Article 1-8 Flashcards
```
What is a crime?
act committed or omitted in violation of the public law forbidding or compelling it.
Differences between a felony, an offense, and infraction of law?
- FELONY: an act or omission punished by the RPC (Art. 3).
- OFFENSE: an act or omission punished by SPL.
- INFRACTION OF THE LAW: an act or omission punished by the local ordinances as enacted by the local sanggunian.
Four Sources of Philippine Criminal Law
- Revised Penal Code
- Special Penal Laws
- Penal Executive Orders/Penal Presidential Decrees – if such power is delegated by Congress
- Judicial decisions
Four limitations on Congress’ power to enact penal laws?
- Penal laws enacted by Congress must be general in application.Otherwise, it will be violative of the equal protection clause of the Constitution.
- Penal laws enacted by Congress must not partake of the nature of ex-post facto law.
- Penal laws enacted by Congress must not partake of the nature of bill of attainder.
- Penal laws enacted by Congress cannot impose cruel or unusual punishment, or excessive fine.
Distinguish an ex post facto law and a bill of attainder?
An ex post facto law is a law which an act criminal although at the time it was committed, it was not yet so. Whereas a bill of attainder is a law which punishes the offender without giving him the opportunity to be heard, without giving him the opportunity to state his side of the story, without due process of law.
Characteristics of Philippine Criminal Law
- Generality
- Territoriality
- Prospectivity
Define generality?
Our penal laws shall be binding on all persons residing in the Philippines whether he is a Filipino citizen or a foreigner, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, or other personal circumstances.
Two exceptions to generality?
(1) GENERALLY ACCEPTED PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW. e.g.,diplomatic immunity from suit.
(2) LAWS OF PREFERENTIAL APPLICATION. e.g., Art. 6 of the 1987 CONSTI, members of Congress cannot be prosecuted for libel, slander, defamation, for every speech or debate they made in the halls of Congress while Congress is in their regular or special session.
Define territoriality?
Our penal laws shall have force and effect within the Philippine archipelago including its atmosphere, interior waters, and maritime zone.
Provision in the Revised Penal Code that talks about territoriality?
Article 2 of the RPC
The following may be prosecuted in the Philippines despite being committed outside the Philippines
- Should commit an offense while on a Philippine ship or airship
- Should forge or counterfeit any coin or currency note of the Philippine Islands or obligations and securities issued by the Government of the Philippine Islands;
- Should be liable for acts connected with the introduction into these islands of the obligations and securities mentioned in the presiding number;
- While being public officers or employees, should commit an offense in the exercise of their functions; or
- Should commit any of the crimes against national security and the law of nations, defined in Title One of Book Two of this Code
Define prospectivity?
This characteristic provides that our penal laws shall only operate prospectively
Limitations to prospectivity?
ART. 22, RPC: Penal laws shall be given retroactive application if they favor the accused provided that the accused is not a habitual criminal
Three doctrines of Criminal Law
1.DOCTRINE OF PRO REO: penal laws shall always be applied liberally, interpreted liberally in favor of the accused and strictly against the state.
2. LENITY RULE: whenever a penal provision is susceptible of two interpretations, one is lenient to the accused and the other is strict to the accused, the lenient interpretation shall shall prevail.
3. EQUIPOSE RULE: whenever the evidence of the prosecution is equally balanced with the evidence of the defense, the scale of justice shall be tilted in favor of the accused.
T/F, in Paragraph 1 of Article II of the RPC, registration of a PH ship or airship is material?
TRUE. Ownership is immaterial. What matters is registration. So even if it is owned by foreigners, if it is licensed in the Philippines, it is a Philippine ship or airship
T/F, Paragraph 1 of Article II can only be invoked when the PH ship or airship is outside the territory of the PH but not yet in the territory of another country?
TRUE.
An exception to the invocation?
In case of Philippine warplanes and war vessels. If the crime is committed on board a Philippine warplane, Philippine vessel, wherever it may be, it is always the Philippines that has jurisdiction because said warplane and war vessel is considered as an extension of Philippine sovereignty.
T/F, as per paragraph 4 of Article II, If the criminal act done by them is in any way connected to the performance of their functions, they shall be prosecuted before the Philippine courts?
TRUE. If the crime has nothing to do with the performance of their functions, they can only be prosecuted before the courts of the said Country.
T/F, as per paragraph 5 of Article II, if the crime is against national security, he can be charged before the PH Courts?
TRUE.
T/F, as per paragraph 5 of Article II, if he commits any of the crimes against the law of nations: piracy, qualified piracy, mutiny, qualified mutiny, he shall be qualified before the Philippine courts.
TRUE
Two means of committing a felony?
Felonies are committed not only be means of deceit (dolo) but also by means of fault (culpa)
What are felonies, as per Article 3 of the RPC?
Acts and omissions punishable by law are felonies (delitos).
Distinguish dolo from culpa?
There is deceit when the act is performed with deliberate intent and there is fault when the wrongful act results from imprudence, negligence, lack of foresight, or lack of skill
Two kinds of felonies, therefore?
- Intentional felonies
- Culpable felonies
Three elements of intentional felonies?
The elements are:
(1) Criminal intent on the part of the offender
(2) Freedom of action in doing the act
(3) Intelligence of the offender
Three elements of culpable felonies?
The elements are:
(1) Criminal negligence
(2) Freedom of action
(3) Intelligence of the offender
Define criminal intent?
Intent is the use of a particular means to achieve the desired result. It is an internal state of the mind, therefore it cannot be seen.