Article 11 Flashcards
What is Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code?
Article 11. Justifying circumstances. - The following do not incur any criminal liability:
- Anyone who acts in defense of his person or rights, provided that the following circumstances concur;
First. Unlawful aggression.
Second. Reasonable necessity of the means employed to prevent or repel it.
Third. Lack of sufficient provocation on the part of the person defending himself.
- Any one who acts in defense of the person or rights of his spouse, ascendants, descendants, or legitimate, natural or adopted brothers or sisters, or his relatives by affinity in the same degrees and those consanguinity within the fourth civil degree, provided that the first and second requisites prescribed in the next preceding circumstance are present, and the further requisite, in case the revocation was given by the person attacked, that the one making defense had no part therein.
- Anyone who acts in defense of the person or rights of a stranger, provided that the first and second requisites mentioned in the first circumstance of this Article are present and that the person defending be not induced by revenge, resentment, or other evil motive.
- Any person who, in order to avoid an evil or injury, does not act which causes damage to another, provided that the following requisites are present;
First. That the evil sought to be avoided actually exists;
Second. That the injury feared be greater than that done to avoid it;
Third. That there be no other practical and less harmful means of preventing it.
- Any person who acts in the fulfillment of a duty or in the lawful exercise of a right or office.
- Any person who acts in obedience to an order issued by a superior for some lawful purpose.
Define Imputability
Imputability is the quality by which an act may be ascribed to a person as its author or owner. It implies that the act committed has been freely and consciously done and may, therefore, be put down to the doer as his very own.
Define Responsibility
Responsibility is the obligation of suffering the consequences of crime. It is the obligation of taking the penal and civil consequences of the crime.
Distinguish Imputability from Responsibility
Imputability implies that a deed may be imputed to a person. Responsibility implies that the person must take the consequences of such deed.
Define Guilt
Guilt is an element of responsibility, for a man cannot be made to answer for the consequences of a crime unless he is guilty.
Define Justifying Circumstances
are those where the act of a person is said to be in accordance with law, so that such person is deemed not to have transgressed the law and is free from both criminal and civil liability.
What is the basis of justifying circumstances?
The law recognizes the non-existence of a crime by expressly stating in the opening sentence of Article 11 that the persons therein mentioned “do not incur any criminal liability”.
What are the requisites of self-defense?
- Unlawful aggression
- Reasonable necessity of the means employed to prevent or repel it
- Lack of sufficient provocation on the part of the person defending himself.
What are the two kinds of agression? Give their definitions
- Lawful Aggression - The fulfillment of a duty or the exercise of a right in a more or less violent manner is an aggression, but it is lawful
- Unlawful Aggression - equivalent to assault or at least threatened assault of an immediate and imminent kind
Under unlawful aggression, what are the two classifications of “Peril to one’s life”?
- Actual - that the danger must be present, that is, actually in existence
- Imminent - that the danger is on the point of happening. It is not required that the attack already begins, for it may be too late.
What does peril to one’s limb mean?
When a person is attacked, he is in imminent danger of death or bodily harm. It may be actual or imminent
Is retaliation an act of self-defense? Why?
No. In retaliation, the aggression that was begun by the injured party already ceased to exist when the accused attacked him.
Does the act of pulling “something” out constitute unlawful aggression? Why?
No. The act of pulling something out cannot amount to unlawful aggression or physical force or actual use of weapon, or even threat or intimidating attitude since there is no peril to one’s life.
Is actual physical force or actual use of weapon considered unlawful or lawful aggression?
Unlawful. The person defending himself must have been attacked with actual physical force or with actual use of weapon.
Does “foot-kick greeting” constitute an unlawful aggression? Why?
No. It is not a serious or real attack on a person’s safety.
Does a slap on the face constitute unlawful aggression? Why?
Yes. The face represents a person and his dignity. Slapping it is a serious personal attack.
If the aggressor flees, is it still considered unlawful aggression? Why?
No. When lawful aggression which has begun no longer exists because the aggressor runs away, the one making a defense has no more right to kill or even wound the former aggressor.
Does unlawful aggression exist when there is an agreement to fight? Why?
No. The aggression is reciprocal and legitimate as between two contending parties but the challenge to a fight must be accepted.
When aggression takes place ahead of the agreed time and place, is that unlawful?
Yes. When there is a mutual agreement to fight, an aggression ahead of the stipulated time and place would be unlawful.
What are the three classes of defense mentioned in Article 11, Paragraphs 1,2, and 3?
- Defense of woman’s honor
- Defense of property
- Defense of home
When intent to attack is manifest, does picking up a weapon constitute unlawful aggression? Why?
Yes. When the picking up of a weapon is preceded by circumstances indicating the intention of the deceased to use in in attacking the defendant, such act is considered an unlawful aggression.
What is the doctrine of rational equivalence?
Reasonable necessity of the means employed does not imply material commensurability between the means of attack and defense.
What are the two considerations for necessity of the course of action taken?
- Place and occasion of the assault considered.
- The darkness of the night and the surprise which characterized the assault considered.
Does the person defending expected t control his blow? Why?
No. The person defending himself cannot be expected to think clearly so as to control his blow.