7/20/2016

NotesonPhilippineLaws:IndeterminateSentenceLaw(ISLAW):Howtodeterminemaximumandminimumpenalties
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IndeterminateSentenceLaw(ISLAW):Howtodetermine
maximumandminimumpenalties
(Actno4103asamended)
TheIndeterminateSentenceLawismandatoryinallcases,EXCEPTiftheaccusedwillfallinanyof
thefollowingexceptions:
1.ifsentencedwithapenaltyofdeathorlifeimprisonment
life
2.ifconvictedoftreason,conspiracy,proposaltocommittreason
3.ifconvictedofmisprisionoftreason,sedition,rebellionorespionage
4.ifconvictedofpiracy
5.iftheoffenderisahabitualdelinquent
6.thosewhoescapedfromprisonorevadedsentence
7.thosewhoviolatedthetermsofconditionalpardonofthechiefexecutive
8.wherethemaximumtermofimprisonmentdoesnotexceed1year(important!)
9.ifconvictedbyfinaljudgementatthetimeoftheeffectivityofActNo.4103
10.ifpenalizedwithsuspensionordistierro
Ifaccusedfallinanyoftheforegoingexceptions.DONOTAPPLYISLAW!
ISLAWappliestooffensespunishedbySpecialLawandRevisedPenalCode.
WhyisISLAWmandatory?
In the application of the Indeterminate Sentence Law the judge will get the maximum penalty and
likewise the minimum penalty. If the accused was already able to serve the minimum term of his
indeterminate sentence and upon the approval of the Board, the accused now becomes eligible for
parole.ISLAWisfavorabletotheaccused.
Iftheaccusedwasgrantedparoleandviolatedsomeconditionsoftheparole,Whatwill
happen?
Awarrantofarrestwillbeissuedbythecourtandtheaccusedwillbemadetoservetherestofthe
remainingorunexpiredportionofhissentence.(Butinprobationyougobacktonumber1,servingof
sentencewillbefromthebeginning)
ApplicationofISLAW:
HowtogetmaximumandminimumpenaltyinSpecialLaw:
1.ThemaximumpenaltyshouldNOTexceedthemaximumprovidedforbythatlaw.
2.TheminimumpenaltyshouldNOTfallbelowtheminimumprovidedbythelaw.
HowtogetmaximumandminimumpenaltyinRevisedPenalCode:
Example:Inthecrimeofhomicide,undertheRevisedPenalCode,theoffenderissentencedto
reclusiontemporal.

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The maximum penalty under the Indeterminate Sentence Law is reclusion temporal. But reclusion
temporalisadivisiblepenaltyconsistingofmaximum,mediumandminimumperiods.Whichperiod
willweplacethemaximumtermoftheIndeterminateSentence?
Guidefordeterminingthemaximumpenalty:
1.Determinetheentirerangeofthepenalty
2.Determineifthereismitigatingoraggravatingcircumstance
Whichperiodwillthemaximumpenaltybeplaced?
In pursuant to art 64, when there is no mitigating and no aggravating circumstance, it should be
placed at the medium period. Thus, the maximum penalty for the example above is reclusion
temporalinthemediumperiod.

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7/20/2016

NotesonPhilippineLaws:IndeterminateSentenceLaw(ISLAW):Howtodeterminemaximumandminimumpenalties

Whatistheminimumpenaltynow?
In getting the minimum penalty, the rule is to simply get the penalty one (1) degree lower from the
maximumpenaltywithouttakingintoaccountthemitigatingandaggravatingcircumstance.Thus,the
penalty one degree lower from reclusion temporal, without taking into account any mitigating or
aggravating circumstance, is prision mayor. Prision mayor is now the minimum penalty for our
example.

August(2)
July(8)

Important:Ifyourmaximumpenaltyiswrong,itfollowsthattheminimumpenaltywillalsobewrong.
Again,prisionmayorisadivisiblepenalty.Whichperiodcanitbeplaced?
UndertheIndeterminateSentenceLaw,itwoulddependuponthediscretionofthecourtonwhich
periodtoplaceit.Thus,theminimumpenaltyisprisionmayorinanyofitsperiod.
Factorsthatcouldaffecttheimpositionofminimumpenalty:
1.Age
2.Conductduringtrial
3.Mentalorphysicalcondition
Supposeintheexampleabove,1aggravatingcircumstancewasproven.Whatisnowthemaximum
penalty?
Itwouldstillbereclusiontemporal,butitshallbeplacedinthemaximumperiodbecauseofthe
presenceof1aggravatingcircumstance.
Howabouttheminimumpenalty?
Itwouldstillbe1degreelowerfromreclusiontemporal,whichisprisionmayor.Inwhichperiod?It
shallbediscretionaryuponthecourt.
(Moreexamples)
1mitigatingbutNOaggravating
maximumpenalty:reclusiontemporalintheminimumperiod
minimumpenalty:prisionmayorinanyperiod
2mitigating,NOaggravating(privilegedmitigating)
maximumpenalty:prisionmayorinthemediumperiod
minimumpenalty:prisioncorrectionalanyperiod
The preceding example is an exception to the rule. If there is a privileged mitigating circumstance,
wetakeitintoaccountfirstinordertoobtainthepropermaximumpenalty.Then,fromthatmaximum
penalty, we obtain the proper minimum penalty by getting the penalty 1 degree lower. Same rule
appliesastotheperiodoftheminimumpenalty.
Remember:Itwillneverbecomeaprivilegedmitigatingcircumstanceifthereisanaggravating
circumstancepresent.8mitigatingand1aggravatingwillneverbecomeprivilegedmitigating
circumstance.
3mitigating,NOaggravating
maximumpenalty:prisionmayorintheminimumperiod
minimumpenalty:prisioncorrectionalanyperiod
In the preceding example, there are 3 mitigating circumstance present and no aggravating
circumstance. The first two mitigating circumstance shall be a privileged mitigating circumstance.
Thus, the penalty will be reduced by 1 degree from reclusion temporal to prision mayor. The 3rd
mitigatingcircumstanceshallplacethepenaltyintheminimumperiod.
4mitigating,NOaggravating
maximumpenalty:prisioncorrectionalinthemediumperiod(2privilegedcircumstance.Thuswe
lowerby2degrees)
minimumpenalty:arrestomayoranyperiod
5mitigating,NOaggravating
maximumpenalty:prisioncorrectionalintheminimumperiod
minimumpenalty:arrestomayoranyperiod
Atmostwecanonlylowerby2degrees.Thus,ifthereare6mitigatingcircumstanceandNO
aggravating:
maximumpenalty:prisioncorrectionalintheminimumperiod
minimumpenalty:arrestomayoranyperiod

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7/20/2016

NotesonPhilippineLaws:IndeterminateSentenceLaw(ISLAW):Howtodeterminemaximumandminimumpenalties

HowisIndeterminateSentenceLawappliedincomplexcrimes(Article48)?
Acomplexcrimeispunishedbythemostseriousoffenseandshallbeimposedinitsmaximum
period.
Example:Estafathroughfalsificationofpublicdocuments.
Under the Revised Penal Code, falsification of public documents (Article 171) is a more serious
offensepunishedbyprisionmayorthanestafa(Article315),punishedonlybyprisioncorrectional.
Thus,applyingtheIndeterminateSentenceLaw,themaximumpenaltyforestafathroughfalsification
ofpublicdocumentsshallbeprisionmayorinthemaximumperiod.Minimumpenaltyshallbeprision
correctional,anyperiod.
Supposetherewas1mitigatingcircumstanceproven.Maximumpenaltywouldstillbeprisionmayor
inthemaximumperiod.InpursuanttoArticle48,evenifthereisamitigatingcircumstancepresent,
itshouldstillbeimposedatthemaximumperiod.
Howaboutifthereare2mitigatingcircumstanceandnoaggravating?
Theruleis,ifitisaprivilegedmitigatingcircumstance,welowerbythepenaltybyonedegreebut
stillplaceitatthemaximumperiod.Thus,themaximumpenaltyshallbeprisioncorrectionalinthe
maximumperiod.
4mitigating,NOaggravating
maximumpenalty:arrestomayorinitsmaximumperiod
Postedbygemendioat4:24AM
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Labels:ActNo.4103,criminallaw,howtoapplyindeterminatesentencelaw,howtodetermine
maximumandminimumpenaties,IndeterminateSentenceLaw,ISLAW

8comments:
LeslieLim June2,2015at1:56AM
First time I commented in a blog! I really enjoy it. You have an awesome post. Please do
morearticleslikethis.I'mgonnacomebacksurely.Godbless.
Rica
www.imarksweb.org
Reply

JamesAndrew July15,2015at6:04PM
ISLAWisshouldalwaysbeimplementedatalltimes.IhopejusticeinthePhilippineswillbe
servedfair.Anyways,oneofthebestlawyersareinNDVLawOffices.
Reply

Unknown September11,2015at11:31AM
thanks!
Reply

Unknown September25,2015at5:59AM
Thiscommenthasbeenremovedbytheauthor.
Reply

GaratchaGalindo September25,2015at7:31AM
Whenthereisaggravatinginallofyourexampleswhatwillhappen?Thankyou.
Reply

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7/20/2016

NotesonPhilippineLaws:IndeterminateSentenceLaw(ISLAW):Howtodeterminemaximumandminimumpenalties
Unknown October8,2015at4:58AM
Garatcha, the court cannot impose a penalty beyond what is provided for by law. If for
exampleinhomicide,ifthereare5aggravatingcircumstancespresent,thecourtcanimpose
onlyuptothemaximumperiodofReclusionTemporal.
Reply

SilviaJacinto January14,2016at5:15PM
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Unknown April18,2016at11:35PM
Veryreliable.Thankyouforsharing!
Reply

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