such as engaglng ln war agalnsL Lhe forces of Lhe
governmenL and commlLLlng serlous vlolence lmply everyLhlng LhaL war connoLes such as
physlcal ln[urles and loss of llfe. ln Lhls connecLlon, lL ls of proflL and even necessary Lo refer Lo
ArLlcle 134 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code deflnlng and descrlblng how Lhe crlme of rebelllon ls
commlLLed.
ArL. 134. 8ebelllon or lnsurrecLlon - Pow commlLLed. - 1he crlme of rebelllon or lnsurrecLlon
ls commlLLed by rlslng publlcly and Laklng arms agalnsL Lhe CovernmenL for Lhe purpose of
removlng from Lhe alleglance Lo sald CovernmenL or lLs laws, Lhe LerrlLory of Lhe hlllpplne
lslands or any parL Lhereof, of any body of land, naval or oLher armed forces, or of deprlvlng Lhe
Chlef LxecuLlve or Lhe LeglslaLure, wholly or parLlally, of any of Lhelr powers or prerogaLlves."
Accordlng Lo Lhe above arLlcle, rebelllon ls commlLLed by rlslng publlcly and Laklng arms agalnsL
Lhe governmenL for Lhe purpose or purposes enumeraLed ln sald arLlcle. ln oLher words, Lhe
commlsslon of rebelllon ls compleLe and consummaLed lf a group of persons for Lhe purposes
enumeraLed ln Lhe arLlcle, rlse publlcly, Lake up arms and assemble. lL ls noL necessary for lLs
consummaLlon LhaL anybody be ln[ured or kllled, be lL a governmenL soldler or clvlllan, or LhaL
lnnocenL persons be forclbly deprlved of Lhelr properLles by means of robbery or LhaL Lhelr
sLores and houses be looLed and Lhen burned Lo Lhe ground. SLaLed dlfferenLly, murders,
robberles, arsons, eLc., are noL necessary or lndlspensable ln Lhe commlsslon of rebelllon and,
consequenLly, are noL lngredlenLs or elemenLs of Lhe laLLer.
ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code provldlng for enalLy for complex crlmes" reads Lhus:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
A81. 48. enalLy for complex crlmes. - When a slngle acL consLlLuLes Lwo or more grave or
less grave felonles, or when an offense ls a necessary means for commlLLlng Lhe oLher, Lhe
penalLy for Lhe mosL serlous crlme shall be lmposed, Lhe same Lo be applled ln lLs maxlmum
perlod." (As amended by AcL no. 4000.)
lor beLLer undersLandlng, l deem lL advlsable Lo ascerLaln and explaln Lhe meanlng of Lhe phrase
necessary means" used ln ArLlcle 48. necessary means" as lnLerpreLed by crlmlnologlsLs,
[urlsLs and legal commenLaLors, does noL mean lndlspensable means, because lf lL dld, Lhen Lhe
offense as a necessary means" Lo commlL anoLher would be an lndlspensable elemenL of Lhe
laLLer and would be an lngredlenL Lhereof. 1haL would be Lrue ln Lhe offense of Lrespass Lo
dwelllng Lo commlL robbery ln an lnhablLed house, or Lhe lnfllcLlon of physlcal ln[urles Lo commlL
homlclde or murder. 1he phrase necessary means" used ln ArLlcle 48, merely slgnlfles LhaL for
lnsLance, a crlme such as slmple esLafa can be and ordlnarlly ls commlLLed ln Lhe manner
deflned and descrlbed ln Lhe enal Code, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarybuL, lf Lhe esLafador" resorLs Lo or employs
falslflcaLlon, merely Lo faclllLaLe and lnsure hls commlLLlng Lhe esLafa, Lhen he ls gullLy of Lhe
complex crlme of esLafa Lhru falslflcaLlon. So, lf one deslrlng Lo rape a cerLaln woman, lnsLead of
walLlng for an opporLunlLy where she could be alone or helpless, ln Lhe flelds or some lsolaLed
place, abducLs her by force and Lakes her Lo a foresL Lo ravlsh her, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryor he enLers her home
Lhrough a wlndow aL nlghL and rapes her ln her room, Lhen he ls gullLy of Lhe complex crlme of
abducLlon wlLh rape or rape wlLh Lrespass Lo dwelllng. 1he reason ls LhaL Lhe commlsslon of
abducLlon of Lrespass Lo dwelllng are noL lndlspensable means or lngredlenLs of Lhe crlme of
rape. 1hey are buL means selecLed by Lhe culprlL Lo faclllLaLe and carry ouL perhaps more qulckly
hls evll deslgns on hls vlcLlm. Says Lhe emlnenL Spanlsh commenLaLor, Crolzard, on Lhls polnL:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
una cosa analoga aconLece respecLo de los dellLos conexlonados con una relaclon de medlo a
fln. 1amblen en ellos la unldad de acLo moral, que da vlda al dellLo, hace loglca la lmposlclon de
una sola pena. reclso es, sln embargo, dlsLlngulr el caso en que el dellLo medlo sea medlo
necesarlo de reallzar el dellLo fln, del caso en que sea puramenLe medlo, pero no medlo
lndlspensable. Ln aquel, el dellLo medlo no es, en realldad, slno una condlclon preclsa, una
clrcumsLancla slne qua non, un elemenLo lnLegral de la acclon punlble conceblda como fln. Sln
pasar por uno, serla lmposlble llegar al oLro. La volunLad, llbre e lnLellgenLe, Llene enLonces por
unlco ob[eLo llegar al dellLo fln. Sl al recorrer su camlno ha de pasar, lndlspensablemanLe, por la
comlslon de oLro hecho punlble, no dos, slno un dellLo habra que casLlgar, Loda ves que uno fue
el mal llbremenLe querldo, no slendolo el oLro por sl, slno en LanLo que era necesarlo para
obLener, la reallzaclon del mal proposlLo concebldo."
x x x x x x x x x
Asl, hay que reconocer que es plauslble que, cuando un dellLo es medlo de reallzar oLro, se
lmponga al culpable la pena correspondlenLe al mayor en su grado maxlmo, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarypero que no los
es sl resulLa que ha sldo medlo necesarlo. or lo conLrarlo, para que sea [usLo el aumenLo de
pena, con arreglo a la docLrlna general acerca del dellLo y las clrcunsLancla agravanLes, es
preclso que exlsLan y no se aprovechen oLros procedlmlenLos, oLros recursos, mas o menos
faclles para consumar el dellLo. LnLonces la responslbllldad se hace mayor ellglendo un medlo
que sea un dellLo en sl. Ll que puede, haclendo uso de su llberLad y de su lnLellgencla, escoger
enLre varlos procedlmlenLos para llegar a un fln, y se declde por uno que por sl solo consLlLuye
dellLo, de esLe dellLo no necessarlo para la reallzaclon del proyecLado como fln, debe responder
Lamblen."
x x x x x x x x x
L[emplo:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary el allanamlenLo de domlclllo como medlo de llegar al dellLo de vlolaclon. no es
condlclon necesarla, para que la vlolaclon pueda reallzarse, el enLrar en la morada a[ena conLra
la volunLad de su dueno. Sln esa clrcunsLancla, el dellLo puede exlsLlr. Ahora blen, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarysl el
crlmlnal acepLa como medlo de llegar a la vlolaclon el allanamlenLo de domlclllo, esLe dellLo y el
de vlolaclon deben ser casLlgados observandose en la apllcaclon del casLlgo una unldad de
penalldad que guarde clerLa analogla con la unldad de pensamlenLo que llevo en culpable a la
rallzaclon de ambos dellLos. ara esLos y analogos casos, la razon aprueba la lmposlclon de la
mas grave de las penas en su grado maxlmo." (Crolzard, Ll Codlgo enal de 1870, 1omo ll, pp.
493-496.)
Applylng Lhe above observaLlons Lo Lhe crlme of rebelllon as deflned ln ArLlcle 134, Lhe same
may be commlLLed by merely rlslng publlcly and Laklng arms agalnsL Lhe governmenL, such as
was done on several occaslons as alleged ln Lhe lnformaLlon for rebelllon ln Lhe presenL case
where a group of Pukbalahaps, enLered Lowns, overpowered Lhe guards aL Lhe resldencla
conflscaLed flrearms and Lhe conLenLs of Lhe munlclpal Lreasurer's safe, exacLed conLrlbuLlons ln
Lhe form of money, food-sLuffs and cloLhlng from Lhe resldenLs and malnLalned vlrLual conLrol of
Lhe Lown for a few hours. 1haL ls slmple buL consummaLed rebelllon. Murder, robbery, arson,
eLc., are noL necessary or lndlspensable Lo consummaLe Lhe crlme of rebelllon.
8uL ln oLher cases, Lhls group or oLher groups of dlssldenLs ln order Lo faclllLaLe achlevlng Lhelr
ob[ecLlve Lo overLhrow Lhe governmenL, accordlng Lo Lhe flndlngs of Lhe Lrlal courLs ln several
cases of rebelllon, resorLed Lo looLlng and robberles Lo ralse funds Lo flnance Lhelr movemenL,
someLlmes kllllng clvlllans who refused Lo conLrlbuLe or Lo be recrulLed Lo augmenL Lhe forces of
Lhe rebels or who were suspecLed of glvlng lnformaLlon Lo Lhe governmenL forces of Lhe
movemenLs of Lhe dlssldenLs. SomeLlmes, homes of Lown and barrlo resldenLs are seL on flre
and burned Lo Lhe ground ln reprlsal or ln order Lo sLrlke Lerror lnLo Lhe hearLs of Lhe
lnhablLanLs, so LhaL Lhey would be more amenable Lo Lhe rule and Lhe demands of Lhe rebels. AL
oLher Llmes, clvlllans were kldnapped for purposes of ransom, and some hosLages kllled when
Lhe ransom was noL pald or was noL forLhcomlng. ln Lhe rald on Camp Macabulos ln 1arlac,
besldes shooLlng down soldlers and offlcers, bulldlngs were seL on flre, lnduclng Lhe hosplLal, as
a resulL of whlch, paLlenLs lncludlng a 8ed Cross nurse were kllled. ln anoLher case, a passenger
bus conLalnlng abouL forLy clvlllan passengers ln SLa. Cruz, Zambales, was held up by Lhese
armed dlssldenLs, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryLhe passengers were robbed of Lhelr money and [ewelry and fourLeen of
Lhem were shoL Lo deaLh. 1he parLy of Mrs. Aurora Cuezon whlle on lLs way Lo Lhe Lown of
8aler, was ambushed ln 8ongabong, nueva Lcl[a by Lhe dlssldenLs and several members of Lhe
parLy, lncludlng herself, her daughLer, her son-ln-law, Mayor 8ernardo of Cuezon ClLy, and
oLhers were kllled, and Lhelr persons despolled of [ewelrles and belonglngs. lL ls clear LhaL all
Lhese acLs of murder, vandallsm, bandlLry and plllage cannoL be regarded as lngredlenLs and
lndlspensable elemenLs of Lhe crlme of rebelllon. 1he aforeclLed acLs and cases, Lhe
enumeraLlon of whlch ls far from compleLe, are noL based on mere susplclon or hearsay. 1hey
are alleged as facLs ln Lhe numerous counLs conLalned ln complalnLs or lnformaLlons for
rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, robbery, arson, kldnapplng, eLc. ln several separaLe cases ln Lhe
CourLs of llrsL lnsLance, some sLlll pendlng Lrlal-buL qulLe a number already declded and now
pendlng appeal before us. 1here musL be much LruLh Lo Lhese charges and counLs because ln Lhe
case agalnsL Puk Supremo Luls 1aruc, Wllllam omeroy eL al., (crlmlnal case no. 19166 C.l.l.,
Manlla) omeroy pleaded gullLy Lo all Lhe LhlrLy counLs agalnsL hlm, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryso dld 1aruc afLer seven
counLs had been ellmlnaLed from Lhe LhlrLy conLalned ln Lhe lnformaLlon. Among Lhe LwenLy
Lhree counLs remalnlng Lo whlch 1aruc pleaded gullLy were Lhe holdlng up of forLy clvlllans ln a
passenger bus ln SLa. Cruz, Zambales, and Lhe nlghL rald on Camp Macabulos where hosplLal
paLlenLs and a 8ed Cross nurse were kllled.
Slnce Lhe above menLloned crlmes of mulLlple murder, robbery, kldnapplng, eLc., are noL
lngredlenLs of rebelllon nor lndlspensable Lo lLs commlsslon buL only means selecLed and
employed by Lhe offenders Lo commlL rebelllon and achleve Lhelr goal, a complex crlme ls
commlLLed under ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code.
Colng back Lo Lhe Lheory of Lhe ma[orlLy ln Lhe resoluLlon LhaL Lhe phrase engaglng ln war and
commlLLlng serlous vlolence used ln ArLlcle 134, covers Lhe crlmes of murder, robbery, arson,
eLc., commlLLed durlng a rebelllon, l emphaLlcally dlsagree. Lngaglng ln war and levylng war,
agalnsL Lhe governmenL, are general Lerms employed ln Lhe unlLed SLaLes sLaLuLes Lo deflne
rebelllon and Lreason. 1hey are used lnLerchangeably and have Lhe same meanlng ln our law on
rebelllon and Lreason, (ArLlcles 114, 134, 133, 8evlsed enal Code) whlch are based on AcL 292
of Amerlcan orlgln. 1hey do noL necessarlly mean acLual kllllng of governmenL Lroops, much less
of lnnocenL clvlllans.
Levylng War. - 1he assembllng of a body of men for Lhe purpose of effecLlng by force a
Lreasonable ob[ecL, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand all who perform any parL, however, mlnuLe, or however remoLe from
Lhe scene of acLlon, and who are leagued ln Lhe general consplracy, are consldered as engaged
ln levylng war, wlLhln Lhe meanlng of Lhe consLlLuLlon." (8ouvler's Law ulcLlonary, vol. 2, p.
1938.)
1hls 1rlbunal deflnes levylng war" ln Lhe case of u.S. vs. Lagnason, 3 hll., 478-9, Lhus:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
WhaLever dlfferences Lhere may have been among Lhe early [udges as Lo wheLher an armed
reslsLance Lo Lhe enforcemenL of a publlc law (see AcL no. 292, secLlon 3, 1) consLlLuLed a
levylng of war or noL, and war or was noL Lreason, yeL Lhey were all unanlmous ln holdlng LhaL
acLs of vlolence commlLLed by an armed body of men wlLh Lhe purpose of overLhrowlng Lhe
CovernmenL was levylng war agalnsL Lhe unlLed SLaLes," and was Lherefore Lreason, wheLher lL
was done by Len men or Len Lhousand. (See unlLed SLaLes vs. Panway, 2 Wall., [r., 139, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrary26
led. Cases, 103.)
x x x x x x x x x
As Lhe acL of engaglng ln a rebelllon ls levylng war, and Lherefore Lreason, Lhe same acL seems
Lo be punlshed by boLh secLlons and ln dlfferenL ways." (u. S. vs. Lagnason, 3 hll., 48-9.)
!usL as a clLlzen can commlL Lreason by adherlng Lo Lhe enemy and commlLLlng Lreasonable
overL acLs such as polnLlng ouL and helplng arresL guerrlllas, accompanylng enemy soldlers on
paLrol and glvlng valuable lnformaLlon Lo Lhe enemy, wlLhouL hlmself kllllng anyone of hls
counLrymen, Lhls alLhough ArLlcle 114 uses Lhe phrase levylng war Lo deflne-Lreason, so,
alLhough ArLlcle 133 uses Lhe phrase engaglng ln war", a group of lndlvlduals may also commlL
rebelllon by merely rlslng publlcly and Laklng arms agalnsL Lhe governmenL wlLhouL flrlng a
slngle shoL or lnfllcLlng a slngle wound.
8uL Lhe ma[orlLy says LhaL serlous vlolence menLloned ln ArLlcle 134 may lnclude murder. 1o me,
Lhls vlew ls unLenable. lrom serlous vlolence Lo Lhe caplLal offense of murder, cerLalnly, ls a far
cry. 8esldes, serlous vlolence can also be on Lhlngs. ln my oplnlon, Lhe dlfferenL acLs menLloned
ln ArLlcle 133, among Lhem, desLroylng properLy, commlLLlng serlous vlolence, exacLlng
conLrlbuLlons or dlverLlng publlc funds, lnsLead of glvlng llcense and unllmlLed leave Lo rebels
and dlssldenLs Lo engage ln mass murder, looLlng and wholesale desLrucLlon of properLy, on Lhe
conLrary, serve Lo llmlL and resLrlcL Lhe vlolaLlons of law LhaL may be lncluded ln and absorbed
by rebelllon. ArLlcle 133 menLlons Lhose acLs whlch generally accompany a publlc armed
uprlslng. When rebels rald a Lown or barrlo, manhandllng of clvlllans who obsLrucL Lhelr
movemenLs or fall Lo carry ouL Lhelr orders such as Lo lend Lhelr carabaos and carLs for
LransporLaLlon purposes, or Lo conLrlbuLe food, cloLhes, medlclnes, money eLc., may be
expecLed. 1he rebels may employ force Lo dlsarm Lhe pollceman guardlng Lhe resldencla and lf
he offers reslsLance beaL hlm up or, once lnslde, break down Lhe door of Lhe Lreasurer's offlce,
blow up hls safe and carry away Lhe money conLenLs Lhereof. All Lhese acLs lnvolve vlolence,
even serlous vlolence on persons and Lhlngs, lncludlng dlverslon of publlc funds. 8uL knowlng
LhaL Lhese law vlolaLlons, relaLlvely noL serlous, are generally unavoldable ln publlc armed
uprlslngs lnvolvlng hasLlly assembled persons and groups wlLh llLLle dlsclpllne' Lhe law LoleraLes
Lhem, conslderlng Lhem as parL of Lhe rebelllon. 8uL when rebels rob lnnocenL clvlllans, kldnap
Lhem for purposes of ransom, even klll Lhem merely because Lhey fall Lo pay Lhe ransom, and
clvlllan houses are puL Lo Lhe Lorch, endangerlng Lhe llves of Lhe lnmaLes, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarywhen clvlllans are
kllled for refuslng Lo conLrlbuLe, or on mere susplclon of Lhelr glvlng lnformaLlon Lo Lhe
governmenL, l cannoL belleve LhaL Lhese bruLal acL are condoned by Lhe law and are Lo be
lncluded ln Lhe crlme of rebelllon.
1he ma[orlLy leans heavlly on our declslons ln several Lreason cases whereln we refused or falled
Lo convlcL of Lhe complex crlme of Lreason wlLh mulLlple murder. 1o me, Lhose cases are nelLher
conLrolllng nor appllcable for several reasons. AlmosL lnvarlably, lndlcLmenL ln Lhose Lreason
cases alleged Lhe kllllngs commlLLed by Lhe lndlcLees as lngredlenLs and elemenLs of Lreason.
1hey are menLloned as Lhe overL acLs Lo esLabllsh and prove Lreason. naLurally, Lhe courL held
LhaL belng lngredlenLs of Lhe crlme of Lreason Lhey cannoL be consldered as dlsLlncL and
separaLe offenses for Lhe purpose of applylng ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code. AnoLher
reason ls LhaL, Lreason belng a caplLal offense, Lhls courL dld noL see any lmmedlaLe necesslLy for
conslderlng and applylng Lhe Lheory of complex crlme because Lhe resulL would ln many cases
be pracLlcally Lhe same. ln oLher words, Lreason mlghL yeL be sald Lo absorb Lhe crlme of
homlclde, even of murder, because as regards Lhe penalLy, Lhey are of Lhe same caLegory. SLlll
anoLher reason, noL an unlmporLanL one ls LhaL aL LhaL Llme, oplnlon among Lhe members of
Lhls 1rlbunal on Lhe quesLlon of complex crlme of Lreason wlLh homlclde, sedlLlon wlLh murder
and rebelllon wlLh murder, arson, robbery, eLc., had noL yeL crysLallzed, one way or Lhe oLher.
So, we preferred Lo avold rullng on Lhe lssue, speclally slnce by conslderlng Lhe commlsslon of
murder, robbery, eLc., ln Lreason as aggravaLlng Lhe crlme, we would achleve Lhe same resulL as
regards Lhe penalLy Lo be lmposed.
8uL ln Lhe case of eople vs. erfecLo Labra, C.8. no. 1240, May 12, 1949, Lhls courL Lhrough Mr.
!usLlce 8engzon, accepLed Lhe vlew of Lhe SollclLor Ceneral LhaL under ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed
enal Code, Labra was gullLy of Lhe complex crlme of Lreason wlLh murder, as shown by Lhe
dlsposlLlve parL of our declslon ln LhaL case, whlch ls quoLed below:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Wherefore, Lhe verdlcL of gullL musL be afflrmed. ArLlcle 48, 114 and 248 of Lhe 8evlsed enal
Code are appllcable Lo Lhe offense of Lreason wlLh murder. Powever, for lack of sufflclenL voLes
Lo lmpose Lhe exLreme penalLy, Lhe ())"**&$' wlll be senLenced Lo llfe lmprlsonmenL."
1he only reason why Lhe deaLh penalLy was noL lmposed ln sald case was because of lack of
sufflclenL voLes buL evldenLly, Lhe !usLlces were agreed as Lo Lhe appllcaLlon of ArLlcle 48 of Lhe
enal Code regardlng complex crlmes.
1hen ln Lhe Lreason case of eople vs. 8arrameda, 83 hll., 789, 47 Cff. Caz., 3082, on Lhe
sLrengLh of our declslon ln Lhe case of Labra, Lhe SollclLor Ceneral recommended LhaL
8arrameda be also convlcLed of Lhe complex crlme of Lreason wlLh mulLlple murder and
senLenced Lo deaLh. 1hls 1rlbunal accepLed Lhe SollclLor Ceneral's recommendaLlon and
lmposed Lhe deaLh penalLy ln Lhe followlng language:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
We enLerLaln noL Lhe leasL doubL as Lo Lhe gullL of Lhe ())"**&$'. Pls very counsel de oflclo who
made an analysls of Lhe LesLlmonles of Lhe wlLnesses for Lhe prosecuLlon and palnsLaklngly
sLaLed Lhem ln deLall ln hls brlef, agrees LhaL hls cllenL ls gullLy alLhough he prays LhaL Lhe
senLence of llfe lmprlsonmenL be afflrmed. 1he SollclLor Ceneral, however, recommends LhaL
Lhe penalLy of deaLh be lmposed upon Lhe ())"**&$'. Conslderlng LhaL Lhe Lreason commlLLed
by Lhe ())"**&$'was accompanled noL only by Lhe apprehenslon of Amerlcans (u. S. clLlzens)
and Lhelr dellvery Lo Lhe !apanese forces whlch evldenLly laLer execuLed Lhem, buL also by kllllng
wlLh hls own hands noL only one buL several llllplnos, hls own counLrymen, and LhaL ln addlLlon
Lo Lhls, he Look parL ln Lhe mass kllllng and slaughLer of many oLher llllplnos, we are consLralned
Lo agree Lo sald recommendaLlon. Powever, unpleasanL, even palnful ls Lhe compllance wlLh our
duLy, we hereby lmpose upon Lhe ())"**&$' 1eodoro 8arrameda Lhe penalLy of deaLh whlch wlll
be carrled ouL on a day Lo be flxed by Lhe Lrlal courL wlLhln LhlrLy (30) days afLer Lhe reLurn of
Lhe record of Lhe case Lo sald courL."
WlLh Lhe Lwo aforeclLed cases, lL may noL be sald LhaL Lhe Supreme CourL has always held LhaL
Lhere can be no complex crlme of Lreason wlLh murder.
1he Lheory of Lhe ma[orlLy ls LhaL Lhe crlme of rebelllon wlLh Lhe maxlmum penalLy of Lwelve
years and flne, absorbs Lhe oLher crlmes of murder, robbery, arson, kldnapplng, eLc., as long as
Lhe laLLer are commlLLed ln Lhe course and ln furLherance of Lhe former. 1he ldea of one crlme
absorblng a more serlous one wlLh a more severe penalLy does noL readlly appeal Lo Lhe
reasonable and loglcal mlnd whlch can only comprehend a Lhlng absorblng anoLher smaller or
less Lhan lLself ln volume, ln lmporLance, ln value or ln caLegory. 1haL ls why !udge MonLesa ln
Lhe Lhree cases, eople vs. Pernandez, eople vs. LsplrlLu, and eople vs. Medlna, crlmlnal cases
nos. 13481, 13479 and 1411 respecLlvely, of Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance, Manlla, ln hls declslon
convlcLlng Lhe accused Lhereln, ln dlsposlng of Lhe Lheory of absorpLlon, urged upon hlm by
counsel for Lhe defense Lo Lhe effecL LhaL Lhe crlme of rebelllon absorbs Lhe crlme of murder,
robbery, arson, eLc., made Lhe followlng observaLlons:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he Lheory of absorpLlon Lenaclously adhered Lo by Lhe defense Lo Lhe effecL LhaL rebelllon
absorbs all Lhese more serlous offenses ls preposLerous Lo say Lhe leasL, conslderlng LhaL lL ls
boLh physlcally and meLaphyslcally lmposlble for a smaller unlL or enLlLy Lo absorb a blgger one."
(MonLesa, !., eople vs. Pernandez C.8. no. 13481, . 78.)
We need noL go lnLo an academlc dlscusslon of Lhls quesLlon because as a maLLer of law, my
oplnlon, crlmlnal [urlsprudence, expoundlng Lhe crlmlnal law namely Lhe enal Code and Lhe
enal Code of Spaln, on whlch lL ls based, expressly and clearly declare LhaL Lhe common crlmes
of murder, robbery, arson, eLc., commlLLed ln Lhe course or by reason of rebelllon, are separaLe
crlmes, noL Lo be merged ln or absorbed by rebelllon and should be prosecuLed separaLely.
ArLlcle 239 of Lhe enal Code of Spaln, of 1870 on whlch our enal Code promulgaLed ln 1887,
was based, provldes as follow:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Los dellLos parLlculares comeLldos en una rebelllon o sedlclon o con moLlvo de ellas, seran
casLlgados respecLlvamenLe, segun las dlsposlclones de esLe Codlgo.
Cuando no puedan descubrlrse sus auLores, seran penados como Lales los [efes prlnclpales de
la rebellon o sedlclon." (Crolazrd, Ll Codlgo enal de 1870, 1omo lll, ArLlculo 239, p. 649.)
ln commenLlng on ArLlcle 239 of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code, vlada says:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
'La dlsposlclon del prlmer parrafo de esLe arLlculo no puede ser mas [usLa, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarycon arreglo a ella,
los dellLos parLlculares o comunes comeLldos en una rebelllon o sedlclon no deberan repuLarse
como accldenLes lnherenLes a esLas, slno como dellLos especlales a dlcha rebelllon y sedlclon
a[enos, los que deberan ser respecLlvamenLe casLlgados con als penas que en esLe Codlgo se les
senalan. ero que dellLos deberan conslderarse como comunes, y cuales como consLlLuLlvos de
la propla rebellon o sedlclon? Ln cuanLo a la rebellon, no ofrece esLe cuesLlon dlflculLad alguna,
pues Lodo hecho que no esLe comprendldo en uno u oLro de los ob[eLos especlflcados en los sels
numeros del ArLlculo 243 sera exLrano a la rebellon, y sl se esLe debera ser casLlgado como
dellLo parLlcular.' (vlada, Codlgo enal, 1omo ll, 198-199.)
ena, anoLher commenLaLor, referrlng Lo ArLlcle 239 of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code, has Lhe
followlng Lo say:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
La dlsposlclon de esLe arLlculo es sobradamenLe [usLa, pero cuando se enLendera que el hecho
es lndependlenLe de la lnsurgencla? 1raLandose de la rebellon no hay problema, pues Lodos los
flnes que se lndlcan en el ArLlculo 214 se dlsLlnguen facllmenLe de un aseslnaLo, un robo, una
vlolaclon, eLc. Ll problema puede surglr con la sedlclon, en cuyos Lres ulLlmos numeros, dlce un
auLor, se Llplflcan conducLas que muy blen pueden ser subslmldas en oLros lugares del Codlgo. Ll
1.S. parece que slgue esLe prlnclplo general:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary las lnfracclones graves se conslderan como
dellLos lndependlenLes, en camblo los hechos de menor gravedad puedan ser conslderados
como accldenLes de la rebellon. Ln esLe senLldo, el 1.S. ha declarado que son accldenLes de la
rebellon, los desacaLos y leslones a la auLorldad y oLros dellLos conLra el orden publlco, asl como
la reslsLencla o acomeLlendo a la fuerza publlca (23 Mayo 1890). Ll abuso de superlorldad
Lamblen es lnherenLe el alzamlenLo LumulLuarlo (19 novlembre 1906.)" (ena ueredes enal,
1omo ll pp. 89-90.)
AnoLher commenLaLor, A. CulnLano 8lpolles, says of ArLlcle 239 of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code,
counLerparL of ArLlcle 244 of our old enal Code:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
La concurrencla de dellLos conslgnada en esLe arLlculo no puede ser mas [usLa, blen que la
dlflculLad perslsLa slempre para deLermlnar cuales han de ser los parLlculares accldenLales y
cuales los lnLegranLes de la propla subverslon. una docLrlna demaslado slmpllsLa, que ha sldo a
menudo segulda por la !urlsprudencla, es la de esLlmar que, absorblendo el dellLo mas grave al
que lo es menos, Lodo el que por deba[o del de rebellon o sedlclon sera anulado por esLe. ara
los del la mlsma naLuraleza, la cosa es lncuesLlonable, pero no para los que la Lengan dlversa,
enLendlendo por la esLrana e lmpreclsa expreslon de (parLlculares) a las lnfracclones comunes o
no pollLlcas." (A. CulnLano 8lpolles, ComenLarlos al Codlgo enal vol. ll, pp. 101-102, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarycurslvas
con neusLras.)
AnoLher dlsLlngulshed legal commenLaLor glves hls vlew on Lhe same ArLlcle 239:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Se esLablece aqul que en una rebellon o sedlclon, o con moLlvo de ellas, comenLe oLros dellLos
(v. g., roba, maLa o leslona), sera responsable de esLos ademas de los dellLos de rebellon o
sedlclon. La dlflculLad conslsLe en esLos casos en separar los accldenLes de la rebellon o sedlclon
de los dellLos lndependlenLes de esLas, y como las leyes no conLlenen en esLe punLo precepLo
alguno apllcable, su soluclon ha quedado encomendada a los Lrlbunales. La [urlsprudencla que
esLos han senLado consldera como accldenLes de la rebellon o sedlclon - cuya crlmlnalldad
queda embeblda en la de esLos dellLos, y, por LanLo, no son punlbles especlalmenLe - los
hechos de escasa gravedad (v:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbraryg., aLenLados, desacaLos, leslones menos graves), chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarypor el
conLrarlo, las lnfracclones graves, como el aseslnaLo o las leslones graves, se conslderan como
dellLos lndependlenLes de la rebellon o del la sedlclon." (Cuello Calon, vol. 2 uerecho enal p.
110.)
llnally, Crolzard, anoLher emlnenL commenLaLor of Lhe enal code of Spaln, ln commenLlng on
Lhe same ArLlcle 239 of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code of 1870, says Lhe followlng:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
no neceslLa nlnguno el parrafo prlmero de esLe arLlculo. Aunque no se hublera escrlLo en el
Codlgo, harlan los 1rlbunales lo que dlce. Serla necesarlo para que asl no sucedlera el que fuera
la rebellon un moLlvo de exenclon de responsabllldad crlmlnal para las demas clases de dellLos."
(Crolzard 1omo 3, 630.)
lL wlll be seen LhaL Spanlsh [urlsLs and legal commenLaLors are, wlLh reference Lo ArLlcle 239 of
Lhe Spanlsh enal Code of 1870, unanlmous ln Lhe oplnlon LhaL Lhls provlslon of Lhe Crlmlnal
Law ls [usL and falr because one should noL Lake advanLage of hls commlLLlng Lhe crlme of
rebelllon by commlLLlng oLher more serlous crlme such as murder, robbery, arson, eLc., wlLh
lmpunlLy. 1he above much commenLed ArLlcle 239 of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code has lLs counLerparL
ln ArLlcle 244 of our old enal Code ln pracLlcally Lhe same wordlng and phraseology:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
A81. 24. All oLher crlmes commlLLed ln Lhe course of a rebelllon of sedlLlous movemenL, or on
occaslon Lhereof, shall be punlshed ln accordance wlLh Lhe rules of Lhls Code.
lf Lhe perpeLraLors of such crlmes cannoL be dlscovered, Lhe prlnclpal leaders of Lhe rebelllon
or sedlLlon shall be punlshed Lherefore as prlnclpals."
ln Lhls [urlsdlcLlon, we have falLhfully observed and applled Lhls penal provlslon. ln Lhe cases of
u. S. vs. Cabrera, eL al., 43 hll., page 64 and page 82 for sedlLlon and mulLlple murder
respecLlvely, whereln members of Lhe hlllpplne consLabulary aLLacked and kllled several
pollcemen ln Lhe ClLy of Manlla, Lhls CourL convlcLed sald soldlers, flrsL, of sedlLlon and laLer, of
mulLlple murder, clear proof LhaL Lhe murders commlLLed ln Lhe course of and by reason of Lhe
sedlLlon were noL lncluded ln and absorbed by sedlLlon, Lhls desplLe Lhe facL LhaL our law on
sedlLlon Lhen, secLlon 3 of AcL no. 292, uses Lhe words - rlse publlcly and LumulLuously, ln
order Lo aLLaln by force or ouLslde of legal meLhods any of Lhe followlng ob[ecLs are gullLy of
sedlLlon. ln Lhe mulLlple murder case, Lhe sergeanLs and corporals of Lhe consLabulary, who Look
parL ln Lhe kllllng of Lhe clLy pollcemen, were senLenced Lo deaLh. 1hls courL ln LhaL case sald:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
lL ls merely sLaLlng Lhe obvlous Lo say LhaL sedlLlon ls noL Lhe same offense as murder. SedlLlon
ls a crlme agalnsL publlc order, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarymurder ls a crlme agalnsL persons. SedlLlon ls a crlme dlrecLed
agalnsL Lhe exlsLence of Lhe SLaLe, Lhe auLhorlLy of Lhe governmenL, and Lhe general publlc
LranqulllLy, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarymurder ls a crlme dlrecLed agalnsL Lhe llves of lndlvlduals. (u. S. vs. Abad (1902) 1
hll. 437.) SedlLlon ln lLs more general sense ls Lhe ralslng of commoLlons or dlsLurbances ln Lhe
sLaLe, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarymurder aL common law ls where a person of sound mlnd and dlscreLlon unlawfully kllls
any human belng, ln Lhe peace of Lhe soverelgn, wlLh mallce aforeLhoughL, express or lmplled.
1he offenses charged ln Lhe Lwo lnformaLlons for sedlLlon and murder are perfecLly dlsLlncL ln
polnL of law, however, nearly Lhey may be connecLed ln polnL of facL. noL alone are Lhe offenses
eo nomlne" dlfferenL, buL Lhe allegaLlons ln Lhe body of Lhe lnformaLlons are dlfferenL. 1he glsL
of Lhe lnformaLlon for sedlLlon ls Lhe publlc and LumulLuous uprlslng of Lhe consLabulary ln order
Lo aLLaln by force and ouLslde of legal meLhods Lhe ob[ecL of lndlcLlng an acL of haLe and revenge
upon Lhe persons of Lhe pollce force of Lhe clLy of Manlla by flrlng aL Lhem ln several places ln
Lhe clLy of Manlla, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryLhe glsL of Lhe lnformaLlon ln Lhe murder case ls LhaL Lhe consLabulary,
consplrlng LogeLher, lllegally and crlmlnally kllled elghL persons and gravely wounded Lhree
oLhers. 1he crlmes of murder and serlous physlcal ln[urles were noL necessarlly lncluded ln Lhe
lnformaLlon for sedlLlon, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand Lhe !"#"$%&$'+ could noL have been convlcLed of Lhese crlmes
under Lhe flrsL lnformaLlon." (hll. vol. 43, pages 99-100.)
1here ls an lnslnuaLlon made ln Lhe ma[orlLy resoluLlon, LhaL Lhe Amerlcan Law on sedlLlon and
rebelllon, Lhe orlgln of our presenL law on Lhe sub[ecL, ls more benlgn and llberal Lhan lLs
counLerparL ln Lhe Spanlsh enal Code, deflnlng and penallzlng sedlLlon and rebelllon, and LhaL
under Amerlcan [urlsprudence, rebelllon and sedlLlon lnclude crlmes llke murder, robbery,
arson, eLc., commlLLed ln Lhe course Lhereof. 8uL lL wlll be noLlced LhaL of Lhe nlne !usLlces who
slgned Lhe declslon ln Lhe case of eople vs. Cabrera for mulLlple murder, flve, lncludlng Mr.
!usLlce Malcolm, who penned Lhe declslon, were Amerlcans, supposed Lo be sLeeped ln
Amerlcan Law and Lhe common law, and yeL Lhey all held LhaL sedlLlon where force ls expecLed
Lo be used, dld noL, lnclude murder. lL ls evldenL LhaL Lhe lnslnuaLlon made ln Lhe ma[orlLy
resoluLlon ls noL exacLly borne ouL by Lhe Cabrera case.
1he ma[orlLy asks why ln Lhe pasL, especlally up Lo 1932, when our 8evlsed enal Code was
promulgaLed no one had ever been prosecuLed, much less convlcLed of rebelllon or sedlLlon
complexed wlLh murder, robbery, eLc., lf lL ls Lrue LhaL Lhere ls such a complex crlme of rebelllon
wlLh murder. lor LhaL maLLer, one may even ask why Lhe consLabulary soldlers ln Lhe Cabrera
case were noL charged wlLh Lhe complex crlme of sedlLlon wlLh murder. 1he reason and Lhe
answer are obvlous. unLll 1932, Lhe year of Lhe promulgaLlon of our 8evlsed enal Code, our old
enal Code lncluded ArLlcle 244, Lhe counLer-parL of ArLlcle 239 of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code, Lo
Lhe effecL LhaL common crlmes llke murder, robbery, arson, commlLLed on Lhe occaslon or by
reason of a rebelllon or sedlLlon, are Lo be prosecuLed separaLely. 1haL was why lnsurgenLs who
commlLLed rebelllon or lnsurrecLlon wlLh homlclde or murder durlng Lhe flrsL days of Lhe
Amerlcan reglme ln Lhe hlllpplnes, could noL be charged wlLh Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon
wlLh murder, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryand LhaL explalns why Cabrera and hls co-accused could noL be charged wlLh Lhe
complex crlme of sedlLlon wlLh mulLlple murder, buL were prosecuLed separaLely for mulLlple
murder.
1he ma[orlLy also asks why Lhe lnsurgenLs ln Lhe year 1901 and 1902 were charged only wlLh
rebelllon buL never wlLh murder desplLe Lhe facL LhaL Lhere was proof LhaL Lhey also had
commlLLed murder ln Lhe course of Lhe rebelllon or lnsurrecLlon. 1he reason Lo my mlnd was
LhaL, shorLly LhereafLer, came Lhe proclamaLlon of amnesLy lssued by resldenL Mcklnley of Lhe
unlLed SLaLes, whlch amnesLy covered noL only Lhe crlme of rebelllon buL also oLher vlolaLlons
of Lhe law commlLLed ln Lhe course of Lhe rebelllon.
1hen came our 8evlsed enal Code promulgaLed ln 1932. lL ls a revlslon of our old enal Code of
1887. Cne of Lhe purposes of Lhe revlslon was slmpllflcaLlon, and ellmlnaLlon of unnecessary
provlslons. ln proof of Lhls, whlle our enal Code of 1887 conLalned 611 arLlcles, our 8evlsed
enal Code conLalns only 367 arLlcles. Among Lhe arLlcles of Lhe old enal Code noL lncluded ln
Lhe 8evlsed enal Code, ls ArLlcle 244. uoes Lhe omlsslon or ellmlnaLlon of ArLlcle 244 mean LhaL
now, common crlmes llke murder, robbery, arson, eLc., commlLLed ln Lhe course of a rebelllon or
sedlLlon are absorbed by rebelllon or sedlLlon? Pardly. lL cannoL be LhaL Lhe commlLLee on
revlslon and our leglslaLors abandoned Lhe ldea and Lhe Lheory conLalned ln sald ArLlcle 244,
because as l have already explalned, all Lhe Spanlsh commenLaLors and [urlsLs commenLlng on
Lhls parLlcular provlslon of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code are agreed LhaL lL ls a [usL and reasonable
provlslon, so LhaL sedlLlon and rebelllon may noL be uLlllzed as a cloak of lmmunlLy ln Lhe
commlsslon of oLher serlous crlmes. 1o me, Lhe reason for Lhe omlsslon ls LhaL lL was really
unnecessary. As Crolzard sald ln hls commenLary already reproduced, even lf LhaL provlslon
were noL embodled ln Lhe penal code, Lhe courL would sLlll apply sald provlslon:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
no neceslLa nlnguno el parrafo prlmero de esLe arLlculo. Aunque no se hublera excrlLo en el
Codlgo, harlan los 1rlbunales lo que dlce. Serla necesarlo para que asl no sucedlera el que fuera
la rebellon un moLlvo de exenclon de responsabllldad crlmlnal para las demas clases de dellLos."
(Crolzard 1omo 3, 630.)
1he members of Lhe commlLLee on revlslon of our old enal Code who musL have been famlllar
wlLh Lhe oplnlon and commenLs of emlnenL Spanlsh [urlsLs, parLlcularly Lhe above commenL of
Crolzard undoubLedly, deemed Lhe provlslon of ArLlcle 244 superfluous and unnecessary, and so
omlLLed lL ln Lhe revlslon. Powever, Lhls omlsslon of ArLlcle 244 of our enal Code ln Lhe new,
has an lmporLanL effecL. no longer shall we be obllged Lo prosecuLe murder, robbery, arson,
kldnapplng, eLc., commlLLed ln Lhe course of and by reason of a sedlLlon or a rebelllon,
separaLely. 1he prosecuLlon ls now free Lo comblne Lhese common crlmes wlLh Lhe crlmes of
sedlLlon or rebelllon and charge a complex crlme. And LhaL ls whaL has been done ln Lhe
prosecuLlon of Lhe numerous cases of rebelllon.
1hls ldea, Lhls Lheory of complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, eLc., ls noL such a
sLrange, exLravaganL or fanLasLlc proposlLlon or ldea. We are noL Lhe only ones holdlng Lhls vlew.
CuL of seven separaLe cases, all lnvolvlng Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder
and eLc., declded ln Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance, noL long ago, cases no. 14070 - eople vs.
Lava, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryno. 13841 - eople vs. Pernandez, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryno. 2878 - eople vs. Capadocla, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryno. 10400
- eople vs. Salvador no. 2704 - eople vs. nava, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryno. 19166 - eople vs. omeroy and Lhe
same case 19166 - eople vs. 1aruc, only one [udge, Pon. Cregorlo narvasa, of Lhe CourL of
llrsL lnsLance of Manlla, held LhaL Lhere ls no complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder, and hls
holdlng was based malnly lf noL enLlrely on Lhe declslons of Lhls 1rlbunal ln Lhe Lreason cases
whlch as l have already explalned, are noL conLrolllng or appllcable. ln Lhe oLher cases, flve
[udges of CourLs of llrsL lnsLance, !udges Ccampo, CasLelo, 8arcelona, CaLmalLan, and MonLesa,
held LhaL Lhere ls such a complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder and acLually convlcLed Lhe
accused of sald complex crlme. Agaln, ln Lhe case of eople vs. umall, eL al., crlmlnal case no.
11037 of Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of Cuezon rovlnce, !udge CusLavo vlcLorlano, convlcLed
Lhe accused of Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, eLc. 8ecenLly, ln several
crlmlnal cases pendlng ln angaslnan, lnvolvlng Lhe complex crlmes of rebelllon wlLh mulLlple
murder, eLc., !udge Morfe of Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of LhaL provlnce acLlng upon moLlons Lo
quash Lhe lnformaLlons on Lhe ground LhaL Lhere was no such complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh
murder and consequenLly, Lhe lnformaLlons were noL ln accordance wlLh law, for charglng more
Lhan one offense, ln a well reasoned and consldered order, denled Lhe same and held LhaL Lhere
ls a complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder. Cf course, Lhese oplnlons of [udges of Lhe lower
courLs are noL blndlng on Lhls Lrlbunal buL surely, Lhey are persuaslve and cannoL be lgnored. AL
leasL, Lhey show LhaL Lhere are oLhers, learned ln Lhe law, who subscrlbe Lo Lhe Lheory of
complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder, arson, eLc.
Cur declslon ln Lhe case of eople vs. umall, (96 hll., 183), promulgaLed on november 29,
1934, ls anoLher proof LhaL murders commlLLed ln Lhe course of sedlLlon or rebelllon are noL
absorbed by Lhe laLLer. ln sald case, Lhls courL ln a unanlmous declslon found
Lhe !"#"$%&$'+Lhereln gullLy of sedlLlon, mulLlple murder, arson, frusLraLed murder and physlcal
ln[urles and senLenced Lhem accordlngly. 1he quesLlon may agaln be asked, lf Lhere ls such a
complex crlme of sedlLlon wlLh murder, arson, eLc., why were umall and hls co-accused noL
convlcLed of Lhls complex crlme? 1he answer ls found ln a porLlon of our declslon ln LhaL case
whlch we quoLe:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he lasL polnL Lo be deLermlned ls Lhe naLure of Lhe offense or offenses
commlLLed. ())"**&$'+were charged wlLh and convlcLed of Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh
mulLlple murder, frusLraLed murder, arson and robbery. ls Lhere such a complex crlme of
rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, eLc.? Whlle Lhe SollclLor Ceneral ln hls brlef clalms
LhaL ())"**&$'+ are gullLy of sald complex crlme and ln supporL of hls sLand 'asks for leave Lo
lncorporaLe by reference' hls prevlous argumenLs ln opposlng umall's peLlLlon for ball, counsel
for ())"**&$'+ consldered lL unnecessary Lo dlscuss Lhe exlsLence or non- exlsLence of such
complex crlme, saylng LhaL Lhe naLure of Lhe crlme commlLLed 'ls of no momenL Lo
hereln ())"**&$'+ because Lhey had absoluLely no parL ln lL whaLsoever'. lor Lhe presenL, and
wlLh respecL Lo Lhls parLlcular case, we deem lL unnecessary Lo declde Lhls lmporLanL and
conLroverslal quesLlon, deferrlng lLs conslderaLlon and deLermlnaLlon Lo anoLher case or
occaslon more opporLune, when lL ls more dlrecLly and squarely ralsed and boLh parLles glven an
opporLunlLy Lo dlscuss and argue Lhe quesLlon more adequaLely and exhausLlvely. Conslderlng
LhaL, assumlng for Lhe momenL LhaL Lhere ls no such complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder, chan
roblesvlrLualawllbraryeLc., and LhaL consequenLly ())"**&$'+could noL have been legally charged wlLh lL, much less
convlcLed of sald complex crlme, and Lhe lnformaLlon should Lherefore, be regarded as havlng
charged more Lhan one offense, conLrary Lo 8ule 106, secLlon 12 and 8ule 113, secLlon 2(e), of
Lhe 8ules of CourL, buL LhaL ())"**&$'+ havlng lnLerposed no ob[ecLlon LhereLo, Lhey were
properly Lrled for and lawfully convlcLed lf gullLy of Lhe several and separaLe crlmes charged
Lhereln, we have declded and we rule LhaL Lhe())"**&$'+ may properly be convlcLed of sald
several and separaLe crlmes, as herelnafLer speclfled. We feel parLlcularly supporLed and
[usLlfled ln Lhls sLand LhaL we Lake, by Lhe resulL of Lhe case, namely, LhaL Lhe prlson senLence
we lmpose does noL exceed, excepL perhaps ln acLual duraLlon, LhaL meLed ouL by Lhe courL
below, whlch ls llfe lmprlsonmenL."
1he ma[orlLy resoluLlon lnvokes and applles Lhe prlnclple of Lhe so called pro reo ln connecLlon
wlLh ArLlcle 48 of our 8evlsed enal Code on complex crlmes, Lo Lhe effecL LhaL sald arLlcle
should noL be applled when Lhe resulLlng penalLy exceeds Lhe sum LoLal of Lhe several crlmes
commlLLed consLlLuLlng Lhe complex crlme. Accordlng Lo Lhe ma[orlLy, Lhe Lheory of pro reo ls
LhaL Lhe prlnclple of complex crlme was adopLed for Lhe beneflL of Lhe accused and noL Lo hls
pre[udlce, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryso, lL ls Lo be applled when Lhe maxlmum of Lhe penalLy for Lhe more serlous crlme
ls less ln severlLy or duraLlon of lmprlsonmenL Lhan Lhe sum LoLal of Lhe several crlmes
commlLLed, buL noL oLherwlse. 1hls ls a novel Lheory ln Lhls [urlsdlcLlon. 1o my knowledge lL has
never been advanced before. All along and durlng all Lhese years, Lhe courLs of Lhls counLry noL
excludlng Lhls augusL Lrlbunal had been applylng Lhe provlslons of ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal
Code, and lLs source, ArLlcle 89 of our enal Code of 1887, regardless of wheLher or noL Lhe
resulLlng penalLy was pre[udlclal Lo Lhe accused. As a maLLer of facL, ln mosL cases Lhe resulLlng
penalLy lmposed by Lhls Lrlbunal ln complex crlmes was much more severe and of longer
duraLlon (lmprlsonmenL) Lhan Lhe sum LoLal of Lhe Lwo or more crlmes commlLLed. ln Lhe
numerous cases declded by Lhls courL lnvolvlng Lhe complex crlme of esLafa Lhrough
falslflcaLlon, Lhe maxlmum of Lhe penalLy for Lhe more serlous crlme of falslflcaLlon was
lmposed alLhough lL exceeded Lhe LoLal of Lhe penalLles for esLafa and for falslflcaLlon. ln cases
of rape wlLh physlcal ln[urles Lhe maxlmum of Lhe penalLy for Lhe crlme of rape was lmposed
alLhough lL exceeded ln duraLlon and severlLy Lhe LoLal of Lhe penalLy for rape and LhaL for Lhe
relaLlvely llghL penalLy for physlcal ln[urles. ln Lhe case of eople vs. arulan (88 hll., 613),
lnvolvlng Lhe complex crlme of kldnapplng wlLh murder, Lhls Lrlbunal applled Lhe provlslon of
ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code and would have senLenced Lhe accused Lo deaLh, were lL
noL for one dlssenLlng voLe based noL on Lhe appllcablllLy of ArLlcle 48, buL on Lhe quesLlon of
[urlsdlcLlon. Sald Lhls courL:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
La pena que debe lmponerse al acusado arulan es la del dellLo mas grave de secuesLro en su
grado maxlmo, o sea, pena caplLal. ero el MaglsLrado Sr. 1uason, consecuenLe con su oplnlon
dlsldenLe en arulan conLra 8odas, supra, no puede conflrmar la pena caplLal lmpuesLa por el
!uzgado de rlmera lnsLancla de Manlla que segun el no Lenla [urlsdlcclon sobre la presenLe
causa. Ln vlsLa de esLe voLo dlsldenLe, el presldenLe del Lrlbunal Sr. aras y Lres maglsLrados
aunque creen que el acusado arulan, por las pruebas presenLadas, merece pena caplLal, con
Lodo no pueden voLar por la comflrmaclon porque el dellLo se comeLlo anLes de la aprobaclon
de la Ley de la 8epubllca no. 296, que solo exlge ocho voLos para la lmposlclon de la pena
caplLal. AnLomaLlcamenLe, por mlnlsLerlo de la ley debe lmponerse a arulan la pena
lnmedlaLamenLe lnferlor a la de muerLe, que es la de recluslon perpeLua con las accesorlas." (88
hll., p. 624.)
1hen ln Lhe case of eople vs. Culllen * 47 Cff. Caz., 3433, lnvolvlng Lhe complex crlme of
murder and mulLlple aLLempLed murder commlLLed by Lhe accused wlLh a slngle acL of hurllng a
hand grenade aL resldenL 8oxas, Lhls Lrlbunal ln a per curlam declslon, lgnorlng Lhe aggravaLlng
clrcumsLances LhaL aLLended Lhe commlsslon of Lhe crlme, applled Lhe maxlmum of Lhe penalLy
for Lhe more serlous crlme of murder ln accordance wlLh ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code
and senLenced Lhe accused Lo deaLh. CLher lnsLances and cases may be clLed ad llblLum Lo show
LhaL ln Lhls [urlsdlcLlon and ln Lhls Lrlbunal, Lhe prlnclple of pro reo was never enLerLalned, much
less accepLed.
Crlgln of pro reo prlnclple
up Lo Lhe year 1908, Lhe Spanlsh enal Code had Lhe followlng provlslons for complex crlmes:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Las dlsposlclones del arLlculo anLerlor no son apllcables en el caso de que un solo hecho
consLlLuya dos o mas dellLos, o cuando el uno de ellos sea medlo necesarlo para comeLer el oLro.
Ln esLos casos solo se lmpondra la pena correspondlenLe al dellLo mas grave, apllcandola en su
grado maxlmo."
1he above provlslons were copled ln our enal Code of 1887 under ArLlcle 89 whlch reads
Lhus:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
1he provlslons of Lhe nexL precedlng arLlcle are noL appllcable Lo cases ln whlch a slngle acL
consLlLuLes Lwo or more crlmes, or when one offense ls a necessary means for commlLLlng Lhe
oLher.
ln Lhese cases, only Lhe penalLy of Lhe more serlous crlme shall be lmposed, Lhe same Lo be
applled ln lLs maxlmum degree."
Cn !anuary 3, 1908, Lhe Spanlsh enal Code was amended, parLlcularly paragraph 2 of ArLlcle 90
Lhereof so as Lo add Lo sald paragraph Lhe followlng clause:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
PasLa el llmlLe que represenLe la suma de las dos que pudleran lmponerse, penando
separadamenLe ambos dellLos."
so LhaL slnce !anuary 1908, ArLlcle 90 of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code reads:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Las dlsposlclones del arLlculo anLerlor no son apllcables en el caso de que un solo hecho
consLlLuya dos o mas dellLos, o cuando el uno de ellos sea medlo necesarlo para comeLer el oLro.
Ln esLos casos solo se lmpondra la pena correspondlenLe al dellLo mas grave, apllcandola en eu
grado maxlmo hasLa el llmlLe que represenLe la suma de las dos que pudleran lmponerse,
penando separadamenLe ambos dellLos."
1he amendmenL ls Lhe provlslon for Lhe so called pro reo rule. 8uL we never accepLed much less
followed sald lnnovaLlon ln Lhe hlllpplnes. We dld noL amend ArLlcle 89 of our old enal Code
parLlcularly paragraph 2 Lhereof so as Lo add Lhe clause:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
PasLa el llmlLe que represenLe la suma de las dos que pudleran lmponerse, penando
separadamenLe ambos dellLos."
lnserLed by Lhe amendlng Spanlsh Law of !anuary 3, 1908 Lo Lhe second paragraph of ArLlcle 90
of Lhe Spanlsh enal Code. lurLhermore, when we drafLed and promulgaLed our 8evlsed enal
Code ln 1932 (ArLlcle no. 3813) we lgnored and dld noL accepL Lhe amendmenL Lo Lhe Spanlsh
enal Code LhaL favored one accused of a complex crlme as regards Lhe penalLy, so LhaL now our
law on Lhe sub[ecL ls conLalned ln ArLlcle 48 of Lhe 8evlsed enal Code whlch as amended by AcL
no. 4000, reads as follows:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
A81. 48. enalLy for complex crlmes. - When a slngle acL consLlLuLes Lwo or more grave or
less felonles, or when an offense ls a necessary means for commlLLlng Lhe oLher, Lhe penalLy for
Lhe mosL serlous crlme shall be lmposed, Lhe same Lo be applled ln lLs maxlmum perlod. (As
amended by AcL no. 4000.)
1he ma[orlLy resoluLlon makes a more or less exLenslve dlsserLaLlon and clLaLlon of auLhorlLles
on Lhe law of exLradlLlon, lnLended Lo show LhaL common crlmes such as murder, eLc.,
commlLLed on Lhe occaslon of or ln Lhe course of Lhe commlsslon of pollLlcal crlmes llke sedlLlon
and rebelllon, are noL sub[ecL Lo exLradlLlon. We belleve LhaL Lhese clLaLlons and Lhese
argumenLs are nelLher relevanL nor appllcable. All we can say ls LhaL a murder commlLLed ln Lhe
course of a rebelllon or sedlLlon may be consldered a pollLlcal crlme ln conLemplaLlon of Lhe
exLradlLlon law and LhaL a person accused of sald murder ls noL sub[ecL Lo exLradlLlon. 8uL a
crlme may be consldered pollLlcal from Lhe sLandpolnL of Lhe exLradlLlon law and yeL may be
regarded by Lhe counLry where commlLLed as a common crlme separaLe and dlsLlncL from Lhe
rebelllon or sedlLlon ln Lhe course of whlch lL was commlLLed, and, consequenLly, sub[ecL Lo
prosecuLlon. Moreover, Lhe facL LhaL a murder commlLLed ln Lhe course of a sedlLlon or rebelllon
ls excluded from Lhe scope of Lhe exLradlLlon agreemenL beLween naLlons, ls proof and
argumenL LhaL were lL noL for lLs excluslon, Lhe member naLlons of Lhe exLradlLlon agreemenL,
where murders are commlLLed ln Lhe course of a rebelllon or sedlLlon may and would exLradlLe
Lhe offenders, on Lhe Lheory LhaL sald murders are separaLe from and are noL absorbed by Lhe
rebelllon or sedlLlon, chan roblesvlrLualawllbraryoLherwlse, Lhere would be no need for excludlng such crlmes of murder,
arson, eLc., commlLLed durlng a rebelllon or sedlLlon, from Lhe scope of Lhe exLradlLlon law. And
among such naLlons whlch conslder Lhese common crlmes of murder, eLc., as separaLe from
rebelllon or sedlLlon durlng whlch Lhey were commlLLed, are Spaln, as shown by ArLlcle 239 of lLs
enal Code, and Lhe hlllpplnes as lllusLraLed ln Lhe cases of u.S. vs. Cabrera and eople vs.
umall, supra. Crolzard llsLs down several counLrles LhaL conslder common crlmes commlLLed
durlng a rebelllon or sedlLlon as sub[ecL Lo prosecuLlon:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
Codlgo del CanLon de Zurlch.
S. 73. Sl con moLlvo de la sedlclon o como consecuencla fueren comeLldos oLros dellLos, esLos
seraan casLlgados conforme a las dlsposlclones penales para los mlsmos fl[adas.
Codlgo de eru.
A81. 143. Los reos de rebellon, sedlclon o asonada son responsables de los dellLos especlales
que comeLen, observandose lo dlspuesLo en el ArLlculo 43.
A81. 146. Sl no pudlese averlguarse qulen de los sublevados comeLlo el dellLo especlal, se hara
responsable a los auLores del LumulLo.
Codlgo del Chlle.
A81. 131. Los dellLos parLlculares comeLldos en un sublevaclon o con moLlvo de ella, seran
casLlgados respecLavamenLe con las penad deslgnadas para ellos, no obsLanLe le dlspuesLo en el
arLlculo 129. - Sl no pueden decubrlrse los auLores, seran conslderados y penados como
compllces de Lales dellLos los [efes prlnclpales o subalLernos de los sublevados que hallandose
en la poslbllldad de lmpedlrlos no lo hubleren hecho.
Codlgo del araguay.
A81. 380. Los dellLos parLlculares comeLldos en la sedlclon o con moLlvo de ella, seran
casLlgados con la pena que les corresponda por las leyes respecLlvas.
Codlgo de la 8epubllca ArgenLlna.
A81. 231. Los que comeLen dellLos comunes con moLlvo de la rebellon moLln o asonada o con
ocaslon de ella, seran casLlgados con la pena que corresponde a esos dellLos.
Codlgo de Ponduras.
A81. 224. (Como el nuesLro.)
(Crolzard, Ll Codlgo enal de 1870, vol. 3, ArLlculo 239, p. 630.)
ln [usLlce Lo Lhe !"#"$%&$'+-())"**&$'+ ln Lhe presenL case, l wlsh Lo explaln and make clear LhaL
ln menLlonlng and descrlblng Lhe serlous crlmes of murder, robbery, arson, kldnapplng, eLc.,
alleged Lo have been commlLLed ln Lhe course of Lhe rebelllon or by reason Lhereof, l am noL
referrlng parLlcularly Lo Lhe charge or charges and counLs alleged agalnsL Lhem. 1helr case ls
now pendlng appeal ln Lhls Lrlbunal and Lhelr gullL or lnnocence of sald charges or counLs wlll be
declded ln due Llme. And so, l am noL lmpuLlng or aLLrlbuLlng Lo Lhem Lhe serlous vlolaLlons of
law l have menLloned ln Lhls oplnlon. 8aLher, l am maklng general reference Lo Lhe lnformaLlons
flled ln oLher cases, especlally ln Lhe lnformaLlons agalnsL Luls 1aruc and Wllllam omeroy whlch
case ls noL only declded buL also ls closed.
ln concluslon, l hold LhaL under Lhe law and under general prlnclples rebelllon punlshed wlLh a
maxlmum penalLy of Lwelve (12) years and flne cannoL posslbly absorb a much more serlous
crlmes llke murder or kldnapplng whlch are caplLal offenses and carry Lhe maxlmum penalLy of
deaLh. lL ls hard for Lhe mlnd Lo grasp Lhe ldea LhaL a person commlLLlng one lone murder may
be headed for Lhe elecLrlc chalr, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarybuL lf perpeLraLes several murders, kldnapplngs, arsons, and
robberles and durlng Lhelr perpeLraLlon, was sLlll commlLLlng anoLher crlme, LhaL of Lrylng Lo
overLhrow hls own governmenL by force, Lhen all he geLs ls Lwelve years and flne. Slnce, Lhe
serlous crlmes llke mulLlple murder, robbery, arson, kldnapplng, eLc., commlLLed durlng Lhe
rebelllon are noL lngredlenLs of, nor are Lhey lndlspensable Lo Lhe commlsslon of rebelllon, and
were buL means freely selecLed by Lhe rebels Lo faclllLaLe Lhelr commlsslon of rebelllon or Lo
achleve and speed up Lhelr reallzaLlon of Lhelr ob[ecL, whlch was Lo overLhrow Lhe governmenL
and lmplanL Lhelr own sysLem sald Lo be of communlsLlc ldeology, Lhen under ArLlcle 48 of Lhe
8evlsed enal Code, Lhe complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder, eLc., was commlLLed.
!udglng by Lhe numerous acLs of aLroclLy conLalned ln Lhe several lnformaLlons flled agalnsL Lhe
rebels ln dlfferenL cases, noL only governmenL soldlers and offlcers, buL lnnocenL clvlllans by Lhe
hundreds were murdered. SLores and homes were looLed, chan roblesvlrLualawllbrarynoL only publlc bulldlngs, llke
presldenclas and governmenL hosplLals, buL also prlvaLe bulldlngs and homes were burned Lo
Lhe ground. And as a resulL of Lhese acLs of Lerrorlsm, enLlre barrlos were abandoned and
landowners, especlally owners of landed esLaLes, evacuaLed Lo Lhe provlnclal caplLals or Lo Lhe
clLles for personal securlLy. And lL seems LhaL Lhese acLs of bandlLry and plllage sLlll conLlnue
Lhough on a smaller scale.
SeLLled publlc pollcy or Lhe pollcy of Lhe CovernmenL as regards rebelllon and Lhe crlmes agalnsL
persons and properLy commlLLed by Lhe rebels ls clear. WlLh Lhelr Laxes, Lhe clLlzens are
malnLalnlng a large army Lo puL down Lhe rebelllon. SubsLanLlal rewards ranglng from 300 Lo
100,000 are offered for Lhe apprehenslon of Lhe rebels, speclally Lhe leaders. A rebel leader
wlLh a 100,000 prlce on hls head, afLer a campalgn of several years by Lhe army, and afLer Lhe
loss of llves of many soldlers and clvlllan guldes, ls flnally capLured. 1he governmenL pays down
Lhe 100,000 Lo Lhose responslble for Lhe capLure and charges hlm wlLh Lhe complex crlme of
rebelllon wlLh mulLlple murder, kldnapplng, eLc., - a caplLal offense. endlng Lrlal, he asks Lo be
released on ball and under Lhe docLrlne belng lald down by us, he ls seL aL llberLy, free Lo go
back Lo Lhe hllls Lo resume hls dlssldenL acLlvlLles where he lefL off, by merely posLlng a bond
correspondlng Lo a maxlmum lmprlsonmenL of Lwelve years (12,000) and a flne Lhe amounL of
whlch ls lefL Lo Lhe dlscreLlon of Lhe Lrlal courL. lf he [umps hls ball and assumlng LhaL Lhe full
amounL of Lhe bond ls conflscaLed, sLlll, Lhe CovernmenL whlch pald 100,000 for hls capLure ls
Lhe loser. lL wlll have Lo wage anoLher campalgn Lo recapLure hlm and perhaps offer anoLher
reward for hls apprehenslon. 1hls would lllusLraLe Lhe wlde dlvergence beLween Lhe pollcy of
Lhe CovernmenL and Lhe presenL rullng of Lhe CourL. 1haL ls noL as lL should be. 1he Lhree
deparLmenLs of Lhe CovernmenL, Lhe LxecuLlve, Lhe LeglslaLlve and Lhe !udlclal ueparLmenL,
Lhough lndependenL of each oLher, should funcLlon as a Leam, harmonlously, and ln
cooperaLlon, all for Lhe publlc welfare. 1hey cannoL work aL cross purposes. All Lhree should be
gulded by Lhe seLLled publlc pollcy of Lhe sLaLe and Lhls applles Lo Lhe courLs. ln Lhe case of 8ubl
vs. provlnclal board of Mlndoro, 39 hll., pp. 718-19, Lhls courL speaklng abouL Lhe relaLlon
beLween lnLerpreLaLlon of Lhe law by Lhe courLs and publlc pollcy, sald:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
As a polnL whlch has been lefL for Lhe end of Lhls declslon and whlch, ln case of doubL, would
lead Lo Lhe deLermlnaLlon LhaL secLlon 2143 ls valld, ls Lhe aLLlLude whlch Lhe courLs should
assume Lowards Lhe seLLled pollcy of Lhe CovernmenL. ln a laLe declslon wlLh whlch we are ln
full accord, Camble vs. vanderbllL unlverslLy (200 SouLhwesLern 8eporLer 310) Lhe Chlef of
!usLlce of Lhe Supreme CourL of 1ennessee wrlLes:chanroblesvlrLuallawllbrary
'We can see no ob[ecLlon Lo Lhe appllcaLlon of publlc pollcy as a raLlo decldendl. Lvery really
new quesLlon LhaL comes before Lhe courLs ls, ln Lhe lasL analysls, deLermlned on Lhe Lheory,
when noL deLermlned by dlfferenLlaLlon of Lhe prlnclple of a prlor case or llne of cases, or by Lhe
ald of analogles furnlshed by such prlor cases. ln balanclng confllcLlng soluLlons, LhaL one ls
percelved Lo Llp Lhe scales whlch Lhe courL belleves wlll besL promoLe Lhe publlc welfare ln lLs
probable operaLlon as a general rule or prlnclple.'
!usLlce Polmes, ln one of Lhe aphorlsms for whlch he ls [usLly famous, sald LhaL consLlLuLlonal
law, llke oLher morLal conLrlvances, has Lo Lake some chances. (8llnn vs. nelson [1911] 222 u.S.,
1.) lf ln Lhe flnal declslon of Lhe many grave quesLlons whlch Lhls case presenLs, Lhe courL musL
Lake a chance," lL should be, wlLh a vlew Lo upholdlng Lhe law, wlLh a vlew Lo Lhe effecLuaLlon
of Lhe general governmenLal pollcy, and wlLh a vlew Lo Lhe courL's performlng lLs duLy ln no
narrow and blgoLed sense, buL wlLh LhaL broad concepLlon whlch wlll make Lhe courLs as
progresslve and effecLlve a force as are Lhe oLher deparLmenLs of Lhe CovernmenL."
now, by Lhe ma[orlLy resoluLlon, Lhls CourL would spread Lhe manLle of lmmunlLy over all Lhese
serlous crlmes agalnsL persons and properLy on Lhe Lheory LhaL Lhey are all covered by, lncluded
ln, and absorbed by Lhe crlme of rebelllon. under Lhls proLecLlve manLle exLended by us, lnsLead
of curblng and dlscouraglng Lhe commlsslon of Lhese common serlous crlmes ln accordance wlLh
publlc pollcy, Lhe commlsslon of sald crlmes would be encouraged. no longer would evll-mlnded
men, ouLlaws, bandlLs, heslLaLe Lo klll and rob and kldnap, because by preLendlng Lo be rebels or
Lo be engaged ln rebelllon, Lhelr acLs of aLroclLy would be covered by rebelllon, for whlch Lhey
would geL, aL mosL, Lwelve (12) years and flne. no longer would Lhe specLre of Lhe deaLh penalLy
and Lhe elecLrlc chalr hang sword of uamocles-llke over Lhe heads of would be kldnappers,
murderers and arsonlsLs because by merely clalmlng Lo have commlLLed anoLher addlLlonal
crlme, rebelllon, under Lhe docLrlne lald down by Lhe ma[orlLy resoluLlon, caplLal punlshmenL for
all caplLal crlmes Lhey have commlLLed or may commlL, ls auLomaLlcally reduced Lo Lwelve (12)
years and flne. lL ls evldenL LhaL Lhe effecL of Lhe lnLerpreLaLlon by Lhls CourL of Lhe law on
complex crlmes, ln relaLlon Lo rebelllon and Lhe common serlous crlmes commlLLed durlng and
ln Lhe course Lhereof, runs counLer Lo Lhe seLLled publlc pollcy on Lhe sub[ecL.
Sad, lndeed, ls Lhe role belng played by Lhls 1rlbunal ln laylng down a docLrlne of such far
reachlng consequences and ln my oplnlon of such baneful noL Lo say dlsasLrous effecLs on peace
and order and personal securlLy, dlameLrlcally and uLLerly opposed Lo seLLled publlc pollcy,
when afLer all, we have now Lhe opporLunlLy and Lhe cholce of accepLlng and adopLlng anoLher
vlew, anoLher lnLerpreLaLlon of Lhe law on complex crlmes, Lo be more reasonable, more loglcal
and cerLalnly, more ln accordance wlLh publlc pollcy, and more ln keeplng wlLh peace and order,
personal securlLy and Lhe publlc welfare.
lor Lhe foregolng reasons, l dlssenL.
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l fully agree wlLh Lhe dlssenLlng oplnlon of Mr. !usLlce MonLemayor ln so far as he holds LhaL Lhe
complex crlme of rebelllon wlLh murder exlsLs under our law. l also concur wlLh Lhe oplnlon of
Mr. !usLlce adllla ln so far as he holds LhaL Lhe peLlLlon for ball should be denled because of Lhe
danger LhaL Lhe release of Lhe ,"'-'-.$"/-())"**&$' may cause Lo Lhe securlLy of Lhe SLaLe. As
Lhe())"**&$' has been convlcLed by Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance, he may be admlLLed Lo ball ln
Lhe sound dlscreLlon of Lhe courL. ln Lhe lnLeresL of securlLy Lhe dlscreLlon should noL be
exerclsed ln favor of Lhe granLlng of ball.

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