Philippine Criminal Law (Book 1)

Question 1

• that branch of public law
  which defines crimes treats of their nature
  and provides for their punishment.

Answer 1

Criminal Law

Question 2

an act committed or omitted in
violation of a public law forbidding or
commanding it

Answer 2

Crime

Question 3

an act or omission punishable by

the Revised Penal Code

Answer 3

Felony

Question 4

punishable by Special laws.

Answer 4

Offense

Question 5

violation of city or municipal

ordinances.

Answer 5

Infraction

Question 6

known as the Revised

Penal Code

Answer 6

Act 3815

Question 7

Sources of Criminal Law

Answer 7

1. RPC
2. Special Penal Law
3. Presidential Decrees

Question 8

the body of
principles, usages and rules of actions which
do not result from the express act of the
legislature. There is no such crime in the
Philippines.

Answer 8

Common law crimes

Question 9

is a law 
that makes criminal an act done 
before the passage of the law and
which was innocent when done, and 
punishes such an act; it may also be 
defined as a law which aggravates a 
crime, or makes it greater than it was, 
when committed

Answer 9

Ex post facto law

Question 10

a law which

inflicts punishment without trial

Answer 10

Bill of attainder

Question 11

The law must be fair 
and reasonable and the accused 
must be given the opportunity to be 
heard and be accorded the rights to 
which he is entitled.

Answer 11

No person shall be deprived of life,
liberty or property without due
process of law

Question 12

an act done by me against

my will is not my act.

Answer 12

ACTUS ME INVITO FACTUS NON EST

MEUS ACTUS

Question 13

there is no crime if there is no law

punishing it.

Answer 13

NULLUM CRIMEN NULLA POENA SINE

LEGE

Question 14

an act cannot be criminal when the

mind is not criminal.

Answer 14

ACTUS NON FACIT REUM, NISI MENS SIR

REA

Question 15

criminal law is binding on all
persons who live or sojourn in the
Philippines.

Answer 15

General

Question 16

criminal laws are
applicable only if the crime is
committed within Philippine territory.

Answer 16

Territorial

Question 17

Exceptions: Generality

Answer 17

• As provided by Treaty Stipulations –
PR-VFA Agreements
• As provided by laws of preferential 
application
• Persons who are exempt because of 
certain principles of international laws

Question 18

Exceptions: Extraterritoriality

Answer 18

Exceptions: Extraterritoriality
• When the offender shall commit an 
offense on a Philippine ship or airship.
• When the offender should forge or 
counterfeit any coin or currency note 
of the Philippines or obligations and 
securities issued by the Philippine 
government.
• When the offender should be liable 
for the acts connected with the 
introduction into the Philippines of the 
obligations and securities mentioned 
in number two.
• When the offender who is a public 
officer or employee abroad shall 
commit an offense in the exercise of 
his functions.
• When the offender should commit an 
offense against the national 
securities and the laws of nations

Question 19

criminal law cannot
make an act punishable in a manner
in which it was not punishable when
committed.

Answer 19

Prospective