TITLE ONE: Crimes against Nat'l Security and the Law of Nations Flashcards
WHAT ARE THE CRIMES AGAINST NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE LAW OF NATIONS
Crimes against national security:
1. Treason. (Art. 114 )
2. Conspirac y and proposal to commit treason. (Art. 115)
3. Misprision of treason. (Art. 116)
4. Espionage . (Art. 117)
Crimes against the law of nations:
1. Inciting to wa r or giving motive s for reprisals. (Art. 118)
2. Violation of neutrality. (Art. 119)
3. Correspondenc e wit h hostil e country. (Art. 120)
4. Flight to enemy’s country. (Art. 121)
5. Piracy in genera l and mutin y on the high sea s or in
Philippine waters. (Art. 122)
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF TREASON?
- THAT THE OFFENDER IS A FILIPINO CITIZEN OR AN ALIEN RESIDING IN THE PHILIPPINES
- THAT THERE IS A WAR IN WHICH THE PHILIPPINES IS INVOLVED
- THAT THE OFFENDER EITHER–
a. LEVIES WAR AGAINS THE GOVERNMENT
b. ADHERES TO THE ENEMIES BY GIVING THEM AID OR COMFORT.
WHAT IS TREASON?
TREASON IS A BREACH OF ALLEGIANCE TO A GOVERNMENT COMMITTED BY A PERSON WHO OWES ALLEGIANCE TO IT.
HOW TO PROVE THAT THE OFFENDER IS A FILIPINO CITIZEN?
- PRISON RECORD FILLED OUT BY THE ACCUSED HIMSELF
2. TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES WHO KNOW HIM TO HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE PHILIPPINES OF FILIPINO PARENTS
WHAT IS ALLEGIANCE?
IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF FIDELITY AND OBEDIENCE WHICH THE INDIVIDUALS OWE TO THE GOVERNMENT UNDER WHICH THEY LIVE
FC-ABSOLUTE/TEMPORARY ALLEGIANCE
RA-TEMPORARY
CAN TREASON BE COMMITTED IN TIME OF PEACE?
-NO. Treason is a war crime. It is not an all-time offense. It cannot be
committed in peace time.
-THAT THERE IS A WAR IN WHICH THE PHILIPPINES IS INVOLVED IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME OF TREASON.
WHAT ARE THE TWO WAYS OR MODES OF COMMITTING TREASON?
- LEVYING WAR AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
2. ADHERING TO THE ENEMIES BY GIVING THEM AID OR COMFORT
WHAT ARE THE TWO REQUISITES THAT MUST CONCUR IN LEVYING WAR?
- THERE BE AN ACTUAL ASSEMBLING OF MEN
- FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXECUTING A TREASONABLE DESIGN BY FORCE
NOTE: IF THE TWO CONCUR, ALL THOSE WHO PERFORMED ANY PART, HOWEVER MINUTE, OR HOWEVER REMOTE FROM THE SCENE OF ACTION ARE TO BE CONSIDERED AS TRAITORS.
IS IT NECESSARY THAT THERE IS A FORMAL DECLARATION OF WAR IN TREASON BY LEVYING WAR?
NO. ACTUAL HOSTILITIES MAY DETERMINE THE DATE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF WAR.
IS IT NECESSARY THAT THE WAR BE DIRECTED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT?
YES. THE LEVYING OF WAR MUST BE WITH THE INTENT TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT NOT MERELY TO RESIST A PARTICULAR STATUTE OR TO REPEL A PARTICULAR OFFICER
NOTE: NO MATTER HOW VAIN OR FUTILE THE ATTEMPT IS AND HOW IMPOSSIBLE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT BE.
IS IT NECESSARY THAT THE PURPOSE OF LEVYING WAR IS TO DELIVER THE COUNTRY IN WHOLE OR IN PART TO THE ENEMY?
YES. THE LEVYING OF WAR MUST BE IN COLLABORATION WITH A FOREIGN ENEMY.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TREASON AND REBELLION?
REBELLION IS THE LEVYING OF WAR AS MERELY A CIVIL UPRISING WITHOUT ANY INTENTION OF HELPING AN EXTERNAL ENEMY WHEREAS TREASON AIMS TO COLLABORATE WITH A FOREIGN ENEMY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DELIVERING THE COUNTRY IN WHOLE OR IN PART TO SUCH ENEMY.
IS ADHERENCE ALONE SUFFICIENT TO CONSTITUTE TREASON?
NO. ADHERENCE AND GIVING AID OR COMFORT MUST CONCUR TOGETHER. ADHERENCE ALONE WITHOUT GIVING AID OR COMFORT TO THE ENEMY IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO CONSTITUTE TREASON AND VICE VERSA.
WHAT CONSTITUTES ADHERENCE TO THE ENEMY?
- THE PHRASE MEANS INTENT TO BETRAY.
- THERE IS ADHERENCE WHEN A CITIZEN INTELLECTUALLY OR EMOTIONALLY FAVORS THE ENEMY AND HARBORS SYMPATHIES OR CONVICTIONS DISLOYAL TO HIS COUNTRY’S POLICY OR INTEREST.
WHAT IS AID OR COMFORT?
- THE PHRASE MEANS AN ACT THAT STRENGHTENS OR TENDS TO STRENGHTEN THE ENEMY IN THE CONDUCT OF WAR AGAINST THE TRAITOR’S COUNTRY; OR
- AN ACT WHICH WEAKENS OR TENDS TO WEAKEN THE POWER OF THE TRAITOR’S COUNTRY TO RESIST OR TO ATTACK THE ENEMY.
WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF AID OR COMFORT THAT CONSTITUTES TREASON?
- IT MUST BE SOME KIND OF ACTION (PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OR DEED) NOT MERELY A MENTAL OPERATION (e.g FURNISHING THE ENEMY WITH TROOPS, SUPPLIES, INFORMATION OR MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
- AID OR COMFORT GIVEN TO ENEMIES, TO BE CONSIDERED TREASONOUS, MUST BE TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO THEM AS ENEMIES AND NOT MERELY AS INDIVIDUALS.
- THE AID OR COMFORT GIVEN TO THE ENEMY MUST BE IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ENEMIES’ HOSTILE DESIGNS.
- TO LEND OR GIVE MONEY TO AN ENEMY AS A FRIEND OR OUT OF CHARITY FOR PERSONAL NECESSITIES OR TO ASSIST HIM AS AN INDIVIDUAL) IS NOT TREASONOUS
- LENDING MONEY TO AN ENEMY TO ENABLE HIM TO BUY ARMS OR AMMUNITION TO USE IN WAGING WAR AGAINS THE GOVER’S COUNTRY ENHANCES HIS STRENGHT AND INJURES THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GIVER IS TREASONOUS.
IS IT ESSENTIAL THAT THE ACT COMMITTED HAS STRENGHTENED THE ENEMY?
NO. PROVIDED THE OVERT ACTS ARE DONE WHICH IF SUCCESSFUL WOULD ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF THE ENEMY
NOTE: THERE IS AID OR COMFORT NO MATTER HOW VAIN OR FUTILE THE ATTEMPT MAY BE AS LONG AS THE ACT HAS THE TENDENCY TO STRENGHTEN THE ENEMY THERE IS TREASON.
-IT IS NOT THE DEGREE OF SUCCESS BUT RATHER THE AIM FOR WHICH THE ACT WAS PERPETRATED THAT DETERMINES THE COMMISSION OF TREASON.
IS COMMANDEERING OF WOMEN TO SATISFY THE LUST OF THE ENEMY AN ACT OF TREASON?
NO. ALTHOUGH THIS MADE LIFE MORE PLEASANT TO THE ENEMIES AND BOOST THEIR SPIRIT BECAUSE THE ACTS WERE NOT CALCULATED TO STRENGHTEN THE JAPANESE EMPIRE OR ITS ARMY OR CRIPPLE THE DEFENSE AND RESISTANCE OF THE OTHER SIDE. THE FAVORABLE EFFECT WAS TRIVIAL IMPERCEPTIBLE AND UNINTENTIONAL.
WHAT ARE SPECIFIC ACTS OF AID OR COMFORT CONSTITUTING TREASON?
- Serving as informer and active member of the Japanese Military
Police, arresting guerilla suspects in an attempt to suppress the
underground movement. - Serving in the Japanese Army as agent or spy and participating
in the raid of guerrilla hideout. - Acting as “finger woman” when a barrio was “zonified” by the
Japanese, pointing out to the Japanese several men whom she
accused as guerillas. - Taking active part in the mass killing of civilians by the Japanese
soldiers by personally tying the hands of the victims.
DOES THE TERM “ENEMY” APPLY TO REBELS ?
NO. THE TERM “ENEMIES” APPLIES ONLY TO THE SUBJECTS OF A FOREIGN POWER AND DOES NOT EMBRACE REBELS BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL CITIZENS
CAN THERE BE TREASON THRU NEGLIGENCE?
NO. THE OVERT ACT OF AID OR COMFORT TO THE ENEMY MUST BE INTENTIONAL.
IS THERE A COMPLEX CRIME OF TREASON WITH MURDER, PHYSICAL INJURIES, ETC.
NO. MURDER AND PHYSICAL INJURIES ARE INHERENT IN THE CRIME OF TREASON CHARACTERIZED BY GIVING THEM AID OR COMFORT
IS TREASON A CONTINUING OFFENSE?
Treason is of such a nature that it may be committed by one single act,
by a series of acts, or by several series thereof, not only in a single time, but
in different times, it being a continuous crime.
-ALL OVERT ACTS CONSTITUTE BUT A SINGLE OFFENSE
WHAT IS THE TWO WITNESS RULE?
ART 114 PAR 2:
NO PERSON SHALL BE CONVICTED OF TREASON UNLESS ON THE TESTIMONY OF TWO WITNESSES AT LEAST TO THE SAME OVERT ACT
- SIMPLY MEANS THAT THE TESTIMONY OF TWO WITNESSES IS REQUIRED TO PROVE THE OVERT ACT OF GIVING AID OR COMFORT. (FOR EACH OVERT ACT=TWO WITNESSES)
- MUST BE TO THE SAME OVERT ACT NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRED THAT THE TESTIMONY BE IDENTICAL.
HOW CAN TREASON BE PROVED?
ART 114 PAR 2:
- TESTIMONY OF TWO WITNESSES, AT LEAST TO THE SAME OVERT ACT, OR
- ON CONFESSION OF THE ACCUSED IN OPEN COURT
WHAT IS AN OVERT ACT?
A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OR DEED THAT CONSTITUTES THE RENDERING OF AID AND COMFORT.
WHAT HAPPENS IF ONLY ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES ARE BELIEVED BY THE COURT?
- DEFENDANT SHOULD BE ACQUITTED BECAUSE IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE AS IF THERE WAS ONLY ONE WITNESS AND THE TWO WITNESS RULE WILL NOT BE COMPLIED WITH.
- THE TWO WITNESS RULE IS SEVERLY RESTRICTIVE.
IS IT NECESSARY THE THERE BE CORROBORATION BETWEEN THE WITNESSES?
NO. IT IS SUFFICIENT THAT THE WITNESSES ARE UNIFORM IN THEIR TESTIMONY ON THE OVERT ACT.
IS THE TWO WITNESS RULE AFFECTED BY DISCREPANCIES IN MINOR DETAILS OF THE TESTIMONY?
NO. The fact that the witnesses were not uniform in their statements is not sufficient to entirely discredit their testimony,
as the deficiency refers merely to minor details
HOW MAY ADHERENCE BE PROVED?
- BY ONE WITNESS
- FROM THE NATURE OF THE ACT ITSELF
- FROM THE CIRCUMSTANCES SORROUNDING THE ACT.