Crimes Against Public Order - Public Disorders

Question 1

Article 153

Tumults and other disturbance of public
orders; Tumultuous disturbance or interruption liable to
cause disturbance.

Answer 1

The penalty of arresto mayor in its medium period to prision correccional in its minimum period and a fine not exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000) shall be imposed upon any person who shall cause any serious disturbance in a public place, office, or establishment, or shall interrupt or disturb public performances, functions or gatherings, or peaceful meetings, if the act is not included in the provisions of Articles 131 and 132.
The penalty next higher in degree shall be imposed upon
persons causing any disturbance or interruption of a
tumultuous character.
The disturbance or interruption shall be deemed to be
tumultuous if caused by more than three persons who
are armed or provided with means of violence.
The penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed upon any
person who in any meeting, association, or public place,
shall make any outcry tending to incite rebellion or
sedition or in such place shall display placards or
emblems which provoke a disturbance of the public
order.
The penalty of arresto menor and a fine not to exceed Forty thousand pesos (P40,000) shall be imposed upon these persons who in violation of the provisions contained in the last clause of Article 85, shall bury with pomp the body of a person who has been legally executed.

Question 2

Article 154

Unlawful use of means of publication and
unlawful utterances.

Answer 2

The penalty of arresto mayor and a fine ranging from Forty thousand pesos (P40,000) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000) shall be imposed upon:
1. Any person who by means of printing, lithography, or
any other means of publication shall publish or cause to
be published as news any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State;
2. Any person who by the same means, or by words, utterances or speeches shall encourage disobedience to
the law or to the constituted authorities or praise, justify,
or extol any act punished by law;
3. Any person who shall maliciously publish or cause to be
published any official resolution or document without
proper authority, or before they have been published
officially; or
4. Any person who shall print, publish, or distribute or
cause to be printed, published, or distributed books,
pamphlets, periodicals, or leaflets which do not bear the
real printer’s name, or which are classified as anonymous.

Question 3

Article 155

Alarms and scandals

Answer 3

The penalty of arresto menor or a fine not exceeding Forty thousand pesos (P40,000) shall be imposed upon:
1. Any person who within any town or public place, shall discharge any firearm, rocket, firecracker, or other explosives calculated to cause alarm or danger;
2. Any person who shall instigate or take an active part in
any charivari or other disorderly meeting offensive to
another or prejudicial to public tranquility;
3. Any person who, while wandering about at night or
while engaged in any other nocturnal amusements, shall
disturb the public peace; or
4. Any person who, while intoxicated or otherwise, shall
cause any disturbance or scandal in public places,
provided that the circumstances of the case shall not
make the provisions of Article 153 applicable.

Question 4

Article 156

Delivery of prisoners from jails

Answer 4

The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period of prision
correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any person who shall remove from any jail or penal establishment any person confined therein or shall help the escape of such person, by means of violence, intimidation, or bribery. If other means are used, the penalty of arresto mayor shall be imposed.
If the escape of the prisoner shall take place outside of
said establishments by taking the guards by surprise, the
same penalties shall be imposed in their minimum
period.