Preliminary Title: Article 3

Question 1

State article 3 in the Civil Code of the Philippines?

Answer 1

Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith.

Question 2

What does this maxim mean, “Ignorantia legis non excusat”?

Answer 2

Ignorance of the law excuses no one.

Question 3

Where does Article 3 apply (Consunji vs. Court of Appeals, GR 137873, April 20, 2001)?

Answer 3

Article 3 only applies to mandatory and prohibitory laws.

Question 4

Fill in the blanks: Article 3 is a necessary consequence of ____________ (8 words).

Answer 4

Article 3 is a necessary consequence of mandatory provision that all laws must be published.

Question 5

How can a law exist and become effective?

Answer 5

The law must be passed by the congress, duly approved by the President of the Philippines, properly published and consequently becomes effective pursuant to its effectivity clause.

Question 6

Is it valid for a person to set up a defense indicating that he does not know the law he violated?

Answer 6

No.

Question 7

What is the doctrine learned from Tanada vs. Tuvera, 136 SCRA 27?

Answer 7

It would be the height of injustice to punish or otherwise burden a citizen for the transgression of a law of which he had no notice whatsoever, not even a constructive one.