CRIMINAL LAW 1

Judge Rico Sebastian D. Liwanag1

June 2013
1.Fundamental principles
a.
b.
1)
2)

3)

c.

2.

Definition of criminal law difference between

mala in se and mala prohibita (Corpuz v. People,
GR 180016, April 29, 2014 [all the opinions])
Characteristics of Philippine criminal law
Generality (CIVIL CODE, article [art.] 14;
REVISED PENAL CODE [RPC], art. 2)
Territoriality (RPC, art. 2; Republic Act [RA]
9372 [Human Security Act], section [sec.]
58) compare with the nationality, protective,
universal and passive personality principles
Prospectivity (RPC, art. 22; People v. Simon,
234 SCRA 555; De Joya v. Jail Warden, GR
159418, Dec. 10, 2003, Callejo, J.,SEC v.
Interport Resources, GR 135808, Oct. 6,
2008)
Constitutional limitations on the power of the
Congress to enact penal laws in the Bill of Rights
(RA 9346)

Felonies
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Classification (RPC, art. 3, 6 and 9) (mala in se

and mala prohibita) (Ivler v. San Pedro, GR
172716, November 17, 2010)
Incurring criminal liability (RPC, art. 4)
error in personae (People v. Magalona, GR
143294, July 17, 2003)
aberratio ictus (People v. Guillen, 85 Phil.
307 [1950])
praeter intentionem
Urbano v. IAC, Jan. 7, 1988
Impossible crime (Intod v. CA, 215 SCRA 52;
Jacinto v. Court of Appeals, GR 162540, July
13, 2009, Peralta J.)
RPC, art. 5, first paragraph (par.)
Duty of court when penalty is excessive (RPC, art.
5, 2nd par.; People v. Veneracion, 249 SCRA 244)
Stages of execution (RPC, art. 6)
Light felonies (RPC, art. 7 and 16; Presidential
Decree [PD] 1826)

1 Regional Trial Court of Makati City

CRIM LAW 1

f.

g.

3.

Conspiracy and proposal to commit felony (RPC,

art. 8; People v. Manuel, 234 SCRA 532; Fernan v.
People, GR 145927, Aug. 27, 2007; People v.
Ballosa, GR 106357, Sept. 3, 1998; Go-Tan v. Tan,
GR 168852, Sept. 30, 2008)
Offenses NOT subject to the Code (RPC, art. 10;
People v. Simon, supra; Sayoc v. People, April 30,
2009)

Circumstances affecting criminal liability

a.

b.

c.

Justifying circumstances
Self-defense (RPC, art. 11, par. 1; Gotis v.
People, GR 157201, Sept. 14, 2007; People v.
Genosa, 419 SCRA 341 [2000] [battered woman
syndrome]; People v. Trison, GR 106345, Sept. 16,
1996; People v. Galas, GR 114007, Sept. 24, 1996;
Guillermo v. People, GR 153287, June 30, 2008)
Defense of relatives (par. 2)
Defense of stranger (par. 3)
State of necessity (par. 4)
Fulfillment of duty or exercise of right or
office (par. 5) (Herrera v. Sandiganbayan, GR
119660, February 13, 2009)
Obedience to a lawful order (par. 6)
Exempting circumstances (art. 12)
Imbecile or insane person unless the latter
acted during a lucid interval (People v. Ambal, 100
SCRA 325; People v. Nuez, July 23, 1997; People
v. Dungo, 199 SCRA 860; People v. Madarang, GR
132319, May 12, 2000, Puno J.)
Person fifteen years of age or below (RA
9344)
Person who, while performing a lawful act
with due care, causes an injury by ACCIDENT
without fault or intention of causing it
Irresistible force
Uncontrollable fear
Lawful or insuperable cause
Absolutory causes (e.g. instigation: People v.
Doria, 301 SCRA ___ [1999]; People v. De Leon,
GR 186471, January 25, 2010)
Mitigating circumstances
Incomplete justifying and incomplete
exempting circumstances
Under 18 or over 70 years of age
Lack of intent to commit so grave a wrong
(Ramos-Andan v. People, GR 136388, March 14,

CRIM LAW 1

d.

2006; Nizurtado v. Sandiganbayan, 239 SCRA 33

[1994]; People v. Abare, GR 172973, December
18, 2008)
Sufficient provocation or threat (People v.
Abare, supra)
Immediate vindication of a grave offense
(Bacabac v. People, GR 149372, Sept. 11, 2007)
Passion or obfuscation (People v. Tongco, 236
SCRA 458)
Voluntary surrender and plea of guilty
(People v. Quimzon, GR 133541, April 14, 2004;
Mendoza v. People, GR 173551, October 4, 2007)
Illness that restricts means of action
Illness diminishing will power (People v.
Montesclaros, GR 181084, June 16, 2009)
Analogous mitigating circumstances (Perez v.
People, GR 164763, Feb. 12, 2008)
Aggravating circumstances (including
classification)
Abuse of public position (par. 1) (see RPC,
art. 62[1][1][a]; People v. Sumaoy, 263 SCRA 460;
People v. Bangcado, Nov. 28, 2000)
Crime committed in contempt of or with
insult to public authorities (par. 2)
Disregard of rank, age or sex; dwelling (par.
3) (People v. Jaya, 227 SCRA 9; People v. Parazo,
272 SCRA 512 [1997]; People v. Pareja, 265 SCRA
429; People v. Montesa, GR 181899, November
27, 2008)
Abuse of confidence or obvious
ungratefulness (par. 4) (People v. Cabreras, 244
SCRA 362)
Crime committed in Palace, or the
Presidents presence, or where authorities are
discharging their duties or place dedicated to
worship (par. 5)
Nighttime, uninhabited place, band (People
v. Pareja, supra; People v. Atop, 286 SCRA 157
[1998]; People v. Landicho, 258 SCRA 1; People v.
Polones, 230 SCRA 279; People v. Cabiles, 248
SCRA 207)
Misfortune or calamity
Aid of armed men or person (People v.
Padlan, 290 SCRA 388 [1998])
Recidivism (People v. Lagarto, 196 SCRA
611)
Reiteracion

CRIM LAW 1

e.

Price, reward or promise (People v. Gerolaga,

263 SCRA 143)
Inundation, fire, poison, etc. (People v.
Pugay, Nov. 17, 1988;
Malana v. People, GR
173612, March 26, 2008; PD 1866, as amended,
sec. 3)
Evident premeditation (People v. Cabodoc,
263 SCRA 187 [1996]; People v. Nell, GR 109660,
July 1, 1997)
Craft, fraud or disguise
Superior strength (People v. Casingal, 243
SCRA 37; People v. Panganiban, 241 SCRA 91;
People v. Olivo, Jan. 18, 2001; Valenzuela v.
People, GR 149988, Aug. 14, 2009; People v.
Goleas, GR 181467, Aug. 6, 2008)
Treachery (People v. Escoto, 244 SCRA 382;
People v. Gonzagan, 247 SCRA 220; Pentecostes v.
People, GR 167766, April 7, 2010, Peralta, J.)
Ignominy (People v. Siao, GR 126021, March
3, 2000)
Unlawful entry (People v. Baello, 224 SCRA
218)
Breaking of wall, roof, floor, door or
window
Aid of minors, or by means of motor vehicles
or similar means
Cruelty (People v. Ilaoa, 233 SCRA 231)
Under the influence of dangerous drugs (RA
9165 sec. 25)
Use of unlicensed firearm (People v. Lazaro,
GR 112090, Oct. 26, 1999; Madrigal v. People, GR
189694, Aug. 13, 2008 [resolution]; People v. De
Leon, GR 179943, June 26, 2009, Peralta J.)
Syndicated crime group (RA 7659)
Alternative circumstances
Relationship (People v. Tan, 264 SCRA 425;
People v. Fernandez, GR 176060, Oct. 5, 2007;
People v. Abello, GR 151952, March 25, 2009)
Intoxication (People v. Mondigo, GR 167954,
Jan. 31, 2008)
Degree of instruction and education of the
offender

4.
Persons criminally liable (art. 16), degree of
participation
a.
1998

Principals (People v. Obello GR 108772 January 14

CRIM LAW 1

b.
c.

Accomplices
Accessories (art. 19)
PD 1612 (anti-fencing)
PD 1829 (obstruction of justice) (Angeles v.
Gaite, GR 165276, November 25, 2009)
5.

Penalties
a.

General principles (art. 21, 23, 24); Penalty

prescribed, imposable penalty, penalty imposed
b.
Classification of penalties (see RA 9346)
art. 25; relate to art. 70 and 71
People v. Bon, GR 166401, October 30, 2006
art. 26
c.
Duration of penalties
art. 27
People v. Gordon, GR 169872, September 27,
2006; People v. Arrojado, 350 SCRA 679 (2001),
Mendoza, J.
Preventive imprisonment and subsidiary
penalty/imprisonment (art. 28, 29, 39)
d.
Effect of penalties (art. 30-38, 40-45; Catalina
Security Agency v. Gonzalez-Decano, GR 149039,
May 27, 2004)
e.
Application of mitigating and aggravating
circumstances
art. 46-47, 49
art. 61 (graduation of penalties)
art. 62 (effects of presence of circumstances)
art. 63 (indivisible penalties) (People v.
Cabugatan, 515 SCRA 537 [2007]; People v.
Genosa, 419 SCRA 341; People v. Ballosa, GR
106357, Sept. 3, 1998; People v. Robinos, GR
138453, May 29, 2002; Divergence: Perez v.
People, GR 164763, Feb. 12, 2008)
art. 64 (penalties with three periods)
art. 65 (penalty NOT three periods)
art. 66-67
art. 68 (minority)
art. 69 (incomplete justifying and exempting
circumstances)
art. 72-77
f.
Complex crimes and their penalties (delito
compuesto)
art. 48 (Sanchez v. Demetriou, 227 SCRA 627
[1993]; People v. Grefiel, 215 SCRA 596;
Nizurtado v. SB, 239 SCRA 33; People v. Abay, GR

CRIM LAW 1

177752, February 24, 2009; Ivler v. San Pedro, GR

172716, November 17, 2010)
g.
Continuing crime (delito continuado) (Gamboa v.
CA, 68 SCRA 314; People v. Sanidad, April 30, 2003;
Santiago v. Garchitorena, 228 SCRA 214 [1993]; People
v. Ledesma, 73 SCRA 77 [1976]; People v. Cogonon,
262 SCRA 693 [1996]; Ramiscal v. Sandiganbayan, GR
169727, Aug. 18, 2006 [Callejo, J.]; People v. Tabaco,
270 SCRA 32 [1993])
h.
Indeterminate sentence law
Sayoc v. People, GR 157723, April 30, 2009
People v. Ondo, 227 SCRA 562
People v. Martinado, 214 SCRA 712
Argoncillo v. CA, 292 SCRA 313
People v. Temporada, G.R. 173473, Dec. 17,
2008, 574 SCRA ____
i.
Probation law
Omnibus Election Code, sec. 264
Padua v. People, G.R. 168546, July 23, 2008
Francisco v. CA, 243 SCRA 384
Bala v. Judge, Jan. 29, 1990
Moreno v. COMELEC, G.R. 168550, Aug. 10,
2006
Santos v. CA, 319 SCRA 609
Heirs of Francisco Abueg v. CA, 219 SCRA
78
Colinares v. People, GR 182748, Dec. 13,
2011
EXTINCTION OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY/CIVIL LIABILITY
1.

Total extinction of criminal liability (art. 89). Compare

with partial (art. 94-96)
a.
b.
c.
d.

e.

Death of the accused (People v. Paniterce, GR

186382, April 5, 2010; De Guzman v. People, G.R.
154579, October 8, 2003, 413 SCRA 215)
Service of sentence
Amnesty and absolute pardon (Barrioquinto v.
Fernandez, 82 Phil. 642; Lacuna v. Abes, 24 SCRA
780; art. 23, 344; RA 8353, sec. 2)
Prescription of crime (art. 90; Panaguiton v.
Department of Justice, November ___ , 2008;
People v. Romualdez, G.R. 166510, April 29, 2009;
Sermonia v. CA, 233 SCRA 155; SEC v. Interport
Resources Corp., GR 135808, Oct. 6, 2008)
Prescription of penalty (art. 91-93; Castillo v.
Torrecampo, G.R. 139033, December 18, 2002)

CRIM LAW 1

f.

Marriage of the offended party with the offender

(art. 344; RA 8353; People v. De Guzman, GR
185843, March 3, 2010)

2.

Partial extinction of criminal liability (art. 94-98;

People v. Abesamis, G.R. 140985, August 28, 2007;
Fletcher v. Director, UDK-14071, July 17, 2009)

3.

Civil liability
a.
b.
c.
d.

Persons civilly liable for felonies (art. 100, 104;

Rules of Court, Rule 120, sec. 2)
Prejudicial questions (Rules of Court, Rule 111)
Civil liability of parents and guardians (art. 101)
Subsidiary civil liability (art. 102-103, 105-111;
Pangonorom v. People, G.R. 143380, April 11,
2005; Salvan v. People, G.R. 153845, September
11, 2003)