The three main characteristics of the Philippine Criminal Law are the following:

Generality
Territoriality
Prospectivity
It means that the Philippine criminal laws are binding on all persons who live or sojourn in the
Philippines. Whoever you are, whatever be your creed, religion, sex or nationality; as long as
you reside in the Philippine territory, penal laws of the Philippines shall apply on you
No. His contention is untenable. Billy is currently residing in the Philippines. The Philippines as a
sovereign state, has a right to uphold its law and maintain order within its domain, and with the
general jurisdiction to punish persons for offenses committed within its territory.
1. People v. Galacgac, CA 54 O.G. 1027
2. US v. Sweet G.R. 448, September 20, 1901
3. People v. Livara, G.R. L-6201, April 1954
2. three main characteristics of the Philippine Criminal Law are the following:
Generality
Territoriality
Prospectivity
It means that the Philippine criminal laws are binding on all persons who live or sojourn in the
Philippines. Whoever you are, whatever be your creed, religion, sex or nationality; as long as
you reside in the Philippine territory, penal laws of the Philippines shall apply on you
No. His contention is untenable. Billy is currently residing in the Philippines. The Philippines as a
sovereign state, has a right to uphold its law and maintain order within its domain, and with the
general jurisdiction to punish persons for offenses committed within its territory.
1. People v. Galacgac, CA 54 O.G. 1027
2. US v. Sweet G.R. 448, September 20, 1901
3. People v. Livara, G.R. L-6201, April 1954
1.Principles of Public International Law
2. Treaties or Treaty Stipulations
3. Law of Preferrential Application
The generally accepted principles of public international law refer to the norms of general
customary international law which are binding on all states, such as the renunciation of war as
an instrument of national policy, the principles of sovereign immunity; among others. Therefore,
since sovereign immunity applies among all states, sovereigns and other chiefs of state are
cloaked with immunity with regard to the penal laws.
1Sovereigns
2. Heads of state
3. Ambassadors
4. Ministers plenipotentiary
5. Ministers residents
6. Charges d' affaires
No. Consuls, vice consuls and consular officials are not exempt for they merely
represent their state's commercial, mercantile or business interest.

. Crimes committed inside the embassy of a foreign state located in the Philippines
are not subject to Philippine jurisdiction because the embassy is deemed an
extension of The VFA is a bilateral visiting forces agreement between the PH and the
US, which only applies to troops temporarily in a country. Its effect is that it allows the
US government to retain jurisdiction over US military personnel accused of
committing crimes in the Philippines, except if the crimes are of particular importance
to the Philippines.the state that it represents

Territoriality in criminal law means that our penal laws undertake to punish crimes
committed only within the Philippine territory. Outside the parameters of the Philippine
archipelago,
criminal laws cannot be enforced. j

The RPC shall also be enforced outside the jurisdiction of the Philippines against
who:

1. Should commit an offense while on a Philippine ship or airship

2. Should forge or counterfeit any coin or currency note of the Philippine islands or
obligations and securities issued by the Government of the Philippine Islands

3. Should be liable for acts connected with the introduction into these islands of the
obligations and securities mentioned in the previous number

4. While being public officers or employees, should commit an offense in the exercise
of their functions

5. Should commit any crimes against the national security and the law of nations,
defined in Title I, Book II of the RPC
Prospectivity in criminal law means that penal laws can only punish an act committed
after its effectivity. It cannot penalize an act that was not punishable at the time of its
commission. It cannot be given retroactive effect UNLESS favorable to the accused
who is not a habitual deliquent.

1. Art. 21- No felony shall be punishable by any penalty not prescribed by law prior to
its commission
2. Art. 366- Felonies and misdemeanors, committed prior to the date of effectiveness
of this Code shall be punished in accordance with the Code or Acts in force at the
time of their commission.
3. Art. 22- Penal laws shall have a retroactive effect insofar as they favor the persons
guilty of a felony, who is not a habitual criminal, as this term is defined in Rule 5 of
Article 62 of this Code, although at the time of the publication of such laws a final
sentence has been pronounced and the convict is serving the same.