1

AN INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL LAW

INTRODUCTORY NOTES (from the book of the late Senator Padilla) Criminal Law Dened Criminal or Penal Law is that branch of law which denes crimes, treats of their nature and provides for their punishment. Criminal Law distinguished from Criminal Procedure Criminal Law is substantive, and denes crimes, treats of their nature and provides for their punishment. Criminal Procedure is adjective or remedial, and regulates the judicial steps for the arrest, prosecution, trial and conviction of violators of criminal law. Characteristics Penal law has three main characteristics: (1) general; (2) territorial; and (3) prospective. 1. General penal laws apply to every person within the territory, regardless of nationality, sex, age and other personal circumstances. The Civil Code provides: Art. 14. Penal laws and those of public security and safety shall be obligatory upon all who live or sojourn in Philippine territory, subject to the principles of public international law and to treaty stipulations. 2. Territorial penal laws are strictly territorial. They can have no effect outside the states territorial jurisdiction. The territory within the Philippine Archipelago includes its atmosphere; its interior waters and maritime zone. (Art. 2.) The rule of territoriality is, however, subject to certain exceptions. (Art. 2.)
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PADILLAS ULTIMATE CRIMINAL LAW STUDY GUIDE AND REVIEWER

3. Prospective no felony shall be punished by any penalty not prescribed by law prior to its commission. (Art. 21.) Penal laws shall not be retroactive unless favorable to the accused who is not a habitual delinquent. (Art. 22.) Felonies shall be punished in accordance with laws in force at the time of their commission. (Art. 366.) Laws shall have no retroactive effect, unless the contrary is provided. (Art. 4, Civil Code.) Limitations upon penal legislations The limitations upon the Congress to enact criminal legislation are imposed by the bill of rights of the Constitution, thus: no ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted (Art. III, Sec. 1, par. 12), which in effect prohibits the passage of retroactive laws prejudicial to the accused; no person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law (Art. III, Sec. 1, par. 15), which is broad enough to require that criminal laws must be of general application and must clearly dene the acts classied and punished as crimes. Rule of construction Criminal statutes are to be strictly construed against the Government and liberally in favor of the accused, for the reason that penal laws operate to restrain human liberty. Effect of repeal of penal law When a wrongful or an unlawful act is punished under a penal law, the penalty must be prescribed by law prior to its commission (Art. 21), and the offender shall be punished under the provisions of law in force at the time of its commission. (Art. 366.) When the repeal merely modies criminal liability as to make the penalty lighter, the new law which is favorable to the accused is to be applied provided he is not a habitual delinquent (Art. 22), but not where the new law is expressly made inapplicable to pending actions of existing causes of action. (Tavera vs. Valdez, 1 Phil. 468.) When the new law punishes the act more severely, the heavier penalty under the new law cannot be imposed; for the law in force at the time of the commission of the offense should be applied. However, when the new law totally repeals the existing law, so that the act which was penalized under the old law is no longer punishable, the crime is considered obliterated. It would be illogical to attempt to

AN INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL LAW

sentence an accused for an offense that no longer exists (People vs. Tamayo, 61 Phil. 255), but when the provisions of the former law are merely re-enacted (U.S. vs. Cuna, 12 Phil. 241), or when the repeal is by implication, or there is no saving clause, the criminal liability incurred under the former law (Art. 366) subsists, but the penalty to be imposed is the one more favorable to the accused, who is not a habitual delinquent. (Art. 22.) No common law crimes in the Philippines In this jurisdiction, no act constitutes a crime unless it is made so by law or by statute. (Art. 21.) Unless there be a particular provision in the Penal Code or special penal law (Art. 10) that punishes the act, even if it be socially or morally wrong, no criminal liability is incurred by its commission. The Court in rendering the proper decision of acquittal should recommend that said act be made the object of penal legislation. (Art. 5, par. 1.) Hence, the so-called common law crimes, known in the United States and England as the body of principles, usages and rules of action, which do not rest for their authority upon any express and positive declaration of the will of the legislature, are not recognized. (U.S. vs. Taylor, 28 Phil. 599.) QUESTION AND ANSWER In general
Q: How is Criminal Law dened? A: Criminal Law is that branch of law which: Denes crimes; Denes the treats of the crimes nature; and Provides for the crimes punishment.

Q: How is Criminal Law distinguished from Criminal Procedure? A: The distinction between criminal law and criminal procedure is as follows: Criminal Law is substantive. o It denes crimes, the treats of their nature and provides for their punishment. It regulates the judicial steps for the arrest, prosecution, trial and conviction of violators of Criminal Law.

Criminal Procedure is remedial. o

This work is dedicated to my loving family To my beautiful wife Angela for bearing with my intolerableness To my dynamic son Joaquin have faith keep building To my lovely daughter Ava believe in yourself carve your own path

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Jose Marti, author and hero of Cuban independence, had a vision of what makes life complete. He reportedly named the three things that every man ought to do before he dies Plant a tree, write a book, have a son. It is my hope that this publication satises requirement number 2. Ambrosio Padilla III

vi

PREFACE
This publication has a two-fold intention. First, to assist all law students build a solid foundation with respect to their learning of basic substantive criminal law; and second, to help all bar exam candidates in their review and preparation for the bar examinations. It is our aim to aid the reader in achieving mastery of the subject at hand. This work is neither an update nor a revision of the book (Criminal Law, Revised Penal Code, Annotated, 15th edition, 1998, Book 1, Articles 1-45, Volume 1) of the late Senator Ambrosio Padilla last published in 1998. It is an original and unique work in itself. The verbatim quotes from his book are only meant to give tribute to our patriarch and to carry on his mission of contributing or giving back to the continuing legal education in our country. It is every intention of the authors to keep the great memory of our patriarch alive. Through this humble work, we remember the remarkable life of Ambrosio Padilla. This book attempts to simplify only the rst twenty (20) articles of the Revised Penal Code the basic principles affecting criminal liability (Articles 1-20). In order to make things easier, the discussion of each article is sub-divided into four (4) basic parts, namely: 1st part code provisions; 2nd part introduction excerpts of comments and cases lifted from the last published book of the late Senator Ambrosio Padilla in 1998; 3rd part the meat of the matter the detailed question and answer portion where each article is discussed and explained in a simple and easily understandable method; and 4th part the study guide and summary outline the entire subject matter is broken down into points and bullets in order for the reader to grasp the entire discussion in a single snapshot.
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It is the hope of the authors that via this 4-part method, the student and the bar candidate will achieve sufcient mastery of the basic provisions of criminal law affecting criminal liability. The author wishes to give special thanks to Ambrosio Jun Padilla Jr. and Maurita Mau Padilla (my parents, who have supported me all the way), to Dean Andy Bautista of the FEU School of Law (for inspiring the author to write this book), to the legal staff of Padilla & Asuncion Law ofce, most especially Ruby Balanag (who relieved the author with numerous burdensome details incident to research), to the hardworking team of REX PUBLISHING, most especially Atty. Charm Nolasco (for bearing with the many idiosyncrasies of the author), and to the entire Padilla family (all uncles and aunts, cousins, in-laws, nephews and nieces, who have always been there as beacons of support and love). I thank you.

AMBROSIO Jay PADILLA III

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TRIBUTE

AMBROSIO B. PADILLA
Lived and Thrived in Excellence (07 December 1910 11 August 1996)

Our patriarch was always a consistent honor student and outstanding athlete. A rare fusion of brains and brawn seldom found today. He was an Olympian captain of the Philippine basketball team (Munich, 1936), and at the University of the Philippines, he was Editor of the Collegian (1932) and Law Journal (1934), member of the UP Debating Team (1933) and the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, nally graduating Salutatorian of Class 1934 with a Bachelor of Laws Degree, Cum Laude. A Bar Topnotcher in the same year coupled with a Doctorate Degree in Civil Law (1936) at the University of Sto. Tomas, he was a much respected law professor, prolic author of Constitutional, Criminal and Civil Laws, academician, and a practitioner on top of and in any eld of his choosing. Then appointed Solicitor-General (OSG)and Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) under President Ramon Magsaysay from 1954 to 1957, thrice elected Senator of the Republic (1957, 1963, and 1969) unfortunately shortened when then President Marcos abolished Congress in 1972, vocal critic of the martial law regime, his nal ofcial position was to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the 1987 Constitutional Commission.
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After living a full and happy life of eighty-ve (85) years, he passed away on 11 August 1996 in the loving care of his family of ten (10) children, their spouses, and his grandchildren of two scores and more. AMBROSIO B. PADILLA believed in the law and he loved it. So much so that he excelled in every aspect of it be it as a practitioner, professor, examiner or author. But more than just law, he believed in the rule of law that the fabric of society and interrelationships of people should and are governed by law and the rules that accompany these. This, to him, is the essence of order. But more than just order, he believed in the justness of the law, that it should be an instrument to attain justice for the most number without fear or favor. That just as man is created equally before the eyes of the Lord, so does he stand before the eyes of the law the epitome of which is the blindfolded woman holding the scales of justice in her hands. He distinguished himself and adhered absolutely to the tenet of morality in both public service and in private life. His integrity was unimpeachable. In all his life, not one taint of graft or hint of corruption. Public ofce was indeed a public trust that each ofcial was accountable for all his deeds and misdeeds. It was not supposed to be a means to ingratiate one into power, neither to enrich oneself nor to use ones position as one merely for employment or an opportunity to become wealthy. That as the name implies, only those who deemed themselves to be public servants should be in government. That it was an honor to be of service, literally be of service, and that it was a privilege bestowed only upon the most deserving. That he feared most the retribution of God the Almighty and because of it he led a life, both in thought and deed, one truly worth emulating. To him, his reputation and his name was a treasure truly worth preserving and that it should not be tarnished nor tainted nor even remotely associated with graft or any anomaly. A true statesman, caring husband, dutiful son, and loving father and grandfather, our patriarch lived his life as he had preached: MORALITY IN PRIVATE LIFE; MORALITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

About The Author

AMBROSIO V. PADILLA III

Ambrosio III, or Jay, as he is fondly called, is the namesake and seventh grandchild of former Senator Ambrosio and Lily De Las Alas Padilla. Jay is the eldest son of Ambrosio Jr. (the fourth son of Ambrosio and Lilly) and Mau Velilla Padilla. Jay, as he is so fondly called, graduated with Honors from the University of the Philippines (Diliman) in 1992 with a degree in Business Economics (BSBE). He later pursued law, and graduated with Honors from the Ateneo College of Law earning his Juris Doctor (JD) in 1996. After taking the Philippine Bar exam in 1996, he pursued further masteral studies (LLM) in the United States graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1998. Jay was elected class representative and voted class speaker tasked to deliver the graduation speech on behalf of his entire international LLM batch. He then moved to New York to work for one of the biggest tax rms in the world. There he was immersed in international tax structuring and transfer pricing. After being sworn in to the New York Bar in 2000, he decided to move to France to take his masters in business (MBA) at the prestigious INSEAD. From there, in 2001, he took a different course in life by accepting a nance post in Indianapolis, USA working for the pharmaceutical
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company Eli Lilly. That opportunity led to a sales and marketing assignment in his home country the Philippines in 2002. In 2004, Jay decided to test his entrepreneurial skills by setting up his own investment and holding rm. In ve years, his ventures have expanded into real estate, brokerage, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, dining, agriculture, and others. A former Professor of Law at the Far Eastern University (FEU) for substantive Criminal Law, he remains loyal to the cause of contributing to the advancement of Criminal Law in the Philippines. Though more involved in private equity and venture capital, his love and passion for the law forever remains.

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About The Author

ALEXANDER A. PADILLA

Alex, is the eighth of ten children, and the only lawyer of the immediate family of former Senator and Vice-Chairperson of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, Ambrosio and Lily De Las Alas Padilla. He graduated Salutatorian at Crestwood High School in Dearborn, Michigan, USA and was Cum Laude in De La Salle University with a Major in AB Political Science and a Minor in Philosophy. At the University of the Philippines College of Law where he nished eighth in his class of 1981, he was Law Student Government President and initiated the Para Legal Volunteers Program for those whose human rights were being violated. An active advocate for change and reforms in the then martial law regime, he held several positions in the anti-dictatorship movements since 1981 until its eventual downfall in 1986. After the EDSA Revolution, Alex at only 29 years of age, rst entered public service as District Collector of Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) until his eventual promotion as Commissioner of Customs. As Customs Chief, he served the position with distinction and integrity attaining the highest collection target at the time without nary a taint or blemish to his name and reputation.
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In 2001, he returned to public service by becoming Assistant Secretary of the Department of Local Governments (DILG) under the then stewardship of now Mayor Alfredo C. Lim, as well as becoming a Board Member of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). He then moved to becoming Assistant Secretary during the incumbency of then Secretary Manuel M. Dayrit and eventually Undersecretary of Health under the leadership of Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, a post he still holds to the present. He also served, on secondment, as Senior State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice and as Special Counsel to the Ofce of the Ombudsman during the tenure of former Ombudsman Simeon V. Marcelo. Alex is his fathers son. He not only served with distinction each and every position he held in public ofce but is similarly imbued with the integrity, competence, and dedication expected of all public servants. He has the same passion for the rule of law with the fundamental belief that law and justice was meant for the disadvantaged, poor and the oppressed. A former Professor of Law at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) for Political/Constitutional Law, he is convinced of the role students and the youth would have not only in re-inventing our country but in also putting law in its proper perspective in this time of radical change. Hence, his contribution to the advancement of Criminal Law with the publication of this book.

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In a nutshell. . .

THE REVISED PENAL CODE

(Act No. 3815, as amended) AN ACT REVISING THE PENAL CODE AND OTHER PENAL LAWS PRELIMINARY ARTICLE. This law shall be known as The Revised Penal Code. BOOK ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING THE DATE OF ENFORCEMENT AND APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CODE, AND REGARDING THE OFFENSES, THE PERSONS LIABLE AND THE PENALTIES ART. 1. Time when Act takes effect. This Code shall take effect on the rst day of January nineteen hundred and thirty two. ART. 2. Application of its provisions. Except as provided in the treaties and laws of preferential application, the provisions of this Code shall be enforced not only within the Philippine Archipelago, including its atmosphere, its interior waters and maritime zone, but also outside of its jurisdiction, against those who: 1. airship; Should commit an offense while on a Philippine ship or

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 preceding number; 4. While being public ofcers or employees, should commit an offense in the exercise of their functions; or 5. Should commit any of the crimes against national security and the law of nations, dened in Title One of Book Two of this Code.
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TITLE ONE FELONIES AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH AFFECT CRIMINAL LIABILITY CHAPTER ONE FELONIES ART. 3. Denition. Acts and omissions punishable by law are felonies (delitos). Felonies are committed not only by means of deceit (dolo) but also by means of fault (culpa). There is a deceit when the act is performed with deliberate intent; and there is fault when the wrongful act results from imprudence, negligence, lack of foresight, or lack of skill. ART. 4. Criminal liability. Criminal liability shall be incurred: 1. By any person committing a felony (delito) although the wrongful act done be different from that which is intended; 2. By any person performing an act which would be an offense against persons or property, were it not for the inherent impossibility of its accomplishment or on account of the employment of inadequate or ineffectual means. ART. 5. Duty of the court in connection with acts which should be repressed but which are not covered by the law, and cases of excessive penalties. Whenever a court has knowledge of any act which it may deem proper to repress and which is not punishable by law, it shall render the proper decision, and shall report to the Chief Executive, through the Department of Justice, the reasons which induce the court to believe that said act should be made the subject of penal legislation. In the same way the court shall submit to the Chief Executive, through the Department of Justice, such statement as may be deemed proper, without suspending the execution of the sentence when a strict enforcement of the provisions of this Code would result in the imposition of a clearly excessive penalty, taking into consideration the degree of malice and the injury caused by the offense. ART. 6. Consummated, frustrated, and attempted felonies. Consummated felonies, as well as those which are frustrated and attempted, are punishable. A felony is consummated when all the elements necessary for its execution and accomplishment are present and it is frustrated when the offender performs all the acts of execution which would
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produce the felony as a consequence but which, nevertheless, do not produce it by reason of causes independent of the will of the perpetrator. There is an attempt when the offender commences the commission of a felony directly by overt acts, and does not perform all the acts of execution which should produce the felony by reason of some causes or accident other than his own spontaneous desistance. ART. 7. When light felonies are punishable. Light felonies are punishable only when they have been consummated, with the exception of those committed against persons or property. ART. 8. Conspiracy and proposal to commit felony. Conspiracy and proposal to commit felony are punishable only in the cases in which the law specially provides a penalty therefor. A conspiracy exists when two or more persons come to an agreement concerning the commission of a felony and decide to commit it. There is proposal when the person who has decided to commit a felony proposes its execution to some other person or persons. ART. 9. Grave felonies, less grave felonies and light felonies. Grave felonies are those to which the law attaches the capital punishment or penalties which in any of their periods are afictive, in accordance with Article 25 of this Code. Light felonies are those infractions of law for the commission of which a penalty of arresto menor or a ne not exceeding 200 pesos or both, is provided. Less grave felonies are those which the law punishes with penalties which in their maximum period are correctional, in accordance with the above-mentioned article. ART. 10. Offenses not subject to the provisions of this Code. Offenses which are or in the future may be punishable under special laws are not subject to the provisions of this Code. This Code shall be supplementary to such laws, unless the latter should specially provide the contrary. CHAPTER TWO JUSTIFYING CIRCUMSTANCES AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH EXEMPT FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY ART. 11. Justifying circumstances. The following do not incur any criminal liability: 1. Anyone who acts in defense of his person or rights provided that the following circumstances concur:
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First. Unlawful aggression; Second. Reasonable necessity of the means employed to prevent or repel it; Third. Lack of sufcient provocation on the part of the person defending himself. 2. Anyone who acts in defense of the person or rights of his spouse, ascendants, descendants, or legitimate, natural, or adopted brothers or sisters, or of his relatives by afnity in the same degrees, and those by consanguinity within the fourth civil degree, provided that the rst and second requisites prescribed in the next preceding circumstances are present, and the further requisite in case the provocation was given by the person attacked, that the one making defense had no part therein. 3. Anyone who acts in defense of the person or rights of a stranger, provided that the rst and second requisites mentioned in the rst circumstance of this article are present and that the person defending be not induced by revenge, resentment, or other evil motive. 4. Any person who, in order to avoid an evil or injury, does an act which causes damage to another, provided that the following requisites are present: First. That the evil sought to be avoided actually exists; Second. That the injury feared be greater than that done to avoid it; Third. That there be no other special practical and less harmful means of preventing it. 5. Any person who acts in the fulllment of a duty or in the lawful exercise of a right or ofce. 6. Any person who acts in obedience to an order issued by a superior for some lawful purpose. ART. 12. Circumstances which exempt from criminal liability. The following are exempt from criminal liability: 1. An imbecile or an insane person, unless the latter has acted during a lucid interval. When the imbecile or an insane person has committed an act which the law denes as a felony (delito), the court shall order his connement in one of the hospitals or asylums established for persons thus aficted, which he shall not be permitted to leave without rst obtaining the permission of the same court. 2. A person under nine years of age.
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3. A person over nine years of age and under fteen, unless he has acted with discernment in which case such minor shall be proceeded against in accordance with the provisions of Article 80 of this Code.1 When such minor is adjudged to be criminally irresponsible, the court, in conformity with the provisions of this and the preceding paragraph, shall commit him to the care and custody of his family who shall be charged with his surveillance and education; otherwise he shall be committed to the care of some institution or person mentioned in said Article 80. 4. Any person who, while performing a lawful act with due care, causes an injury by mere accident without fault or intention of causing it. 5. Any person who acts under the compulsion of an irresistible force. 6. Any person who acts under the impulse of an uncontrollable fear of an equal or greater injury. 7. Any person who fails to perform an act required by law, when prevented by some lawful or insuperable cause. CHAPTER THREE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MITIGATE CRIMINAL LIABILITY ART. 13. Mitigating circumstances. The following are mitigating circumstances: 1. Those mentioned in the preceding chapter, when all the requisites necessary to justify the act or to exempt from criminal liability in the respective cases are not attendant. 2. That the offender is under eighteen years of age or over seventy years. In the case of the minor, he shall be proceeded against in accordance with the provisions of Article 80.2 3. That the offender had no intention to commit so grave a wrong as that committed. 4. That sufcient provocation or threat on the part of the offended party immediately preceded the act. 5. That the act was committed in the immediate vindication of a grave offense to the one committing the felony (delito), his
1 Art. 80 was repealed by P.D. No. 603, the Child and Youthful Offender Code, as amended by P.D. No. 1179. 2 Art. 80 was repealed by P.D. No. 603 as amended by P.D. No. 1179.

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spouse, ascendants, descendants, legitimate, natural, or adopted brothers or sisters, or relatives by afnity within the same degrees. 6. That of having acted upon an impulse so powerful as naturally to have produced passion or obfuscation. 7. That the offender had voluntarily surrendered himself to a person in authority or his agents, or that he had voluntarily confessed his guilt before the court prior to the presentation of the evidence for the prosecution. 8. That the offender is deaf and dumb, blind or otherwise suffering some physical defect which thus restricts his means of action, defense, or communication with his fellow beings. 9. Such illness of the offender as would diminish the exercise of the will-power of the offender without however depriving him of consciousness of his acts. 10. And, nally, any other circumstances of a similar nature and analogous to those above mentioned. CHAPTER FOUR CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH AGGRAVATE CRIMINAL LIABILITY ART. 14. Aggravating circumstances. The following are aggravating circumstances: 1. That advantage be taken by the offender of his public position. 2. That the crime be committed in contempt of or with insult to the public authorities. 3. That the act be committed with insult or in disregard of the respect due the offended party on account of his rank, age, or sex, or that it be committed in the dwelling of the offended party, if the latter has not given provocation. 4. That the act be committed with abuse of condence or obvious ungratefulness. 5. That the crime be committed in the palace of the Chief Executive, or in his presence, or where public authorities are engaged in the discharge of their duties, or in a place dedicated to religious worship. 6. That the crime be committed in the night time or in an uninhabited place, or by a band, whenever such circumstances may facilitate the commission of the offense.

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Whenever more than three armed malefactors shall have acted together in the commission of an offense, it shall be deemed to have been committed by a band. 7. That the crime be committed on the occasion of a conagration, shipwreck, earthquake, epidemic, or other calamity or misfortune. 8. That the crime be committed with the aid of armed men or persons who insure or afford impunity. 9. That the accused is a recidivist.

A recidivist is one who, at the time of his trial for one crime, shall have been previously convicted by nal judgment of another crime embraced in the same title of this Code. 10. That the offender has been previously punished for an offense to which the law attaches an equal or greater penalty or for two or more crimes to which it attaches a lighter penalty. 11. That the crime be committed in consideration of a price, reward, or promise. 12. That the crime be committed by means of inundation, re, poison, explosion, stranding of a vessel or intentional damage thereto, derailment of a locomotive, or by the use of any other artice involving great waste and ruin. 13. 14. That the act be committed with evident premeditation. That craft, fraud, or disguise be employed.

15. That advantage be taken of superior strength, or means be employed to weaken the defense. 16. That the act be committed with treachery (alevosia).

There is treachery when the offender commits any of the crimes against the person, employing means, methods, or forms in the execution thereof which tend directly and specially to insure its execution, without risk to himself arising from the defense which the offended party might make. 17. That means be employed or circumstances brought about which add ignominy to the natural effects of the act. 18. That the crime be committed after an unlawful entry.

There is an unlawful entry when an entrance is effected by a way not intended for the purpose. 19. That as a means to the commission of a crime a wall, roof, oor, door, or window be broken. 20. That the crime be committed with the aid of persons under fteen years of age or by means of motor vehicles, motorized
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watercraft, airships, or other similar means (as amended by Rep. Act No. 5438). 21. That the wrong done in the commission of the crime be deliberately augmented by causing other wrong not necessary for its commission. CHAPTER FIVE ALTERNATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES ART. 15. Their concept. Alternative circumstances are those which must be taken into consideration as aggravating or mitigating according to the nature and effects of the crime and the other conditions attending its commission. They are the relationship, intoxication, and the degree of instruction and education of the offender. The alternative circumstance of relationship shall be taken into consideration when the offended party is the spouse, ascendant, descendant, legitimate, natural, or adopted brother or sister, or relative by afnity in the same degree of the offender. The intoxication of the offender shall be taken into consideration as a mitigating circumstance when the offender has committed a felony in a state of intoxication, if the same is not habitual or subsequent to the plan to commit said felony; but when the intoxication is habitual or intentional, it shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance. TITLE TWO PERSONS CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR FELONIES ART. 16. Who are criminally liable. The following are criminally liable for grave and less grave felonies: 1. 2. 3. Principals. Accomplices. Accessories.

The following are criminally liable for light felonies: 1. 2. Principals. Accomplices.

ART. 17. Principals. The following are considered principals: 1. 2. Those who take a direct part in the execution of the act; Those who directly force or induce others to commit it;
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3. Those who cooperate in the commission of the offense by another act without which it would not have been accomplished. ART. 18. Accomplices. Accomplices are those persons who, not being included in Article 17, cooperate in the execution of the offense by previous or simultaneous acts. ART. 19. Accessories. Accessories are those who, having knowledge of the commission of the crime, and without having participated therein, either as principals or accomplices, take part subsequent to its commission in any of the following manners: 1. By proting themselves or assisting the offender to prot by the effects of the crime; 2. By concealing or destroying the body of the crime, or the effects or instruments thereof, in order to prevent its discovery; 3. By harboring, concealing, or assisting in the escape of the principal of the crime, provided the accessory acts with abuse of his public functions or whenever the author of, the crime is guilty of treason, parricide, murder, or an attempt to take the life of the Chief Executive, or is known to be habitually guilty of some other crime. ART. 20. Accessories who are exempt from criminal liability. The penalties prescribed for accessories shall not be imposed upon those who are such with respect to their spouses, ascendants, descendants, legitimate, natural, and adopted brothers and sisters, or relatives by afnity within the same degrees, with the single exception of accessories falling within the provisions of paragraph 1 of the next preceding article.

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CONTENTS
Dedication ...................................................................................... Preface ............................................................................................. Tribute to Ambrosio B. Padilla ....................................................... About the Author Ambrosio V. Padilla III ................................ About the Author Alexander A. Padilla .................................... In a nutshell...................................................................................... An Introduction to Criminal Law Criminal Law Dened ............................................................... Criminal Law distinguished from Criminal Procedure ......... Characteristics ........................................................................... Limitations upon penal legislations......................................... Rule of construction .................................................................. Effect of repeal of penal law..................................................... No common law crimes in the Philippines ............................. Question and Answer ................................................................ Cases .................................................................................. Introduction Study Guide/Summary Outline .................... THE REVISED PENAL CODE (ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED.) An Act Revising the Penal Code and Other Penal Laws PRELIMINARY ARTICLE Introductory Notes............................................................................ In general ................................................................................... Code Committee ........................................................................ Sources of Criminal Law .......................................................... Theories of Penology ................................................................. The Classical Theory ................................................................. Question and Answer ................................................................ Cases ................................................................................... Preliminary Article Study Guide/Summary Outline ........ 28 28 29 29 30 30 30 31 32 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4-18 19 iii vii ix xi xiii xv

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BOOK ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING THE DATE OF ENFORCEMENT AND APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CODE, AND REGARDING THE OFFENSES, THE PERSONS LIABLE AND THE PENALTIES Article 1. Time when Act takes effect. ............................................. Introductory Notes .................................................................... Question and Answer ................................................................ Article 2. Application of its provisions............................................ Introductory Notes .................................................................... In General .................................................................................. Exceptions to rule of territoriality ........................................... Laws of preferential application .............................................. Specic exceptions under Art. 2 of this Code ......................... The rule governing crimes committed on board foreign merchant vessels ................................................................ Question and Answer ................................................................ Cases ................................................................................... Article 2 Study Guide/Summary Outline .......................... TITLE ONE FELONIES AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH AFFECT CRIMINAL LIABILITY CHAPTER ONE Felonies Article 3. Denition. ......................................................................... Introductory Notes .................................................................... In general ................................................................................... Criminal Intent.......................................................................... Dolus ...................................................................................... Dolus (criminal intent) dened ................................................ Mistake of fact ........................................................................... Elements of mistake of fact ...................................................... Mistake of fact distinguished from mistake in identity ........ Malum prohibitum .................................................................... Intent distinguished from motive ............................................ Distinction between general intent and specic intent ......... Culpa .......................................................................................... Culpa dened ............................................................................. Culpa is fault or negligence ..................................................... Presumption of innocence ......................................................... Burden of proof in criminal cases ............................................ Question and Answer ................................................................ Cases ................................................................................... Article 3 Study Guide/Summary Outline ..........................
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34 34 34 35 36 36 36 36 37 37 38 42-53 55

62 62 62 63 64 64 64 64 64 65 65 65 66 66 66 67 67 67 68-98 99

Article 4. Criminal Liability ............................................................ Introductory ...............................................................................

110 110

Par. 1 Liability for a felonious act and its consequences ....................................................................... 110 In general ............................................................................ 110 Proximate cause ................................................................. 110 Intervening cause ............................................................... 111 Supervening event.............................................................. 111 Victim with heart disease.................................................. 111 Medical treatment or surgical operation.......................... 111 Effect of conspiracy ............................................................ 111 Par. 2 Impossible crimes ..................................................... 112 In general ............................................................................ 112 Purpose................................................................................ 112 Penalty ................................................................................ 112 Examples ............................................................................. 112 No frustrated or attempted impossible crime.................. 112 Falsication is not an impossible crime ........................... 113 Question and Answer ................................................................ 113 Cases .................................................................................. 114-142 Article 4 Study Guide/Summary Outline .......................... Article 5. Duty of the court in connection with acts which should be repressed but which are not covered by the law, and cases of excessive penalties........................................ 143

153

Introductory Notes .................................................................... 154 Par. 1 The Court should report to the Chief Executive a criminal act which should be the object of penal legislation ............................................................................ 154 Par 2 The courts must impose the penalty prescribed by this Code but if the penalty be clearly excessive, they should recommend executive clemency ................... 154 Question and Answer ................................................................ 154 Cases ................................................................................... 155-159 Article 6. Consummated, frustrated, and attempted felonies........ 160 Introductory Notes .................................................................... 160 Three (3) Stages of Execution .................................................. 160 Particular Crimes ...................................................................... 161 Frustrated or Attempted Homicide distinguished from Physical Injuries Intent to Kill.................................... 162 Attempted Robbery distinguished from Trespass to Dwelling .......................................................................... 162 Question and Answer ................................................................ 163 Cases .................................................................................. 164-207 Article 6 Study Guide/Summary Outline ..........................
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208

Article 7. When light felonies are punishable. ............................... Introductory ............................................................................... Question and Answer ................................................................ Article 8. Conspiracy and proposal to commit felony. ...................

226 226 226 230

Introductory Notes .................................................................... 230 Question and Answer ................................................................ 230 Cases ................................................................................... 232-260 Article 8 Study Guide/Summary Outline .......................... Article 9. Grave felonies, less grave felonies and light felonies. ... 260 270

Introductory Notes .................................................................... 271 Question and Answer ................................................................ 271 Cases ................................................................................... 271-272 Article 9 Study Guide/Summary Outline .......................... Article 10. Offenses not subject to the provisions of this Code. .... 272 273

Introductory Notes .................................................................... 273 Question and Answer ................................................................ 273 Cases ................................................................................... 273-280 CHAPTER TWO Justifying Circumstances and Circumstances which Exempt from Criminal Liability Article 11. Justifying circumstances. .............................................. 281

Introductory Notes .................................................................... 282 Par. 1 Self-Defense............................................................... 282 First Requisite Unlawful Aggression .......................... 282 Second Requisite Reasonable necessity of the means employed to prevent or repel the unlawful aggression .................................................... 282 Third Requisite Lack of sufcient provocation on the part of the person defending himself ............ 283 Par. 2 Defense of relatives .................................................. 283 Par. 3 Defense of stranger .................................................. 284 Par. 4 Damage to another (State of Necessity) ................. 284 Par. 5 Fulllment of duty or lawful exercise of right ...... 285 Par. 6 Obedience to an order issued by a superior for some lawful purpose..................................................... 286 Question and Answer ................................................................ 286 Cases ................................................................................... 287-376 Article 11 Study Guide/Summary Outline ........................ Article 12. Circumstances which exempt from criminal liability. ....................................................................... Introductory Notes .................................................................... Introduction (in general) ...........................................................
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377 398 399 399

Distinction between Art. 11 (Justifying) and Art. 12 (Exempting) ........................................................................ 399 Par. 1 Imbecile or insane .................................................... 399 In general ............................................................................ 399 Imbecile dened.................................................................. 400 Presumption in favor of sanity ......................................... 400 Par. 2 Under nine years of age........................................... 400 Par. 3 Over nine and under fteen, without discernment ........................................................................ 401 A minor under 15 years of age ......................................... 401 A minor under 18 years of age ........................................ 401 Penalty on minor (Art. 68) ................................................ 401 Best evidence as to age...................................................... 402 Discernment ........................................................................ 402 Par. 4 Accident ..................................................................... 402 Elements ............................................................................. 402 No civil liability .................................................................. 402 Penalty ................................................................................ 403 Par. 5 Under compulsion of an irresistible force .............. 403 Par. 6 Under impulse of an uncontrollable fear of an equal or greater injury ...................................................... 403 In general ............................................................................ 403 Requisites ............................................................................ 403 Par. 7 Prevented by some lawful or insuperable cause.... 403 Other absolutory causes .................................................... 404 Defenses for acquittal in criminal cases .......................... 404 Circumstances which are neither exempting nor mitigating.............................................................. 405 Mistake in identity............................................................. 405 Accused is over 18 years of age ........................................ 405 Question and Answer ................................................................ 405 Cases ................................................................................... 406-451 Article 12 Study Guide/Summary Outline ........................ CHAPTER THREE Circumstances which Mitigate Criminal Liability Article 13. Mitigating Circumstances. ............................................ Introductory Notes .................................................................... Differences between privileged mitigating and ordinary mitigating circumstances ................................................... Privileged mitigating circumstances ........................................ Degrees distinguished from periods......................................... Par. 1 Incomplete justifying or exempting circumstances ..................................................................... Par. 2 As to age under 18 (privileged) or over 70 (ordinary) ............................................................................
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452

469 470 470 470 471 471 471

Par. 3 No intention to commit so grave a wrong .............. 472 Par. 4 Sufcient provocation or threat immediately preceded the act ................................................................. 472 Par. 5 Vindication of a grave offense ................................. 472 Differences between provocation (par. 4) and vindication (par. 5) ................................................................................. 472 Par. 6 Passion or obfuscation.............................................. 473 Par. 7 Voluntary Surrender or confession of guilt ............ 473 1st Voluntary surrender ............................................. 473 Requisites of voluntary surrender .................................... 474 2nd Confession of guilt ................................................. 474 Three requirements for plea of guilty .............................. 474 Par. 8 Physical defect .......................................................... 475 Par. 9 Illness which diminished will power ...................... 475 Par. 10 Similar or analogous circumstances ..................... 475 Other mitigating circumstances ............................................... 475 Effect on amount of damages ................................................... 475 Question and Answer ................................................................ 476 Cases ................................................................................... 479-562 Article 13 Study Guide/Summary Outline ........................ CHAPTER FOUR Circumstances which Aggravate Criminal Liability Article 14. Aggravating Circumstances. ......................................... Introductory Notes .................................................................... Concept of aggravating circumstances .................................... Four kinds .................................................................................. Distinctions between generic and qualifying .......................... Par. 1 Advantage be taken of public position ................... Par. 2 Contempt of, or with insult to, public authorities ........................................................................... Person in authority, his agent, and public ofcer distinguished ............................................................... Par. 3 Disregard of the respect due to rank, age, sex, or if committed in the dwelling of the offended party .... 1st Insult or in disregard of the respect due to rank, age or sex ...................................................... Rank .................................................................................... Age ...................................................................................... Sex ...................................................................................... 2nd Dwelling ................................................................. Par. 4 Abuse of condence or obvious ungratefulness ..... Abuse of condence ............................................................ Qualied theft..................................................................... Obvious ungratefulness .....................................................
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563

588 590 590 590 590 592 592 592 592 593 593 593 594 594 595 595 595 595

Par. 5 Place of crime............................................................ 595 Distinguished from par. 2 contempt of or with insult to public authorities ......................................... 596 Par. 6 Nighttime (nocturnidad), uninhabited place (despoblado) or by a band (en cuadrila) ........................... 596 Objective and subjective test of nighttime....................... 597 Band is not specic to crimes against property .............. 598 Par. 7 Occasion of public calamity ..................................... 598 Distinguished from par. 12 great waste or ruin ........ 598 Par. 8 With aid of armed men or persons who insure or afford impunity .............................................................. 598 Distinguished from par. 6 by a band .......................... 598 Par. 9 Recidivism (reincidencia) ......................................... 599 Distinguished from habitual delinquency ........................ 599 Principal and additional penalties distinguished ............ 600 Par. 10 Reiteration or habituality (reiteracion) ................ 600 Par. 11 In consideration of price, reward or promise ....... 600 Par. 12 By means of inundation, re, poison, explosion, shipwreck, derailment or involving great waste or ruin ................................................................................. 601 Distinguished from par. 7 occasion of public calamity........................................................................ 601 Par. 13 Evident premeditation ........................................... 601 Distinguished from par. 8 conspiracy ......................... 602 Par. 14 Craft, fraud or disguise .......................................... 602 Par. 15 Advantage taken of superior strength or means employed to weaken the defense .......................... 602 Par 16 Treachery (alevosia) ................................................ 603 Par. 17 Ignominy (ignominia) ............................................. 604 Par. 18 Unlawful entry (escalamiento) .............................. 604 Par. 19 Breaking wall, roof, oor, etc. ............................... 604 Exceptions for public ofcers ............................................ 604 Par. 20 With aid of persons under 15 or by means of motor vehicles, etc. ............................................................. 605 Par. 21 Cruelty (ensanamiento) .......................................... 605 Outraging or scofng at persons or corpse of victim ...... 606 Other aggravating circumstances ............................................ 606 Question and Answer ................................................................ 607 Cases .................................................................................. 612-773 Article 14 Study Guide/Summary Outline ........................ CHAPTER FIVE Alternative Circumstances Article 15. Their concept. ................................................................. Introductory Notes .................................................................... Relationship ........................................................................ Intoxication ......................................................................... Degree of Instruction .........................................................
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773

836 836 836 837 837

Question and Answer ................................................................ 837 Cases .................................................................................. 839-860 Study Guide/Summary Outline ............................................... TITLE TWO PERSONS CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR FELONIES Article 16. Who are criminally liable. ............................................. Introductory Notes .................................................................... Question and Answer ................................................................ Cases .................................................................................. Article 17. Principals........................................................................ 871 871 871 873 874 860

Introductory Notes .................................................................... 874 Par. 1 Principals by direct participation............................ 875 Par. 2 Principals by direct inducement ............................. 875 Par. 3 Principals by indispensable cooperation................. 875 Principals by indispensable cooperation distinguished from principal by direct participation .............................. 875 Co-principals by conspiracy ...................................................... 876 Penalty ...................................................................................... 876 Question and Answer ................................................................ 876 Cases .................................................................................. 876-911 Article 17 Study Notes/Summary Outline ......................... 911 Article 18. Accomplices. .................................................................... 919 Introductory Notes .................................................................... 919 Accomplice in crimes against persons ..................................... 920 Question and Answer ................................................................ 920 Cases ......................................................................................... 920-940 Article 18 Study Notes/Summary Outline ......................... Article 19. Accessories. ..................................................................... 940 945

Introductory Notes .................................................................... 945 Anti-Fencing Law ...................................................................... 947 Question and Answer ................................................................ 947 Cases ......................................................................................... 948-968 Article 19 Study Guide/Summary of Outline .................... Article 20. Accessories who are exempt from criminal liability. ... 968 974

Introductory Notes .................................................................... 974 Question and Answer ................................................................ 974 Case .................................................................................... 975-976

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