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In some textbooks, an exemption is said Not any law punishing an act or omission
to exist when the penal law is favorable to the may be valid as a criminal law. If the law
offender, in which case it would have punishing an act is ambiguous, it is null and
retroactive application (RPC Art. 22); provided void.
that the offender is not a habitual delinquent
and there is no provision in the law against its 5. STRICT CONSTRUCTION OF PENAL LAWS
retroactive application. AGAINST STATE: THE “DOCTRINE OF
PRO REO”
This is consistent with the general
principle that criminal laws, being a limitation Whenever a penal law is to be construed
on the rights of the people, should be or applied and the law admits of two
construed strictly against the State and interpretations - one lenient to the offender
liberally in favor of the accused. and one strict to the offender- that
interpretation which is lenient or favorable to
The exception where a penal law may be the offender will be adopted.
given retroactive application is true only with
a repealing law. If it is an original penal law, This is in consonance with the
that exception can never operate. What is fundamental rule that all doubts shall be
contemplated by the exception is that there is construed in favor of the accused and
an original law and there is a repealing law consistent with the presumption of innocence
repealing the original law. It is the repealing of the accused. This is peculiar only to criminal
law that may be given retroactive application law.
to those who violated the original law, if the
repealing penal law is more favorable to the D. BASIC MAXIMS IN CRIMINAL LAW
offender who violated the original law. If there
is only one penal law, it can never be given
retroactive effect. 1. ACTUS NON FACIT REUM, NISI MENS
Rule of prospectivity also applies to SIT REA
administrative rulings and circulars. In Co vs.
CA (1993), it was held that the principle of The act cannot be criminal where the
prospectivity of statutes also applies to mind is not criminal. This is true to a felony
administrative rulings and circulars. In this characterized by dolo, but not a felony
case, Circular No. 4 of the Ministry of Justice, resulting from culpa. This maxim is not an
dated December, 15, 1981, provides that absolute one because it is not applied to
“where the check is issued as part of an culpable felonies, or those that result from
arrangement to guarantee or secure the negligence.
payment of an obligation, whether pre-
existing or not, the drawer is not criminally 2. ACTUS ME INVITO FACTUS NON EST
liable for either estafa or violation of BP 22.” MEUS ACTUS
Subsequently, the administrative
interpretation was reversed in Circular No. 12, An act done by me against my will is not
issued on August 8, 1984, such that the claim my act. This is related to the preceding maxim
that the check was issued as a guarantee or and is manifested in People vs Ah Chong.
part of an arrangement to secure an obligation
or to facilitate collection, is no longer a valid 3. EL QUE ES CAUSA DE LA CAUSA ES
defense for the prosecution of BP 22. Hence, it CAUSA DEL MAL CAUSADO
was ruled in Que vs. People that under the
new Circular, a check issued merely to He who is the cause of the cause is the
guarantee the performance of an obligation is cause of the evil caused. This is the rationale
covered by BP 22. However, consistent with in par. 1 of Article 4 which enunciates the
the principle of prospectivity, the new doctrine doctrine of proximate cause. He who commits
should not apply to parties who had relied on an intentional felony is responsible for all the
the old Circular and acted on the faith thereof. consequences which may naturally and
No retrospective effect. logically result therefrom, whether foreseen or
intended or not.
II. Development of Criminal Law in those who participated in drafting the Code of
Crimes was Judge Guellermo Guevarra.
the Philippines Since that Code of Crimes was never enacted
as law, he enacted his own code of crimes. But it
A. CODE OF MARAGTAS was the Code of Crimes that was presented in the
Batasan as Cabinet Bill No. 2. Because the Code of
If you will be asked about the development of Crimes prepared by Guevarra was more of a moral
criminal law in the Philippines, do not start with code than a penal code, there were several
the Revised Penal Code. The penal provisions of oppositions against the code.
the Maragtas Code were allegedly written and
compiled by Datu Sumakwel in 1250. Among the G. PROPOSED PENAL CODE OF THE
provisions in this Code were those dealing with PHILIPPINES
laziness, robbery and child bearing. Thieves and
robbers were penalized by cutting of their fingers. Through Assemblyman Estelito Mendoza, the
A poor family was prohibited to have more than UP Law Center formed a committee which drafted
two children (an early family planning). the Penal Code of the Philippines. This Penal Code
was substituted as Cabinet Bill No. 2 and this has
B. CODE OF KALANTIAO been discussed in the floor of the Batasang
Pambansa. So the Code of Crimes now in Congress
Under the Code of Kalantiao, there were penal was not the Code of Crimes during the time of
provisions. Under this code, if a man would have a President Roxas. This is a different one. Cabinet
relation with a married woman, she is penalized. Bill No. 2 is the Penal Code of the Philippines
Even offending religious things, such as gods, are drafted by a code committee chosen by the UP Law
penalized. The Code of Kalantiao has certain penal Center, one of them was Professor Ortega. There
provisions. The Filipinos have their own set of were seven members of the code committee. It
penology also. would have been enacted into law if not for the
dissolution of the Batasang Pambansa. The
Congress was planning to revive it so that it can be
C. SPANISH CODIGO PENAL enacted into law.
A crime punished under a special law is called If any of these is absent, there is no dolo. If
a statutory offense. there is no dolo, there could be no intentional
felony (Visbal vs. Buban, 2003).
3. MISDEMEANOR
b. Presumption Criminal Intent
A minor infraction of the law, such as a Since intent is a mental state, the existence
violation of an ordinance, is referred to as a of which is shown by the overt act of a person,
misdemeanor. so criminal intent is presumed to exist only if
the act is unlawful. It does not apply if the act
4. CRIME is not criminal. The presumption of criminal
intent may arise from proof of the criminal act
Whether the wrongdoing is punished under and it is for the accused to rebut this
the Revised Penal Code or under a special law, presumption. However, in some crimes intent
the generic word crime can be used. cannot be presumed being an integral element
thereof; so it has to be proven (i.e. in
B. FELONIES: HOW COMMITTED frustrated homicide, specific intent to kill is
not presumed but must be proven, otherwise
1. ELEMENTS OF FELONIES it is merely physical injuries).
In People vs. Faller, it was stated indirectly ii. Doctrine Of “Last Clear Chance”
that criminal negligence or culpa is just a mode The contributory negligence of the party
of incurring criminal liability. In this case, the injured will not defeat the action if it be
accused was charged with malicious mischief. shown that the accused might, by the
Malicious mischief is an intentional negligence exercise of reasonable care and prudence,
under Article 327 of the Revised Penal Code. The have avoided the consequences of the
provision expressly requires that there be a negligence of the injured party.
deliberate damaging of property of another,
which does not constitute destructive arson. You iii. Rule Of Negative Ingredient
do not have malicious mischief through simple This is related to the doctrine of
negligence or reckless imprudence because it proximate cause and applicable when
requires deliberateness. Faller was charged with certain causes leading to the result are not
malicious mischief, but was convicted of damage identifiable.
to property through reckless imprudence. The
Supreme Court pointed out that although the This rule states that the prosecution must
allegation in the information charged the first identify what the accused failed to do.
accused with an intentional felony, yet the words Once this is done, the burden of evidence
feloniously and unlawfully, which are standard shifts to the accused. The accused must
languages in an information, covers not only show that the failure did not set in motion
dolo but also culpa because culpa is just a mode the chain of events leading to the injury.
of committing a felony. (Carillo vs People, 1994)
In Quezon vs. Justice of the Peace, Justice C. CRIMES DEFINED AND PENALIZED BY
J.B.L. Reyes dissented and claimed that criminal
SPECIAL LAWS
negligence is a quasi-offense, and the correct
designation should not be homicide through
reckless imprudence, but reckless imprudence 1. CRIMES MALA IN SE AND MALA
resulting in homicide. The view of Justice Reyes PROHIBITA
is sound, but the problem is Article 3, which
states that culpa is just a mode by which a Violations of the Revised Penal Code are
felony may result. referred to as malum in se, which literally
means, that the act is inherently evil or bad or
a. Elements per se wrongful. On the other hand, violations of
Culpa requires the concurrence of three special laws are generally referred to as malum
requisites: prohibitum.
i. criminal negligence on the part of the
offender, that is, the crime was the result Note, however, that not all violations of
of negligence, reckless imprudence, lack special laws are mala prohibita. While intentional
of foresight or lack of skill; felonies are always mala in se, it does not follow
that prohibited acts done in violation of special
laws are always mala prohibita. Even if the
When given a problem, take note if the crime 4. RELATION OF RPC TO SPECIAL LAWS:
is a violation of the Revised Penal Code or a SUPPLETORY APPLICATION OF RPC
special law.
Offenses punishable under special laws are not
3. DISTINCTION BETWEEN CRIMES subject to the provisions of the RPC. The RPC
PUNISHED UNDER THE REVISED PENAL shall be supplementary to special laws, unless
CODE AND CRIMES PUNISHED UNDER the latter should specially provide the contrary
SPECIAL LAWS (Art. 10, RPC)
When conspiracy itself as a crime, no overt When the conspiracy is just a basis of
act is necessary to bring about the criminal incurring criminal liability, however, the same
liability. The mere conspiracy is the crime may be deduced or inferred from the acts of
itself. This is only true when the law expressly several offenders in carrying out the
punishes the mere conspiracy; otherwise, the commission of the crime. The existence of a
conspiracy does not bring about the conspiracy may be reasonably inferred from
commission of the crime because conspiracy is the acts of the offenders when such acts
not an overt act but a mere preparatory act. disclose or show a common pursuit of the
Treason, rebellion, sedition and coup d’ etat criminal objective. This was the ruling in
are the only crimes where the conspiracy and People vs. Pinto, 204 SCRA 9.
proposal to commit them are punishable. Although conspiracy is defined as two or
more persons coming to an agreement
When the conspiracy is only a basis of regarding the commission of a felony and
incurring criminal liability, there must be an deciding to commit it, the word “person” here
overt act done before the co-conspirators should not be understood to require a meeting
become criminally liable. of the co-conspirator regarding the
commission of the felony. A conspiracy of the
When the conspiracy itself is a crime, this second kind can be inferred or deduced even
cannot be inferred or deduced because there though they have not met as long as they
is no overt act. All that there is is the acted in concert or simultaneously, indicative
agreement. On the other hand, if the co- of a meeting of the minds toward a common
conspirator or any of them would execute an goal or objective.
overt act, the crime would no longer be the
conspiracy but the overt act itself. Conspiracy is a matter of substance which
must be alleged in the information, otherwise,
Illustration: the court will not consider the same.
A, B, C and D came to an agreement to
commit rebellion. Their agreement was to In People vs. Laurio, 200 SCRA 489, it
bring about the rebellion on a certain date. was held that it must be established by
Even if none of them has performed the act positive and conclusive evidence, not by
of rebellion, there is already criminal liability conjectures or speculations.
arising from the conspiracy to commit the
rebellion. But if anyone of them has In Taer vs. CA, 186 SCRA 5980, it was
committed the overt act of rebellion, the held that mere knowledge, acquiescence to, or
crime of all is no longer conspiracy but approval of the act, without cooperation at
rebellion itself. This subsists even though least, agreement to cooperate, is not enough
the other co-conspirator does not know that to constitute a conspiracy. There must be an
one of them had already done the act of intentional participation in the crime with a
rebellion. view to further the common felonious
objective.
This legal consequence is not true if the
conspiracy is not a crime. If the conspiracy is When several persons who do not know
only a basis of criminal liability, none of the each other simultaneously attack the victim,
co-conspirators would be liable, unless there is the act of one is the act of all, regardless of
an overt act. So, for long as anyone shall the degree of injury inflicted by any one of
desist before an overt act in furtherance of the them. All will be liable for the consequences. A
crime was committed, such a desistance would conspiracy is possible even when participants
negate criminal liability. are not known to each other. Do not think that
participants are always known to each other.
Illustration:
Three persons plan to rob a bank. For Illustrations:
as long as none of the conspirators has A thought of having her husband killed
committed an overt act, there is no crime because the latter was maltreating her. She
yet. But when one of them commits any hired some persons to kill him and pointed
overt act, all of them shall be held liable, at her husband. The goons got hold of her
unless a co-conspirator was absent from the husband and started mauling him. The wife
scene of the crime or he showed up, but he took pity and shouted for them to stop but
tried to prevent the commission of the the goons continued. The wife ran away.
crime. The wife was prosecuted for parricide. But
Do not search for an agreement among the A, B, and C, under the influence of
participants. If they acted simultaneously to marijuana, broke into a house because they
bring about their common intention, learned that the occupants have gone on an
conspiracy exists. And when conspiracy exists, excursion. They ransacked the house. A got a
do not consider the degree of participation of colored TV, B saw a camera and took that,
each conspiracy because the act of one is the and C found a can of salmon and took that. In
act of all. As a general rule, they have equal the crime of robbery with force upon things,
responsibility. the penalty is based on the totality of the
value of the personal property taken and not
There is conspiracy when the offenders on the individual property taken by him.
acted simultaneously pursuing a common
criminal design; thus, acting out a common In Siton vs. CA, it was held that the idea of
criminal intent. a conspiracy is incompatible with the idea of a
free for all. There is no definite opponent or
Illustration: definite intent as when a basketball crowd
A, B and C have been courting the beats a referee to death.
same lady for several years. On several
occasions, they even visited the lady on The prosecution must prove conspiracy by
intervening hours. Because of this, A, B and the same quantum of evidence as the felony
C became hostile with one another. One charged itself although, proof of previous
If the penalty is exactly P200.00, apply Article A composite crime is one in which substance
26. It is considered as a correctional penalty and is made up of more than one crime, but which
it prescribes in 10 years. If the offender is in the eyes of the law is only a single
apprehended at any time within ten years, he indivisible offense. This is also known as
can be made to suffer the fine. special complex crime. Examples are robbery
with homicide, robbery with rape, rape with
This classification of felony according to homicide. These are crimes which in the eye
gravity is important with respect to the question of the law are regarded only as a single
of prescription of crimes. indivisible offense.
The compound crime and the complex crime There are in fact cases decided by the
are treated in Article 48 of the Revised Penal Supreme Court where the offender has
Code. But in such article, a compound crime performed as series of acts but the acts
is also designated as a complex crime, but appeared to be impelled by one and the same
“complex crimes” are limited only to a impulse, the ruling is that a complex crime is
situation where the resulting felonies are committed. In this case it is not the
grave and/or less grave. singleness of the act but the singlessness of
the impulse that has been considered. There
Whereas in a compound crime, there is no are cases where the Supreme Court held that
limit as to the gravity of the resulting crimes the crime committed is complex even though
as long as a single act brings about two or the offender performed not a single act but a
more crimes. Strictly speaking, compound series of acts. The only reason is that the
crimes are not limited to grave less grave series of acts are impelled by a single criminal
felonies but covers all single act that results in impulse.
two or more crimes.
In case the crime committed is a composite
Illustration: crime, the conspirator will be liable for all the
A person threw a hand grenade and the acts committed during the commission of the
people started scampering. When the hand crime agreed upon. This is because, in the
grenade exploded, no on was seriously eyes of the law, all those acts done in
wounded all were mere wounded. It was pursuance of the crime agreed upon are acts
held that this is a compound crime, which constitute a single crime.
although the resulting felonies are only Illustrations:
slight. A, B, and C decided to commit robbery
in the house of D. Pursuant to their
Illustration of a situation where the term agreement, A would ransack the second
“necessary” in complex crime should not be floor, B was to wait outside, and C would
understood as indispensable: stay on the first floor. Unknown to B and C,
A raped a girl upstairs. All of them will be
Abetting committed during the liable for robbery with rape. The crime
encounter between rebels and government committed is robbery with rape, which is not
troops such that the homicide committed a complex crime, but an indivisible felony
cannot be complexed with rebellion. This is under the Article 294 of the Revised Penal
because they are indispensable part of Code. Even if B and C did not know that
rebellion. (Caveat: Ortega says rebellion rape was being committed and they agreed
can be complexed with common crimes in only and conspired to rob, yet rape was part
discussion on Rebellion) of robbery. Rape can not be separated from
robbery.
The complex crime lies actually in the first
form under Article 148. A, B, and C agreed to rob the house of
D. It was agreed that A would go to the
The first form of the complex crime is second floor, B would stay in the first floor,
actually a compound crime, is one where a and C stands guard outside. All went to their
single act constitutes two or more grave designated areas in pursuit of the plan.
and/or less grave felonies. The basis in While A was ransacking the second floor,
complexing or compounding the crime is the the owner was awakened. A killed him. A, B,
act. So that when an offender performed and C will be liable for robbery with
more than one act, although similar, if they homicide. This is because, it is well settled
result in separate crimes, there is no complex that any killing taking place while robbery is
crime at all, instead, the offender shall be being committed shall be treated as a single
prosecuted for as many crimes as are indivisible offense.
committed under separate information.
As a general rule, when there is conspiracy,
When the single act brings about two or the rule is that the act of one is the act of all.
more crimes, the offender is punished with This principle applies only to the crime agreed
only one penalty, although in the maximum upon.
period, because he acted only with single
criminal impulse. The presumption is that, The exception is if any of the co-conspirator
since there is only one criminal impulse and would commit a crime not agreed upon. This
correctly, only one penalty should be imposed. happens when the crime agreed upon and the
crime committed by one of the co-
Conversely, when there are several acts conspirators are distinct crimes.
performed, the assumption is that each act is
So whenever the Supreme Court concludes Note: This is a dangerous view because
that the criminal should be punished only once, the abductors will commit as much rape as they
because they acted in conspiracy or under the can, after all, only one complex crime of rape
same criminal impulse, it is necessary to would arise.
embody these crimes under one single
information. It is necessary to consider them as In adultery, each intercourse constitutes one
complex crimes even if the essence of the crime crime. Apparently, the singleness of the act is
does not fit the definition of Art 48, because not considered a single crime. Each intercourse
there is no other provision in the RPC. bring with it the danger of bringing one stranger
in the family of the husband.
Duplicity of offenses, in order not to violate
this rule, it must be called a complex crime. Article 48 also applies in cases when out a
single act of negligence or imprudence, two or
In earlier rulings on abduction with rape, if more grave or less grave felonies resulted,
several offenders abducted the woman and although only the first part thereof (compound
abused her, there is multiple rape. The crime). The second part of Article 48 does not
offenders are to be convicted of one count of apply, referring to the complex crime proper
rape and separately charged of the other rapes. because this applies or refers only to a
deliberate commission of one offense to commit
In People v. Jose, there were four another offense.
participants here. They abducted the woman,
after which, the four took turns in abusing her. However, a light felony may result from
It was held that each one of the four became criminal negligence or imprudence, together with
liable not only for his own rape but also for those other grave or less grave felonies resulting
committed by the others. Each of the four therefrom and the Supreme Court held that all
offenders was convicted of four rapes. In the felonies resulting from criminal negligence
eyes of the law, each committed four crimes of should be made subject of one information only.
rape. One of the four rapes committed by one The reason being that, there is only one
of them was complexed with the crime of information and prosecution only. Otherwise, it
abduction. The other three rapes are distinct would be tantamount to splitting the criminal
counts or rape. The three rapes are not negligence similar to splitting a cause of action
necessary to commit the other rapes. Therefore, which is prohibited in civil cases.
separate complaints/information.
Although under Article 48, a light felony
In People v. Pabasa, the Supreme Court should not be included in a complex crime, yet
through Jusitce Aquino ruled that there is only by virtue of this ruling of the Supreme Court, the
one count of forcible abduction with rape light felony shall be included in the same
committed by the offenders who abducted the information charging the offender with grave
two women and abused them several times. This and/or less grave felonies resulting from the
was only a dissenting opinion of Justice Aquino, negligence of reckless imprudence and this runs
that there could be only one complex crime of counter to the provision of Article 48. So while
abduction with rape, regardless of the number of the Supreme Court ruled that the light felony
rapes committed because all the rapes are but resulting from the same criminal negligence
committed out of one and the same lewd design should be complexed with the other felonies
which impelled the offender to abduct the victim. because that would be a blatant violation of
Article 48, instead the Supreme Court stated
In People v. Bojas, the Supreme Court that an additional penalty should be imposed for
followed the ruling in People v. Jose that the the light felony. This would mean two penalties
four men who abducted and abused the offended to be imposed, one for the complex crime and
women were held liable for one crime – one one for the light felony. It cannot separate the
count or forcible abduction with rape and distinct light felony because it appears that the culpa is
charges for rape for the other rapes committed crime itself and you cannot split the crime.
by them.
Yes. The justifying circumstance of In People vs. Rafanan, the following are
self-defense cannot be invoked because the two tests for exemption on the grounds of
the unlawful aggression had already insanity:
ceased by the time A shot B. When the i. The test of cognition, or whether the
unlawful aggressor started fleeing, the accused acted with complete deprivation
unlawful aggression ceased. If the person of intelligence in committing the said
attacked runs after him, in the eyes of the crime;
law, he becomes the unlawful aggressor. ii. The test of volition, or whether the
Self-defense cannot be invoked. accused acted in total deprivation of
freedom of will.
You apply paragraph 5 on fulfillment
of duty. The offender was not only Schizophrenia (dementia praecox) can only
defending himself but was acting in be considered a mitigating circumstance
fulfillment of a duty, to bring the criminal because it does not completely deprive the
to the authorities. As long as he was not offender of consciousness of his acts.
acting out of malice when he fired at the
fleeing criminal, he cannot be made In People vs Galigao, the defense of
criminally liable. However, this is true insanity, to be tenable, should be based on
only if it was the person who stabbed was more than the non-medical opinion of the
the one killed. defense counsel that his client is insane.
If, let us say, the policeman was In People vs. Formigones, It was held
stabbed and despite the fact that the that feeblemindedness is NOT an exempting
aggressor ran into a crowd of people, the circumstance since it does not remove the
policeman still fired indiscriminately. The persons ability to discern right from wrong.
policeman would held criminally liable
because he acted with imprudence in In People Vs. Taneo, 58 Phil 255, it was
firing toward several people where the held that sleepwalking is an exempting
offender had run. But although he will be circumstance when the accused killed his wife
criminally liable, he will be given the and wounded his friends and father.
benefit of an incomplete fulfillment of
duty. b. Minority
Republic act no. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice
g. Obedience Of Superior Order and Welfare act of 2006 provides for a new
The order must have been issued by a minimum age for criminal responsibility.
superior for some lawful purpose and the
means used to carry it out must be lawful. Sec. 6, entitled Minimum Age of Criminal
This is based on the doctrine of actus non facit Responsibility, states that a child fifteen (15)
reum, nisi mens rea (a crime is not committed years of age or under at the time of the
if the mind of the person performing the act commission of the offense shall be exempt
complained of be innocent) from criminal liability. However, the child shall
be subjected to an intervention program
2. EXEMPTING CIRCUMSTANCES pursuant to Section 20 of this Act.
In exempting circumstances, the reason for A child above fifteen (15) years but below
the exemption lies on the involuntariness of the eighteen (18) years of age shall likewise be
act—one or some of the ingredients of exempt from criminal liability and be
voluntariness such as criminal intent, subjected to an intervention program, unless
intelligence, or freedom of action on the part of he/she has acted with discernment, in which
the offender is missing. In case it is a culpable case, such child shall be subjected to the
felony, there is absence of freedom of action or appropriate proceedings in accordance with
intelligence, or absence of negligence, this Act.
imprudence, lack of foresight or lack of skill.
The exemption from criminal liability herein
a. Insanity And Imbecility established does not include exemption from
There is complete absence of intelligence. civil liability, which shall be enforced in
The intellectual deficiency is permanent. There accordance with existing laws.
is no lucid interval unlike in insanity. An
imbecile is a person whose mental The burden is upon the prosecution to prove
development is like that of a child between 2 that the offender acted with discernment. It is
to 7 years of age. not for the minor to prove that he acted
without discernment. All that the minor has to
The circumstances under Article 13 are Make a separate answer with respect to
generally ordinary mitigating, except in self-defense, defense of relative or defense of
paragraph 1, where it is privileged, Article 69 stranger because in these cases, you always
would apply. shave to specify the element of unlawful
aggression; otherwise, there would be no
Although the bulk of the circumstances in incomplete self-defense, defense of relative or
Article 13 are ordinary mitigating circumstances, defense of stranger. In general, with respect
yet, when the crime committed is punishable by to other circumstances, you need only to say
a divisible penalty, two or more of this ordinary this: If less than a majority of the requisites
mitigating circumstances shall have the effect of necessary to justify the act or exempt from
a privileged mitigating circumstance if there is criminal liability are present, the offender shall
no aggravating circumstance at all. be entitled to an ordinary mitigating
circumstance.
Correlate Article 13 with Articles 63 and 64.
Article 13 is meaningless without knowing the If a majority of the requisites needed to
rules of imposing the penalties under Articles 63 justify the act or exempt from criminal liability
and 64. are present, the offender shall be given the
benefit of a privileged mitigating
In bar problems, when you are given circumstance. The penalty shall be lowered by
indeterminate sentences, these articles are very one or two degrees. When there are only two
important. conditions to justify the act or to exempt from
criminal liability, the presence of one shall be
When the circumstance which mitigates regarded as the majority.
criminal liability is privileged, you give effect to it
above all considerations. In other words, before b. Under 18 Or Over 70 Years Of Age
you go into any circumstance, lower first the For purposes of lowering the penalty by one
penalty to the proper degree. That is precisely or two degrees, the age of the offender at the
why this circumstance is considered privileged, it time of the commission of the crime shall be
takes preference over all other circumstances. the basis, not the age of the offender at the
time the sentence is to be imposed. But for
a. Incomplete Justification And the purposes of suspension of the sentence,
Exemption the age of the offender at the time the crime
When you say incomplete justifying was committed is not considered, it is the age
circumstance, it means that not all the of the offender at the time the sentence is to
requisites to justify the act are present or not be promulgated.
the requisite to exempt from criminal liability
are present. c. No Intention To Commit So Grave A
Wrong
How, if at all, may incomplete self-defense The common circumstance given in the bar
affect the criminal liability of the offender? of praeter intentionem, under paragraph 3,
means that there must be a notable
If the question specifically refers to disproportion between the means employed by
incomplete self-defense, defense of relative or the offender compared to that of the resulting
defense of stranger, you have to qualify your felony. If the resulting felony could be
answer. expected from the means employed, this
circumstance does not avail. This
First, to have incomplete self-defense, the circumstance does not apply when the crime
offended party must be guilty of unlawful results from criminal negligence or culpa.
The emphasis here is on the crime If the intent is to destroy property, the
committed before sentence or while crime is arson even if someone dies as a
serving sentence which should be a consequence. If the intent is to kill, there is
felony, a violation of the Revised Penal murder even if the house is burned in the
Code. In so far as the earlier crime is process.
concerned, it is necessary that it be a
felony. Illustration:
A and B were arguing about
Reverse the situation. Assume that something. One argument led to another
the offender was found guilty of illegal until A struck B to death with a bolo. A did
use of prohibited drugs. While he was not know that C, the son of B was also in
serving sentence, he got involved in a their house and who was peeping through
quarrel and killed a fellow inmate. He is the door and saw what A did. Afraid that
a quasi-recidivist because while serving A might kill him too, he hid somewhere in
sentence, he committed a felony. the house. A then dragged B’s body and
poured gasoline on it and burned the
The emphasis is on the nature of house altogether. As a consequence, C
the crime committed while serving was burned and eventually died too.
Can there be evident premeditation when This is one aggravating circumstance where
the killing is accidental? No. In evident the offender who premeditated, the law says
premeditation, there must be a clear reflection evident. It is not enough that there is some
on the part of the offender. However, if the premeditation. Premeditation must be clear. It
killing was accidental, there was no evident is required that there be evidence showing
premeditation. What is necessary to show and meditation between the time when the
to bring about evident premeditation aside offender determined to commit the crime and
from showing that at some prior time, the the time when the offender executed the act.
offender has manifested the intention to kill It must appear that the offender clung to his
the victim, and subsequently killed the victim. determination to commit the crime. The fact
that the offender premeditated is not prima
Illustrations: facie indicative of evident premeditation as the
(1) A and B fought. A told B that meeting or encounter between the offender
someday he will kill B. On Friday, A killed and the offended party was only by chance or
B. (2) A and B fought on Monday but accident.
since A already suffered so many blows,
he told B, “This week shall not pass, I will In order for evident premeditation to exist,
kill you.” On Friday, A killed B. Is there the very person/offended party premeditated
evident premeditation in both cases? against must be the one who is the victim of
None in both cases. What condition is the crime. It is not necessary that the victim is
missing to bring about evident identified. It is enough that the victim is
premeditation? Evidence to show that determined so he or she belongs to a group or
between Monday and Friday, the offender class that may be premeditated against. This
clung to his determination to kill the is a circumstance that will qualify a killing
victim, acts indicative of his having clung from homicide to murder.
to his determination to kill B.
Illustration:
A and B had a quarrel. A boxed B. A A person who has been courting a
told B, “I will kill you this week.” A bought lady for several years now has been jilted.
firearms. On Friday, he waited for B but Because of this, he thought of killing
killed C instead, was there evident somebody. He then bought a knife,
premeditation? There is aberratio ictus. sharpened it and stabbed the first man he
So, qualify. Insofar as B is concerned, the met on the street. It was held that
crime is attempted murder because there evident premeditation was not present. It
is evident premeditation. However, that
But where children of tender years were After having been killed, the body was
killed, being one year old and 12 years old, thrown into a pile of garbage, ignominy is
the killing is murder even if the manner of aggravating. The Supreme Court held that it
attack was not shown. (People vs. Gahon, added shame to the natural effects of the
decided on April 30, 1991) crime.
In People vs. Lapan, decided on July 6, Cruelty and ignominy are circumstances
1992, the accused was prosecuted for robbery brought about which are not necessary in the
with homicide. Robbery was not proven commission of the crime.
beyond reasonable doubt. The accused was
held liable only for the killings. Although one Illustration:
of the victims was barely six years old, the A and B are enemies. A upon seeing
accused was convicted only for homicide, B pulled out a knife and stabbed B 60
aggravated by dwelling and in disregard of times. Will the fact be considered as an
age. aggravating circumstance of cruelty? No,
there is cruelty only when there are
Treachery is not appreciated where quarrel evidence that the offender inflicted the
and heated discussion preceded a killing, stab wounds while enjoying or
because the victim would be put on guard delighting seeing the victim in pain.
(People vs. Gupo). But although a quarrel For cruelty to exist as an aggravating
preceded a killing where the victim was atop circumstance, there must be evidence
a coconut tree, treachery was considered as showing that the offender inflicted the
the victim was not in a position to defend alleged cruel wounds slowly and
himself (People vs. Toribio). gradually and that he is delighted in
seeing the victim suffer in pain. In the
Treachery may still be appreciated even absence of evidence to this effect, there is
when the victim was forewarned of danger to no cruelty. Sixty stab wounds do not ipso
his person. What is decisive is that the facto make them aggravating
execution of the attack made it impossible for circumstances of cruelty. The crime is
the victim to defend himself or to retaliate. murder if 60 wounds were inflicted
Thus, even a frontal attack could be gradually; absence of this evidence
treacherous when unexpected and on an means the crime committed was only
unarmed victim who would be in no position to homicide.
repel the attack or avoid it (People v.
Malejana, 2006). Cruelty is aggravating in rape where the
Neither does the fact that other people were offender tied the victim to a bed and burnt her
present during the shooting negate the face with a lighted cigarette while raping her
attendance of treachery. The suddenness of laughing all the way. (People vs. Lucas, 181
the attack prevented the victim’s unarmed SCRA 315)
companions from coming to his aid (People v.
Malejana, supra). t. Unlawful Entry, Breaking Wall, Floor,
Roof
If the offender, who did not go higher than Difference between instigation and
Grade 3 was involved in a felony, was invoking entrapment
lack of degree of education, would this be In instigation, the criminal plan or design
considered as a mitigating circumstance?. The exists in the mind of the law enforcer with
Supreme Court held that although he did not whom the person instigated cooperated so it is
receive schooling, yet it cannot be said that he said that the person instigated is acting only
lacks education because he came from a as a mere instrument or tool of the law
family of professionals. So he understands enforcer in the performance of his duties.
what is right or wrong.
On the other hand, in entrapment, a
The fact that the offender did not have criminal design is already in the mind of the
schooling and is illiterate does not mitigate his person entrapped. It did not emanate from the
liability if the crime committed is one which he mind of the law enforcer entrapping him.
inherently understands as wrong, such as Entrapment involves only ways and means
parricide. If a child would kill his or her parent, which are laid down or resorted to facilitate
illiteracy will not mitigate because the low the apprehension of the culprit.
degree of instruction has no bearing on the
crime. Illustrations:
An agent of the narcotics command
In the same manner, the offender may be a had been tipped off that a certain house is
lawyer who committed rape. The fact that he being used as an opium den by prominent
has knowledge of the law will not aggravate members of the society. The law
his liability, because such knowledge has enforcers cannot themselves penetrate
nothing to do with the commission of the the house because they do not belong to
crime. But if he committed falsification and he that circle so what they did was to
used his special knowledge as a lawyer, then convince a prominent member of society
such will serve to aggravate his criminal to visit such house to find out what was
liability. really happening inside and that so many
cars were congregating there. The law
6. ABSOLUTORY CAUSES AND OTHER enforcers told the undercover man that if
SPECIAL SITUATIONS he is offered a cigarette, then he should
a. Entrapment and Instigation try it to find out whether it is loaded with
b. Pardon dangerous drugs or not. This fellow went
c. Absolutory Causes to the place and mingled there. The time
d. Acts not covered by law and in case of came when he was offered a cigarette and
excessive punishment (art. 5) he tried it to see if the cigarette would
affect him. Unfortunately, the raid was
Then, Article 89 provides how criminal liability conducted and he was among those
is extinguished: prosecuted for violation of the Dangerous
• Death of the convict as to the personal Drugs Act. Is he criminally liable?
penalties, and as to pecuniary penalties,
liability therefore is extinguished is death No. He was only there upon
occurs before final judgment; instigation of the law enforcers. On his
• Service of the sentence; own, he would not be there. The reason
• Amnesty; he is there is because he cooperated with
• Absolute pardon; the law enforcers. There is absence of
• Prescription of the crime; criminal intent.
• Prescription of the penalty; and
• Marriage of the offended woman as The defense of the user was that he
provided in Article 344. (under pardon) would not give a cigarette if he was not
asked. Is he criminally liable?
Absolutory cause has the effect of an
exempting circumstance and they are predicated Yes. This is a case of entrapment and
on lack of voluntariness like instigation. not instigation. Even if the law enforcer
Instigation is associated with criminal intent. Do did not ask for a cigarette, the offender
not consider culpa in connection with instigation. was already committing a crime. The law
If the crime is culpable, do not talk of enforcer ascertained if it is a violation of
instigation. In instigation, the crime is the Dangerous Drugs Act. The means
committed with dolo. It is confused with employed by the law enforcer did not
entrapment. make the accused commit a crime.
Entrapment is not an absolutory cause
A fellow wants to make money. He In instigation, the idea and design to bring
was approached by a law enforcer and about the commission of the crime originated
was asked if he wanted to deliver a in the mind of the law enforcers. They induce
package to a certain person. When that or incite a person not otherwise minded to
fellow was delivering the package, he was commit a crime and would not otherwise
apprehended. Is he criminally liable? This commit it to do so. This absolved the accused
is a case of instigation; he is not from liability.
committing a crime.
Example of instigation - - A, leader of an
The element which makes instigation an anti-narcotics team, approached and
absolutory cause is the lack of criminal intent persuaded B to act as a buyer of shabu and
as an element of voluntariness. transact with C, a suspected pusher. B was
given marked money to pay C for a sachet of
If the instigator is a law enforcer, the shabu. After the sale was consummated, the
person instigated cannot be criminally liable, cops closed in and arrested both B and C.
because it is the law enforcer who planted that
criminal mind in him to commit the crime, b. Effect Of Pardon
without which he would not have been a Generally, pardon does not extinguish
criminal. criminal action (Art 23). However, pardon by
marriage between the accused and the
If the instigator is not a law enforcer, both offended party in cases of seduction,
will be criminally liable, you cannot have a abduction, rape and acts of lasciviousness
case of instigation. In instigation, the private shall extinguish the criminal action or remit
citizen upon instigation of the law enforcer the penalty imposed upon him (Art 344)
incriminates himself. It would be contrary to
public policy to prosecute a citizen who only c. Absolutory Causes
cooperated with the law enforcer. The private • Spontaneous desistance
citizen believes that he is a law enforcer and • Light felonies not consummated
that is why when the law enforcer tells him, he • Accessories in light felonies
believes that it is a civil duty to cooperate. • Accessories exempt under Article 20
• Trespass to dwelling to prevent serious
If the person instigated does not know that harm to self
the person is instigating him is a law enforcer • exemption from criminal liability in
or he knows him to be not a law enforcer, this crimes against property
is not a case of instigation. This is a case of • Under Article 332, exemptions from
inducement, both will be criminally liable. criminal liability for cases of theft,
swindling and malicious mischief. There
In entrapment, the person entrapped should would only be civil liability.
not know that the person trying to entrap him • Death under exceptional circumstances
was a law enforcer. The idea is incompatible (Art. 247)
with each other because in entrapment, the • Under Article 219, discovering secrets
person entrapped is actually committing a through seizure of correspondence of
crime. The officer who entrapped him only the ward by their guardian is not
lays down ways and means to have evidence penalized.
of the commission of the crime, but even • Ways on how criminal liability is
without those ways and means, the person extinguished under Art 89.
entrapped is actually engaged in a violation of
the law.
d. Acts Not Covered By Law And In Case
Instigation absolves the person instigated Of Excessive Punishment
from criminal liability. This is based on the rule Article 5 covers two situations:
that a person cannot be a criminal if his mind i. 1. The court cannot convict the accused
is not criminal. On the other hand, entrapment because the acts do not constitute a
is not an absolutory cause. It is not even crime. The proper judgment is acquittal,
mitigating. but the court is mandated to report to the
7. EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
The effect of this is to mitigate the criminal
liability of the offender. In other words, this has
the same effect as mitigating circumstances,
only you do not call it mitigating because this is
not found in Article 13.
Illustrations:
An unwed mother killed her child in order to
conceal a dishonor. The concealment of
dishonor is an extenuating circumstance
insofar as the unwed mother or the
maternal grandparents are concerned, but
not insofar as the father of the child is
concerned. Mother killing her new born child
to conceal her dishonor, penalty is lowered
by two degrees. Since there is a material
lowering of the penalty or mitigating the
penalty, this is an extenuating
circumstance.
But where the felony is only light, only the Examples of inducement:
principal and the accomplice are liable. The • “I will give you a large amount of money”
accessory is not. • “I will not marry you if you do not kill B”
But even the principal and accomplice will not In People v. Balderrama, Ernesto shouted to his
be liable if the felony committed is only light and younger brother Oscar, “Birahin mo na, birahin mo
the same is not consummated unless such felony na!” Oscar stabbed the victim. It was held that there
is against persons or property. If they are not and was no conspiracy. Joint or simultaneous action per
the same is not consummated, even the principal se is not indicia of conspiracy without showing of
and the accomplice are not liable. common design. Oscar has no rancor with the victim
for him to kill the latter. Considering that Ernesto
Therefore, it is only when the light felony is had great moral ascendancy and influence over
against persons or property that criminal liability Oscar, being much older (35 years old), than the
attaches to the principal or accomplice, even latter, who was 18 years old, and it was Ernesto who
though the felony is only attempted or frustrated, provided his allowance, clothing, as well as food and
but accessories are not liable for light felonies. shelter, Ernesto is principal by inducement.
In People v. Madall, 188 SCRA 69, the son In the first situation, the facts indicate that if the
was mauled. The family was not in good terms fellow who held the legs of the victim and spread
with their neighbors. The father challenged them did not do so, the offender on top could hardly
everybody and when the neighbors approached, penetrate because the woman was strong enough to
he went home to get a rifle. The shouts of his move or resist. In the second situation, the son was
wife “here comes another, shoot him” cannot much bigger than the woman, so considering the
make the wife a principal by inducement. It is strength of the son and the victim, penetration is
not the determining cause of the crime in the possible even without the assistance of the father.
absence of proof that the words had great The son was a robust farmer and the victim was
influence over the husband. Neither is the wife’s undernourished. The act of the father in holding the
act of beaming the victim with a flashlight legs merely facilitated the penetration, but even
indispensable to the killing. She assisted her without it, the son would have succeeded in what he
husband in taking good aim, but such assistance wanted to do.
merely facilitated the felonious act of shooting.
Considering that it was not so dark and the The basis is the importance of the cooperation to
husband could have accomplished the deed the consummation of the crime. If the crime could
without his wife’s help, and considering further hardly be committed without such cooperation, then
that doubts must be resolved in favor of the such cooperation would bring about a principal. But if
accused, the liability of the wife is only that of the cooperation merely facilitated or hastened the
an accomplice. consummation of the crime, this would make the
cooperator merely an accomplice.
The principal by induction becomes liable only
when the principal by direct participation In a case, the offender was running after the
committed the act induced. victim with a knife. Another fellow came and blocked
the way of the victim and as a result, the one
The effects of acquittal of principal by direct chasing caught up with the victim and stabbed the
participation upon the liability of principal by latter at the back. It was held that the fellow who
inducement are: blocked the victim’s way is a principal by
a. Conspiracy is negated by the acquittal of indispensable cooperation because if he did not block
co-defendant. the way, the offender could not have caught up with
b. One cannot be held guilty of having the latter.
instigated the commission of a crime
without first being shown that the crime In another case, A was mauling B. C, a friend of B
has been actually committed by another. tried to approach but D stopped C so that A was able
to continuously maul B. The liability of D is as an
3. BY INDISPENSABLE COOPERATION accomplice. Obviously, he did not cooperate in the
mauling, he only stopped C from rescuing B in the
Distinguished from an accomplice hands of A.
It is not just a matter of cooperation, it is
more of whether the crime could have been In case of doubt, favor the lesser penalty or
hardly committed. It is not that the crime would liability. Apply the doctrine of pro reo.
not be committed because if that is what you
would imply, it becomes an ingredient of the B. ACCOMPLICES
crime and that is not what the law
contemplates.
When there is no conspiracy between or among
In the case of rape, where three men were the defendants but they were animated by one and the
accused, one was on top of the woman, one held same purpose to accomplish the criminal objective,
the hands, and one held the legs, the Supreme those who cooperated by previous or simultaneous act
Court held that all participants are principals. but cannot be held liable as principals are accomplices.
Those who held the legs and arms are principals
by indispensable cooperation. An accomplice does not have a previous
agreement or understanding or is not in conspiracy
The accused are father and son. The father with the principal by direct participation.
told his son that the only way to convince the
victim to marry him is to resort to rape. So CONSPIRATOR ACCOMPLICE
when the opportunity came, the young man They know and agree with the criminal design.
grabbed the woman, threw her on the ground
and placed himself on top of her while the father
held both legs of the woman and spread them.
The Supreme Court held that the father is liable
only as an accomplice.
C. CORRELATING ARTICLE 24 WITH In the amendment, the law does not speak of
ARTICLE 29 credit. Whether the person is entitled to credit is
immaterial. The discharge of the offender from
Although under Article 24, the detention of a preventive imprisonment or detention is predicated on
person accused of a crime while the case against the fact that even if he would be found guilty of the
him is being tried does not amount to a penalty, crime charged, he has practically served the sentence
yet the law considers this as part of imprisonment already, because he has been detained for a period
and generally deductible from the sentence. already equal if not greater than the maximum penalty
that would be possibly imposed on him if found guilty.
When will this credit apply? If the penalty
imposed consists of a deprivation of liberty. Not all If the crime committed is punishable only by
who have undergone preventive imprisonment destierro, the most the offender may be held
shall be given credit. under preventive imprisonment is 30 days, and
Penalties in which other accessory penalties RA 9346 repealed all the other laws imposing
are inherent: death penalty. Section 2 states that:
1. Article 40. Death—perpetual absolute “In lieu of the death penalty, the following shall be imposed:
disqualification, and civil interdiction during 30 a. the penalty of reclusion perpetua, when the law
violated makes use of the nomenclature of the
years following date of sentence;
penalties of the Revised Penal Code; or
2. Article 41. Reclusion perpetua and reclusion b. the penalty of life imprisonment, when the law violated
temporal—civil interdiction for life or during the does not make use of the nomenclature of the penalties
period of the sentence, as the case may be, of the Revised Penal Code.”
and perpetual absolute disqualification;
3. Art. 42. Prision mayor—temporary absolute Reclusion perpetua as modified
disqualification, perpetual special Before the enactment of Republic Act 7659, which
disqualification from the right of suffrage; made amendments to the Revised Penal Code, the
4. Art. 43. Prision correccional—suspension from penalty of reclusion perpetua had no fixed
public office, from the right to follow a duration. The Revised Penal Code provides in
profession or calling, and perpetual special Article 27 that the convict shall be pardoned after
disqualification from the right of suffrage if the undergoing the penalty for 30 years, unless by
G. SUBSIDIARY PENALTIES
When is subsidiary penalty applied
1. If the subsidiary penalty prescribed for the non-
Is subsidiary penalty an accessory penalty? payment of the which goes with the principal
No. penalty, the maximum duration of the subsidiary
penalty is one year, so there is no subsidiary that
If the convict does not want to pay a fine and goes beyond one year. But this will only be true if
has so many friends and wants to prolong his stay the one year period is higher than 1/3 of the
in jail, can he stay there and not pay the fine? No. principal penalty, the convict cannot be made to
undergo subsidiary penalty more than 1/3 of the
After undergoing subsidiary penalty and duration of the principal penalty and in no case will
convict is already released from the jail and his it be more than 1 year – get 1/3 of the principal
financial circumstances improve, can he made to penalty – whichever is lower.
pay? Yes, for the full amount with deduction. 2. If the subsidiary penalty is to be imposed for non
payment of fine and the principal penalty imposed
Article 39 deals with subsidiary penalty. There be fine only, which is a single penalty, that means
are two situations there: it does not go with another principal penalty, the
1. When there is a penalty of imprisonment or most that the convict will be required to undergo
any other principal penalty and it carries with it subsidiary imprisonment is six months, if the felony
a fine; and committed is grave or less grave, otherwise, if the
2. When penalty is only a fine. felony committed is slight, the maximum duration
of the subsidiary penalty is only 15 days.
Therefore, there shall be no subsidiary penalty
for the non-payment of damages to the offended There are some who use the term subsidiary
party. imprisonment. The term is wrong because the penalty
is not only served by imprisonment. The subsidiary
This subsidiary penalty is one of important penalty follows the nature of the principal penalty. If
matter under the title of penalty. A subsidiary the principal penalty is destierro, this being a divisible
penalty in not an accessory penalty. Since it is not penalty, and a penalty with a fixed duration, the non-
an accessory penalty, it must be expressly stated payment of the fine will bring about subsidiary penalty.
in the sentence, but the sentence does not specify This being a restriction of liberty with a fixed duration
the period of subsidiary penalty because it will only under Article 39 for the nonpayment of fine that goes
be known if the convict cannot pay the fine. The with the destierro, the convict will be required to
sentence will merely provide that in case of non- undergo subsidiary penalty and it will also be in the
payment of fine, the convict shall be required to form of destierro.
serve subsidiary penalty. It will then be the prison
authority who will compute this. Illustration:
A convict was sentenced to suspension and
So even if subsidiary penalty is proper in a fine. This is a penalty where a public officer
case, if the judge failed to state in the sentence anticipates public duties, he entered into the
that the convict shall be required to suffer performance of public office even before he has
subsidiary penalty in case of insolvency to pay the complied with the required to undergo subsidiary
fine, that convict cannot be required to suffer the penalty?
accessory penalty. This particular legal point is a
bar problem. Therefore, the judgment of the court Yes, because the penalty of suspension has a
must state this. If the judgment is silent, he fixed duration. Under Article 27, suspension and
cannot suffer any subsidiary penalty. destierro have the same duration as prision
correccional. So the duration does not exceed six
The subsidiary penalty is not an accessory years. Since it is a penalty with a fixed duration
penalty that follows the principal penalty as a under Article 39, when there is a subsidiary
matter of course. It is not within the control of the penalty, such shall be 1/3 of the period of
convict to pay the fine or not and once the suspension which in no case beyond one year. But
sentence becomes final and executory and a writ the subsidiary penalty will be served not by
of execution is issued to collect the fine, if the imprisonment but by continued suspension.
convict has a property to levy upon, the same
shall answer for the fine, whether he likes it or If the penalty is public censure and fine even if the
not. It must be that the convict is insolvent to pay public censure is a light penalty, the convict cannot be
the fine. That means that the writ of execution required to pay the fine for subsidiary penalty for the
issued against the property of the convict, if any, non-p0ayment of the fine because public censure is a
is returned unsatisfied. penalty that has no fixed duration.
In People v. Subido, it was held that the Do not consider the totality of the imprisonment
convict cannot choose not to serve, or not to pay the convict is sentenced to but consider the totality or
the fine and instead serve the subsidiary penalty. the duration of the imprisonment that the convict will
A subsidiary penalty will only be served if the be required to serve under the Three-Fold Rule. If the
sheriff should return the execution for the fine on totality of the imprisonment under this rule does
the property of the convict and does not have the not exceed six years, then, even if the totality of
properties to satisfy the writ. all the sentences without applying the Three-Fold
Illustration: Note: This article does not apply when the law
Penalties imposed are – does not fix the minimum of the fine. Thus, it is in
• One prision correccional – minimum – the discretion of the court to impose any amount
2 years and 4 months without exceeding the minimum.
• One arresto mayor – 1 month and 1
day to 6 months
• One prision mayor – 6 years and 1
day to 12 years I. ACT NO. 4013 (INDETERMINATE
SENTENCE LAW), AS AMENDED
Do not commit the mistake of applying the
Three-Fold Rule in this case. Never apply Three things to know about the Indeterminate
the Three-Fold Rule when there are only Sentence Law:
three sentences. Even if you add the 1. Its purpose;
penalties, you can never arrive at a sum 2. Instances when it does not apply; and
higher than the product of the most severe 3. How it operates
multiplied by three.
Indeterminate Sentence Law governs whether the
The common mistake is, if given a situation, crime is punishable under the Revised Penal Code or a
whether the Three-Fold Rule could be applied. If special Law. It is not limited to violations of the
asked, if you were the judge, what penalty would Revised Penal Code.
you impose, for purposes of imposing the penalty,
the court is not at liberty to apply the Three-Fold It applies only when the penalty served is
Rule, whatever the sum total of penalty for each imprisonment. If not by imprisonment, then it does
crime committed, even if it would amount to 1,000 not apply.
years or more. It is only when the convict is
serving sentence that the prison authorities should PURPOSE
determine how long he should stay in jail.
J. PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 968 crime committed does not go beyond six years and the
nature of the crime committed by him is not against
(PROBATION LAW)
public order, national security or subversion (Sec.9,
Probation Law).
Among the different grounds of partial
extinction of criminal liability, the most important Although a person may be eligible for probation,
is probation. Probation is a disposition under the moment he perfects an appeal from the judgment
which a defendant, after conviction and sentence, of conviction, he cannot avail of probation anymore.
is released subject to the conditions imposed by So the benefit of probation must be invoked at the
the court and to the supervision of a probation earliest instance after conviction. He should not wait
officer. This may be availed of before the convict up to the time when he interposes an appeal or the
begins serving sentence by final judgment and sentence has become final and executory. The idea is
provided that he did not appeal anymore from that probation has to be invoked at the earliest
conviction. The filing of application for probation is opportunity.
a waiver of the right to appeal. The application’s
resolution (denied or granted) is not appealable. An application for probation is exclusively within
the jurisdiction of the trial court that renders the
An order placing the defendant on probation is judgment. For the offender to apply in such court, he
not a “sentence” but rather a suspension of the should not appeal such judgment.
imposition of sentence. Being a privilege, it is in
the discretion of the court to grant the defendant If the offender would appeal the conviction of the
probation. If granted, accessory penalties are trial court and the appellate court reduced the penalty
deemed suspended. But, granting such to say, less than six years, that convict can still file an
probation has no bearing on his civil liability. application for probation, because the earliest
opportunity for him to avail of probation came only
Without regard to the nature of the crime, after judgment by the appellate court.
only those whose penalty does not exceed six
years of imprisonment are those qualified for Whether a convict who is otherwise qualified for
probation. If the penalty is six years plus one day, probation may be give the benefit of probation or not,
he is no longer qualified for probation. the courts are always required to conduct a hearing. If
the court denied the application for probation without
If the offender was convicted of several the benefit of the hearing, where as the applicant is not
offenses which were tried jointly and one decision disqualified under the provision of the Probation Law,
was rendered where multiple sentences imposed but only based on the report of the probation officer,
several prison terms as penalty, the basis for the denial is correctible by certiorari, because it is an
determining whether the penalty disqualifies the act of the court in excess of jurisdiction or without
offender from probation or not is the term of the jurisdiction, the order denying the application therefore
individual imprisonment and not the totality of all is null and void.
the prison terms imposed in the decision. So even
if the prison term would sum up to more than six Purpose: Probation is intended to promote the
years, if none of the individual penalties exceeds correction and rehabilitation of an offender by
six years, the offender is not disqualified by such providing him with individualized treatment; to provide
penalty from applying for probation. an opportunity for the reformation of a penitent
offender which might be less probable if he were to
On the other hand, without regard to the serve a prison sentence; to prevent the commission of
penalty, those who are convicted of subversion or offenses; to decongest our jails; and to save the
any crime against the public order are not qualified government much needed finance for maintaining
for probation. So know the crimes under Title III, convicts in jail.
Book 2 of the Revised Penal code. Among these
crimes is Alarms and Scandals, the penalty of Probation is only a privilege. So even if the
which is only arresto menor or a fine. Under the offender may not be disqualified of probation, yet the
amendment to the Probation Law, those convicted court believes that because of the crime committed it
of a crime against public order regardless of the was not advisable to give probation because it would
penalty are not qualified for probation. depreciate the effect of the crime, the court may refuse
or deny an application for probation.
May a recidivist be given the benefit of Probation
Law? Moreover, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
As a general rule, no. (Section 24) expressly provides that “Any person
convicted for drug trafficking or pushing under the Act,
Exception: If the earlier conviction refers to regardless of the penalty imposed by the Court, cannot
a crime the penalty of which does not exceed 30 avail of the privilege granted by the Probation Law.”
days imprisonment or a fine of not more than
P200.000, such convict is not disqualified of the Consider not only the probationable crime, but
benefit of probation. So even if he would be also the probationable penalty. If it were the non-
convicted subsequently of a crime embraced in the probationable crime, then regardless of the penalty,
same title of the Revised Penal Code as that of the the convict cannot avail of probation. Generally,
earlier conviction, he is not disqualified from the penalty which is not probationable is any
probation provided that the penalty for the current penalty exceeding six years of imprisonment.
offenses
Always provide two classifications when May still be exercised The person is already
answering this question. even before trial or convicted
investigation
A. TOTAL EXTINCTION Looks backward – put Looks forward – relieves
into oblivion the from the consequences
offense itself. (as if he of the offense but does
Among the grounds for total extinction as well
has no offense). Thus, not restore rights unless
as those for partial extinction, you cannot find
an ex-convict becomes explicitly restored by
among them the election to public office. In one
no longer a recidivist if the terms of the pardon
case, a public official was charged before the
he is given amnesty
Sandiganbayan for violation of Anti-Graft and
unlike pardon
Corrupt Practices Act. During the ensuing election,
Both do not extinguish civil liability
he was nevertheless re-elected by the
constituents, one of the defenses raised was that Public act which the Private act of the
of condonation of the crime by his constituents, court shall take judicial President and must be
that his constituents have pardoned him. The notice pleaded and proved by
Supreme Court ruled that the re-election to public the person pardoned
office is not one of the grounds by which criminal
liability is extinguished. This is only true to The effects of amnesty as well as absolute pardon
administrative cases but not criminal cases. are not the same. Amnesty erases not only the
conviction but also the crime itself. So that if an
CRIMINAL LIABILITY IS TOTALLY offender was convicted for rebellion and he qualified for
EXTINGUISHED AS FOLLOWS: amnesty, and so he was given an amnesty, then years
1. By the death of the convict as to personal later he rebelled again and convicted, is he a recidivist?
penalties; and as to pecuniary penalties, No. Because the amnesty granted to him erased not
liability therefore is extinguished only when the only the conviction but also the effects of the
death of the offender occurs before final conviction itself.
judgment
Supposed, instead of amnesty, what was given
EXCEPTION: if the civil liability may also be was absolute pardon, then years later, the offended
predicated on a source of obligation other was again captured and charged for rebellion, he was
than delict such as in Art. 33 or based on convicted, is he a recidivist? Yes. Pardon, although
contracts. Thus, if upon extinction of the civil absolute does not erase the effects of conviction.
liability, they may file a separate civil action Pardon only excuses the convict from serving the
for the same act or omission which arises sentence. There is an exception to this and that is
from a quasi-delict or contract. Even if the when the pardon was granted when the convict had
accused dies pending appeal, the right to file a already served the sentence such that there is no more
separate civil action is not lost. service of sentence to be executed then the pardon
shall be understood as intended to erase the effects of
2. By Service of sentence the conviction.
3. By Amnesty
4. By Absolute Pardon So if the convict has already served the sentence
5. By prescription of crime and in spite of that he was given a pardon that pardon
6. By prescription of penalty will cover the effects of the crime and therefore, if he
7. By the marriage of the offended woman and will be subsequently convicted for a felony embracing
the offender as in the crimes of rape, the same title as that crime, he cannot be considered a
abduction, seduction and acts of recidivist, because the pardon wipes out the effects of
lasciviousness. This must be contracted in the crime.
good faith. (Art. 344)
But if he was serving sentence when he was
DEATH OF THE CONVICT pardoned, that pardon will not wipe out the effects of
Where the offender dies before final the crime, unless the language of the pardon
judgment, his death extinguishes both his criminal absolutely relieve the offender of all the effects thereof.
and civil liabilities. So while a case is on appeal, Considering that recidivism does not prescribe, no
the offender dies, the case on appeal will be matter how long ago was the first conviction, he shall
dismissed. The offended party may file a separate still be a recidivist.
civil action under the Civil Code if any other basis
for recovery of civil liability exists as provided Illustration:
under Art 1157 Civil Code. (People v. Bayotas, When the crime carries with it moral
decided on September 2, 1994) turpitude, the offender even if granted pardon
shall still remain disqualified from those falling in
Difference between Amnesty and Absolute cases where moral turpitude is a bar.
Pardon
Amnesty Absolute pardon Pedro was prosecuted and convicted of
the crime of robbery and was sentenced to six
Blanket pardon to Includes any crime and
years imprisonment or prision correccional.
This correspondingly extinguishes service of VIII. Civil Liability Arising from a Felony
sentence up to the maximum of the indeterminate
sentence. This is the partial extinction referred to, Civil liability of the offender falls under three
so that if the convict was never given parole, no categories:
partial extinction. 1. Restitution or Restoration
2. Reparation of the damage caused
3. Indemnification of consequential damages
A. RESTITUTION OR RESTORATION
It was held in the case of Espaňa v. People Liability specially attaches when the management
(2005) that the award for civil indemnity ex is found to have violated any law or ordinance, rule or
delicto is mandatory and is granted to the heirs of regulation governing such establishment.
the victim without need of proof other than the
commission of the crime. Even if the crime is robbery with violence against
or intimidation of persons or committed by the
Also in the crime of rape, the damages innkeeper’s employees, management will be liable,
awarded to the offended woman is generally otherwise, not liable because there is duress from the
P30,000.00 for the damage to her honor. In offender, liable only for theft and force upon things.
earlier rulings, the amount varied, whether the
offended woman is younger or a married woman. Under Article 103, the subsidiary liability of an
Supreme Court ruled that even if the offended employer or master for the crime committed by his
woman does not adduce evidence or such damage, employee or servant may attach only when the
court can take judicial notice of the fact that if a following requisites concur.
woman was raped, she inevitably suffers damages.
Under the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure, a 1. The employer must be engaged in business or in
private prosecutor can recover all kinds of trade or industry while the accused was his
damages including attorney’s fee. The only employee
limitation is that the amount and the nature of the 2. At the time the crime was committed, the
damages should be specified. The present employee-employer relationship must be
procedural law does not allow a blanket recovery existing between the two;
In your answer, reference should be made to In a case decided by the Supreme Court, two
the provision of paragraph c of Section 15 of persons went wild boar hunting. On their way,
the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure. The they met Pedro standing by the door of his house
case may be regarded as an act of piracy as and they asked him where they could find wild
long as it is done with “intent to gain.” boars. Pedro pointed to a place where wild boars
were supposed to be found, and the two
proceeded thereto. Upon getting to the place, they
saw something moving, they shot, unfortunately
Q8: A consul was to take a deposition in a ricocheted killing Pedro. It was held that since
hotel in Singapore. After the deposition, there was neither dolo nor culpa, there is no
the deponent approached the consul’s criminal liability.
daughter and requested certain parts of
the deposition be changed in In US vs. Bindoy, accused had an altercation with
consideration of $10,000.00. The X. X snatched the bolo from the accused. To
daughter persuaded the consul and the prevent X from using his bolo on him, accused
latter agreed. Will the crime be subject to tried to get it from X. Upon pulling it back towards
the Revised Penal Code? If so, what him, he hit someone from behind, instantly killing
crime or crimes have been committed? the latter. The accused was found to be not liable.
A: Yes. Falsification. Normally, the taking of the In criminal law, there is pure accident, and the
deposition is not the function of the consul, his principle damnum absque injuria is also
function being the promotion of trade and honored.
commerce with another country. Under the
Rules of Court, however, a consul can take
However, Justice J.B.L. Reyes pointed out that Q19: A aroused the ire of her husband, B.
criminal negligence is a quasi-offense. His Incensed with anger almost beyond his
reason is that if criminal negligence is not a control, B could not help but inflict physical
quasi-offense, and only a modality, then it injuries on A. Moments after B started
would have been absorbed in the commission hitting A with his fists, A suddenly
of the felony and there would be no need for complained of severe chest pains. B,
Article 365 as a separate article for criminal realizing that A was in serious trouble,
negligence. Therefore, criminal negligence, immediately brought her to the hospital.
according to him, is not just a modality; it is a Despite efforts to alleviate A’s pains,
crime by itself, but only a quasi-offense. she died of a heart attack. It turned out
she was suffering from a heart ailment.
Q28: A and B are neighbors. They are jealous Q30: A awakened one morning with a man
of each other’s social status. A thought sleeping in his sofa. Beside the man was a
of killing B so A climbed the house of B bag containing picklocks and similar tools.
through the window and stabbed B on He found out that the man entered the sala
the heart, not knowing that B died a by cutting the screen on his window. If you
few minutes ago of bangungot. Is A were to prosecute this fellow, for what
liable for an impossible crime? crime are you going to prosecute him?
A: No. A shall be liable for qualified trespass to A: The act done by him of entering through an
dwelling. Although the act done by A against B opening not intended for the purpose is only
constitutes an impossible crime, it is the qualified trespass. Qualified trespass because he
principle of criminal law that the offender shall did so by cutting through the screen. There was
be punished for an impossible crime only force applied in order to enter. Other than that,
when his act cannot be punished under some under Article 304 of the Revised Penal Code, illegal
other provision of the Revised Penal Code. possession of picklocks and similar tools is a crime.
Thus, he can be prosecuted for two crimes: 1.
In other words, this idea of an impossible qualified trespass to dwelling, and 2. illegal
crime is one of last resort, just to teach the possession of picklocks and similar tools; not
offender a lesson because of his criminal complex because one is not necessary means to
perversity. If he could be taught of the same commit the other.
lesson by charging him with some other crime
constituted by his act, then that will be the
proper way. If you want to play safe, you
state there that although an impossible crime Q31: Is there an attempted slight physical
is constituted, yet it is a principle of criminal injuries?
law that he will only be penalized for an A: If there is no result, you do not know. Criminal law
impossible crime if he cannot be punished cannot stand on any speculation or ambiguity;
under some other provision of the Revised otherwise, the presumption of innocence would be
Penal Code. sacrificed. Therefore, the commentator’s opinion
cannot stand because you cannot tell what
If the question is “Is an impossible crime particular physical injuries was attempted or
committed?”, the answer is yes, because on frustrated unless the consequence is there. You
the basis of the facts stated, an impossible cannot classify the physical injuries.
crime is committed. But to play safe, add
another paragraph: However, the offender will
not be prosecuted for an impossible crime but
for _____ [state the crime]. Because it is a Q32: A threw muriatic acid on the face of B. The
principle in criminal law that the offender can injuries would have resulted in deformity
only be prosecuted for an impossible crime if were it not for timely plastic surgery. After
his acts do not constitute some other crimes the surgery, B became more handsome.
punishable under the Revised Penal Code. An What crime is committed? Is it attempted,
impossible crime is a crime of last resort. frustrated or consummated?
A: The crime committed here is serious physical
injuries because of the deformity. When there is
deformity, you disregard the healing duration
Q29: A and B are husband and wife. A met C of the wound or the medical treatment
who was willing to marry him, but he is required by the wound. In order that in law, a
already married. A thought of
Q43: A was walking in front of the house of Q47: If principal committed robbery by
B. B at that time was with his brother snatching a wristwatch and gave it to his
C. C told B that sometime in the past, A wife to sell, is the wife criminally liable?
boxed him, and because he was small, Can she be prosecuted as an accessory and
he did not fight back. B approached A as a fence?
and boxed him, but A cannot hit back at A: The liability of the wife is based on her assisting
B because B is bigger, so A boxed C. the principal profit and that act is punishable as
Can A invoke sufficient provocation to fencing. She will no longer be liable as an
mitigate criminal liability? accessory to the crime of robbery.
A: No. Sufficient provocation must come from the
offended party. There may actually be In both laws, PD 1612 and the Revised Penal
sufficient provocation which immediately Code, the same act is the basis of liability and you
preceded the act, but if the provocation did cannot punish a person twice for the same act as
not come from the person offended, that would go against the double jeopardy rule.
paragraph 4 of Article 13 will not apply.