1.

CRIMINAL LAW: DEFINITION AND SOURCES

A.

Definition

B.

Punishment of Crimes: Statutory Basis

1.

Sources
Constitution (1987), Art. II, Sec. 5
Constitution (1987), Art VI, Sec. 1
Cases:
US v. Pablo, 35 Phil 94 (1916)
People v. Santiago, 43 Phil 124 (1922)

2.

Limitations
Constitution (1987), Art. III, Secs. 1 14(1)
1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure, Rule 115
Civil Code, Art. 2
Cases:
Tanada v. Tuvera, 136 SCRA 27 (1985)
Pesigan v. Angeles, 129 SCRA 174 (1984)

3.

C.

Penological objectives
A.F. Tadiar Philosophy of a Penal Code 52 Phil
LJ 165 (1977).

Basic Principles
1.

Generality of Criminal Law

Constitution (1987), Art. VI, Sec. 1
Civil Code, Art. 14
Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Art. V
Cases:
US v. Sweet, 1 Phil 18 (1901)
Liang v. People, 355 SCRA 125

2.

Principle of Territoriality
RPC, Art. 2
Constitution (1987), Art. 1
VFA, Art. V
Cases:
US v. Ah Sing, 36 Phil 978 (1917)
Miquiabas v. Commanding General, 80
Phil 262 (1948)

3.

Prospective Application
RPC, Arts. 21, 22
Civil Code, Art. 4
Case:
Gumabon v. Director of Prisons, 37 SCRA
420 (1971)

4.

Nullum Crimen Poena Sine Lege

RPC, Arts. 3, 21
Cases:
Bernardo v. People, 123 SCRA 365
(1983)
People v. Pimentel, 288 SCRA 542 (1998)

5.

Strict Construction of penal laws against State

Constitution (1987), Art. III, Sec. 14 (2)
Case:
People v. Bon, G.R. No. 166401, 30
October 2006
Pascual v. Board of Examiners, 28 SCRA
344 (1969)

D.

II.

General Provisions
RPC, Art. 1, 2

FELONIES
A.

HOW COMMITTED
1.

Dolo
RPC, Art. 3
2

a.
b.
c.
d.

Elements
Presumption of Criminal Intent
General and specific intent
Intent and motive
Cases:
Manuel v. People, 476 SCRA 461 (2005)
People v. Delos Santos, 403 SCRA153
(2003)
Guiyab v. People, 473 SCRA 533 (2005)
People v. Temblor, 161 SCRA 623 (1988)
People v. Hassan, 157 SCRA 261 (1988)

e. Mistake of Fact
Cases:
US v. Ah Chong, 15 Phil 488 (1910)
People v. Oanis, 74 Phil 257 (1943)
2.

Culpa
RPC, Arts 3, 365
a. Elements
b. Distinguished from dolo
Case:
People v. Buan, 22 SCRA 1383 (1968)
Calimutan v. People, 482 SCRA 47 (2006)

B.

CRIMES DEFINED AND PENALIZED BY SPECIAL LAWS

1.

Crimes mala in se and mala probita

Case:
Estrada v. Sandiganbayan 369 SCRA 394
(2001)

2.

Relation of RPC to special laws

RPC, Art. 10
Cases:
Padilla v. Dizon, 158 SCRA 127 (1988)
Padilla v. Court of Appeals, 269 SCRA

402 (1997)
People v. Saley, 291 SCRA 715 (1998)
3

People v. Simon, 234 SCRA 555 (1994)

C.

PUNISHABLE CONDUCT
1.

Wrongful act different from that intended

RPC, Art. 4 (1)
Case:
People v. Cabareo, 349 SCRA 297
(2001)
People v. Sabalones, 294 SCRA 751
(1988)

2.

Ommission
RPC, Arts. 116, 137, 208, 223,234,275
Pres. Dec. Nos. 953, 1153

3.

Proposal and Conspiracy

RPC Arts. 8, 115, 136, 141, 186, 306,340
Cases:
US v. Bautista, 6 Phil. 581 (1906)
People vs. Vengco, 127 SCRA 242 (1984)
People v. Valdez, 159 SCRA 153 (1988)
People v. Escober, 157 SCRA 541 (1988)
People v. Elijorde, 306 SCRA 188 (1999)
Li v. People, 427 SCRA 217 (2004)
Teves v. Sandiganbayan, 477 SCRA 309
(2004)

4.

Attempt
RPC, Art. 6
Cases:
People v. Lamahang, 61 Phil 703 (1935)
People v. Dio, 130 SCRA 151 (1984)
People v. Trinidad, 169 SCRA 51 (1989)
People v. Campuhan, G.R. No. 129433,
March 30, 2000
Rivera v. People, 480 SCRA 188 (2006)
Velasco v. People, 483 SCRA 649 (2006)
Baleros v. People, 483 SCRA 10 (2006)

5.

Frustration
RPC, Art. 6

Cases:
People v. Erinia, 50 Phil. 998 (1927)
People v. Orita, 184 SCRA 105 (1990)
People vs. Listerio
6.

Consummation
RPC. Art. 6
Cases:
US v. Adiao, 38 Phil 754 (1955)
People v. Hernandez, 49 Phil 980 (1925)

D.

Classification of Felonies
1.
2.
3.

III.

Grave
Less Grave
Light Felonies
RPC, Art. 9
RPC, Art. 7

CRIMINAL LIABILITY
A.

How incurred
1.
2.
3.

Commission of felony
Wrongful act different from what was intended
Impossible crimes
RPC, Art. 4
Cases:
Urbano v. IAC, 157 SCRA 1 (1998)
Intod v. CA, 215 SCRA 52 (1992)

B.

Circumstances affecting criminal liability

1.

Justifying circumstances
RPC, Art. 11

SELF-DEFENSE,
DEFENSE
OF
RELATIVES
AND
STRANGERS, DEFENSE OF PROPERTY, DEFENSE OF
REPUTATION
Cases:
5

People v. Rubiso, 399 SCRA 267

People v. Enfectana, 381 SCRA 359
(2002)
People v. Genosa 419 SCRA 537 (2004)
See R.A. 9262 Section 3, Section 26
People v. Narvaez, 121 SCRA 389 (1983)
People v. Boholst-Caballero, 61 SCRA
180 (1974)
People v. Alconga, 78 Phil 366 (1947)
People v. Sumicad, 56 Phil. 643 (1932)
People v. Luague, 62 Phil 504 (1935)
People v. Dela Cruz, 61 Phil 344 ( 1935)
People v. Jaurigue, 76 Phil 174 (1946)
US v. Bumanglang, 14 Phil 644 (1909)
STATE OF NECESSITY (AVOIDANCE OF GREAT EVIL)
People v. Ricohermoso, 56 SCRA 431
(1974)
Ty v. People, 439 SCRA220 (2004)
FULFILLMENT OF DUTY OR LAWFUL EXERCISE OF
RIGHT
Civil Code, Art. 429
Cases:
Pomoy v. People, 439 SCRA 439 (2004)
People v. Ulep, 340 SCRA 688 (2000)
Cabanlig v. Sandiganbayan, 464 SCRA
324 (2005)
People v. Delima, 46 Phil 738 (1922)
People v. Oanis, 74 Phil 257 (1943)
OBEDIENCE TO SUPERIOR ORDER
Cases;
People v. Beronilla, 96 Phil 566 (1955)
Tabuena v. Sandiganbayan, 268 SCRA
332 (1997)
2.

Exempting Circumstances
RPC, Art. 12

 INSANITY AND IMBECILITY

Cases:
In Re: MNaghten, 8 Eng. Rep. 718
(reserve section Library)
People vs. Tabugoca, 285 SCRA 312
(1998)
People v. Madarang. 332 SCRA 99 (2000)
People v. Bonoan; 64 Phil 87 (1937)
People v. Taneo, 58 Phil 255 (1933)
People v. Formigones, 87 Phil 658 (1950)
MINORITY
RPC, Art. 80
RA 9344 Sections 6 & 58
Pres. Dec. No. 603, Arts. 189 at seq.
Rule on Commitment of Children (A.M. No. 02-1-19SC)
Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with Law (A.M. No. 02-118-SC)
Cases:
People v. Doquena, 68 Phil 580 (1939)
Llave v. People 488 SCRA 376 (2006)
ACCIDENT
Toledo v. People, 439 SCRA 94 (2004)
People v. Agliday, 367 SCRA 273 (2001)
US v. Tanedo, 15 Phil 196 (1910)
People v. Bindoy, 56 Phil 15 (1931)
IRRESISTABLE FORCE/UNCONTROLLABLE FEAR
Ty v. People, 439 SCRA 220 (2004)
People v. Lising, 285 SCRA 595 (1998)
People v. Elicanal, 35 Phil 209 (1916)
US v. Caballeros, 4 Phil 350 (1905)
US v. Exaltacion, 3 Phil 339 (1905)
People v. Fronda, 222 SCRA 71 (1993)
INSUPERABLE OR LAWFUL CAUSES
US v. Vincentillo, 19 Phil 118 (1911)

People v. Bandian, 63 Phil 530 (1936)