Treason

Quick Pointers in Criminal

Law
(Book 2(Complete))

Continuingcrime
TWOWITNESSRULE Onlycrimerequiringtwocrediblewitnessesfor
thesameovertactaswayofprovingbecausewartimeisabnormal
time.

NotesfromLectureofFiscalSalva(Ret.)
FormerChiefProsecutor,CityofManila
JURISTSBARREVIEWCENTER
August14,2015

Conspiracy & Proposal to Commit

Treason
Conspiracyneednotbeacceptedinproposaltocommittreasin

Misprision of Treason
Acrimeofommission
MayonlybecommittedbyaFilipinocitizen(notethatthisisnot
expresslyidentifiedintheprovisionofthelaw).
Whatmustbereportedisonlyconspiracy.Ifcrimeiscommitted
already,therecannotbemisprisionifunreported.

Piracy under PD 522

Act of Terrorism (RA 9372)

StowawaysmaycommitpiracyundernPD522,forthepurposeof
whichheisastranger,unlessheisinvitedbythecaptain.

Sec.49 acquittalorconvictionunderRA9372barsprosecutionfor
crimesenumeratedunderSec.3definingactsofterrorismunder
whichpiracyisincluded.

Kinds of Arbitrary Detention

Delay in Delivery of Detained Persons

(Art. 125)

SeeArt.124 125 126ofRPC

Appliesonlytowarrantlessarrest

Delaying Release (Art. 126)

Remedy to Delayed Realease

Processservermaybeheldliable

Thespeediestremedyiswritofhabeascorpus

Expulsion (Art 127) vs Grave Coercion

(Art. 286)

Violation of Domicile (Art. 128)

Ifwithoutlawfulauthority,thentheremaybegravecoercion.
Notethatexpulsionmayonlybecommittedbypublicofficeror
piublicemployee.

Theremusteitherbeexpressorimpliedprohibition.
Ifentranceisthroughawindow,thereisprohibitionasthewindowis
notmeanttobeameansofentry.
Ifentryisallowed,doesnotmeansearchisincludedinpermission.
Ifpolicemanleavesbutreturns,theremaybeunjustvexation.

Search Warrant Maliciously Obtained

(Art. 129)

Dangerous Drug Act Of 2002

Mayalsobeliableforperjuryastoobtainasearchwarrant,police
officerneedstoexecuteanaffidavit.
ABUSEINTHESERVICEIfvalid,policemanmustnotuse
unreasonableorexcessiveforce.Hemaybechargedwithsomeother
crime,ifheservesthewarrantwithunreasonableorexcessiveforce.
Ifnightimeorfailuretoreturnseizedthingsnotcoveredbywarrant,
theviolationofdomicilebecmesqualified.

PLANTINGOFEVIDENCE maybecommittedbyanypersonnot
onlypoliceofficer,underSec29ofRA9165.
NOTE:Sec.25onLiabilityofPublicOfficerforMisappropriationetc
wasaskedinthebarexam lifeimprisonmenttodeath,plusfine.

JOKE TIME

Interruption of Religious Worship

FiscalSalva:WhenIlecturetopolicemen,Iaskthemwhydoestheir
curriculumincludeAgriculture?Plantingofevidence,thats
Agriculture.Tawamgapulis!
(OVERHEARD)Policemanintheaudience:Hindilangdapat
Agriculture,JanitorialServicesdin!Paglilinisngebidensiya!
Fiscal Salva: Ang korapsyontalaga, kahit saan
PRIVATEJOKEfromStellaAgustin:Ah,kayapalayungkakilalako
nakaiPhone!

Coverstraditionsreligiousworship
Ifnot,maybecoveredbyArt131ProhibitionofPeacefulMeeting

Offending Religious Feelings

Crimes Against Public Order (Title 3)

Committinganoffendingactinaplacedevotedtoreligiousworship
Thereneednotbeworshipatthetimeofcommission
Mustberelatedtoreligiousceremony
Ifnotoffendingreligiousfeeling,maybeunjustvexation.

REBELLION Risingpubliclyandtakingarmsagainstthe
GovernmentMayberephrasedtopublicarmeduprisingfor
purposeansweringinthebarexam.
NomentionofJudiciary,onlyChiefExecutiveorLegislatureinArt134.
ButmaybeliableforSeditionunderArt139.
SC:Commoncrimescommittedinfurtheranceofrebellionare
absorbed.(PURPOSETEST:politicalmotivation)
Rapecannotbeabsorbedasitmaynotbecommittedinfurtherance
ofapoliticalmotivation

Rebellion (Art 134)

Inciting to Rebellion (Art 138)

Rebellionmayabsorbmurderifgovernmentrecognizesthatthe
accusedisamemberofSparroworliquidationunitoftheNew
PeoplesArmy.
ThecourtmaytakejudicialnoticeanddIsmisschargeofmurder
withoutprejudicetofilingofrebellion

Offendermaynotbeonewhoisalreadycommittingrebeallion
againstthegovernment
Incitebymeansofspeech,proclamations,writings,emblems,
banners,orotherrepresentations

Coup detat (Art 134-A)

Sedition (Art 139)

TostrikeagainsttheState
PURPOSE:ToseizeordiminishpoweroftheState,butnotto
overthrowit(unlikeinrebellion).
Maybecommittedwithoutpublicuprising,butbyswiftattack
Inrebellion,theremustbeamultitude.Incoupdetat,asinglepolice
officermaycommitthecrime.
Inrebellion,addressagainstentireGovernment.Incoupdetat,
directedagainstdulyconstitutedauthoritiesetc.
Commoncrimesdeemedabsorbed,unlesspersonallybenefitted.

Risepubliclyandtumultuously
MannerandpurposeenumeratedinArt.139(15)
Todespoilmeanstorenderuseless.
Killingappreciatedasaseparatecriminalactfromseditionasthe
provisionoflawdoesnotincludetakingofarms,unlikeinrebellion.

Inciting to Sedition (Art 142)

Act of Terrorism

Nocrimeasproposaltocommitsedition
Maybechargeasprincipalbyinducementtoincitingtosedition
Merevesselofrebelmaynotbeconvictedofrebellion(seecaseofKa
Beltran)

InadventofHumanSecurityActof2007,useofviolencetodemand
governmenttogiveintounlawfuldemandisactofterrorism
Onceconvicted/acquitted,maynolongerbechargedwithrebellion.
Differentiatewithcomplexcrime(Art48):Incomplexcrime,criinal
actseenintheeyesofthelawasasingleoffenseandpenaltyisfor
seriouscrimeinmaximumperiod.Whereasinactofterrorism,ifnot
allrequisitesarenotproven,accusedmustbeacquitted(unlikein
ordinarycrime,courtmayconvictforlesseroffense)

Disloyalty of Public Officers (Art 137)

Threewaystocommit(seecodalprovisions)
Ifactscommittedbyprivateperson,heisliableforrebellion,notfor
disloyalty
Onlypublicofficeroremployeemaycommitthis.

Tending to Prevent Meetings of

Legislature
Meeting,broaderthansessions(Art143)

Violation of Parliamentary Immunity (Art

145)
Nocriminalprosecution(Onlyforlibelororaldefamation)when
committedintheperformanceofofficialfunction.
Ammendedby1987Constitution:now,onlyforcrimeswithpenalty
ofprisioncorrectional
IfpolicemanstopsCongressmanforviolationswithpenaltynot
greaterthanprisioncorreccionalcommittedwhileheisonhiswayto
Congress,policemanisliable.

Direct Assault (Art 148)

Twowaystocommit:(1)Firstway,maybecommittedbyanyone,and
victimmaybeaprivateperson(inrelationtopurposesof
rebellion/sedition,sanspublicuprising);(2)Secondway,victimisa
publicofficer/personinauthority.
Alwayswithoutpublicuprising.
Insecondway,offenderknowsthevictimisapersonin
authority/agentofpersonsinauthority,asitisadefianceofauthority
(maybephysicalinjuryonly)
Insecondmethod,attackdirectedtoperformanceorpast
performanceofauthority

Persons in Authority/Agents (Art 152)

Direct Assault

Persondirectlyvestedwithjurisdiction.Barriocaptain/brgychairman
included,onlywithintheirjurisdiction.
AgentofPersonsinAuthority electionorappointment/
maintenanceofpublicorder/protectionoflifeandproperty/comesto
aidofpersonsinauthority
Lawyers,professors,SUCs personinauthoritywhileinthe
performanceofhisduty
Inrelationtodirect/indirectassaults
InrelationtoArt151 Resistance/disobedience

Victimshouldstillbeengagedinpublicservice.
Ifattendantwithqualifyingcircumstanceoftreachery,thencrime
maybecompolexcrimeofdirectassaultwithfrustratedmurder.

Qualifying circumstances

Indirect Assault Art 149

Offenderuseaweapon
Whenoffenderisapublicofficer
Whenoffenderisapersoninauthority
PENALTY inmaximumperiod

Theremustbedirectassault
Attackdirectedtopersonscomingtotheaidpersonsinauthority
SC:ChiefofPoliceisapersoninauthority.

Resistance (Art 151)

Unlawful Use of Publication (Art 154)

Ifresistanceisserious,itisdirectassault.

Notbearingrealprintersname
Offendermustknowwhatispublishingisfalse(falsenews)

Alarm and Scandal (Art 155)

Delivering Prisoners (Art 156)

Charivari(seeBoadosNotes)
Midnight
Nakedinpublic
Ifplayingwithorgan,gravescandalascontrarytomorals.

Withoutcustody,anypersonassistingintheescapeofprisoner
Offdutyjailofficers
PREVENTIVEIMPRISONMENT notcovered
Forescapedprisoner,offenseisevasionofsentence(theremustbea
finalconviction)underArt157

Evasion of Sentence (Art 157)

Evasion under Art 158

Destierroincluded thoughnotimprisonment,itisdeprivationof
liberty(SamecommentwithAtty/DrGabao)

Ammended,seeArt98 2/5deductionsifdidnotescapewhen
affordedsameopportunity
NotethattheremustbeaproclamationofthePresident

Violation of Conditional Pardon (Art 159)

Special Aggravating Circumstances

SubjecttoPresidentsdiscretion,butmustbeacceptedbythe
convict.
Penalizesviolationofcondition.

HabitualDeliquency Art22/62(5)
Reiteracion
Recidivisim Art14(9)
QuasiRecidism Art160
Cannotbeoffset

Forging Seal of President

Forgery (Art 169/Public Interest)

Art161 personwhoforgedthesignature
Art162 personwhousedthedocumentwithforgedsignature

Onlypertainingtotreasuryorbanknotes.

Falsification under Art 171

Falsification under Art 172

Theremustnotbecolorabletruthinstatements(Para4)

Ecclesiasticalminister'sliabilityonlyinconnectionwithstatusof
persons.Ifnot,thentheyareprivateindividuals(seeArt.172)
Semblanceofsimilaritybetweengenuineandfalse.

Falsification & Estafa

Ursupation of Authority undeArt 177

Therecanbenocomplexcrimeoffalsificationandestafa(SeeJustice
MarioLopezhandout)

Noneedtoperformfunctiontobeliable

Fictitious Name (Art 178)

Illegal Use of Uniform

Concealcrime
Preventjustice/evadingexecution
Causingdamage,maybeestafa.
Inrelation:AntiAliasLaw
Withoutjudicialapproval
Exception:celebrities,sportsmen

Uniformthatrepresentsauthority
Ifuniformofprisoner,noliabilityunderArt179

False Testimony (Art 180/181)

Perjury

DegreeofpunishmentdependingontheoutcomeunderArt180or
againstdefendant.Trialneedstobeterminated.

Testifyingfalsebeforeagenciesnotjudicial
Executingafalseaffidavit
Merecontradictionnoliabilityexceptifmaliciousandprovenwith
anyotherwitnesses.

Grave Scandal (Art 200)

Vagrants And Prostitutes (Art 292)

Ifwindowsareopen,andprivateactsareopenforpublicview,there
maybeliabilitysuchaswhenamanbringshomehismistresstoa
privatehome.
Lawaimstoprotectmoralsingeneral,notasingleindividual

Underthisproviion,onlyfemalemaybeprostitute(crossreference
thiswithChildAbuseLaw)

Crimes Committed by Public Officers

Unjust Judgment

PublicOfficers bydirectprovisionoflaw,electionorappointment
(Art203)
Malfeasance perfomanceofanactwhichshouldnotbedone
Misfeasance misperformance
Nonfeasance nonperformanceanactwhichisrequiredtobedone
OnlyajudgemaybeliablefromArt204to207;laborarbiter,not
judgethoughenjoyingsamesalaryandrank
SCandothercollegialcourtsjusticesmynotbeliableunderthis
provision

Ajudgewhoacceptsabribeandperformstheactforwhichhewas
bribeimaybeliableforunjustjudgmentandbribery(agreeto
performanactconstitutingacrime)

Betrayal of Trust by An Attorney (Art 209)

Direct/Indirect Bribery (Art 210-211)

Consentofpreviousclientisrequired,otherwisemaybeliableunder
Art209

Gift tangiblething,somethingyoucantouch,notmerepromise
(Note:usefulforindirectbriberysincecoinsiderationofpromise
expresslyincludedindirectbribery/qualifiedbribery).
Iflawful,thedirectbriberyofthesecondkind.
ExceptgiftofsmallvaluenotmorethanP50,000,usuallygiven
duringjoyousoccasion*
Formalcrime(mustbeconsummated)

Malversation of Public Funds

Technical Malversation (Art 220)

Intentionalorthroughnegligence
PeoplevsTabuena(MIA)
Gabao:Maybecommittedbyprivatepersonsentrustedwithpublic
funds.(propertylegallyseizedbypublicauthority,asdepository)
Addl:asacoconspiratorwithpublicofficer/accomplice/accessory
Returnoffundisequaltovoluntarysurrender,ifreturnedwhen
demanded.Ifontrial,merelyextinguishescivilliability

Illegaluseofpublicfunds
Specificpublicpurposedivertedtoanotherpublicpurpose.

Maltreatment of Prisoners

Abuse Against Chastity

Mayonlybecommittedbyonewhohascustodyovertheprisoner.If
notwithcustody,merephysicalinjuryonly.

Victimmustalwaysbefemale
Ifrelativesofprisonersofvictim,wardenstillliable?

Parricide

Exceptional Circumstances (Art 247)

Onlybybloodrelationship
Adoptedchildren,notincluded

Alsoappliestodaughternotofageandlivingwithparents
Alsoincludeactsresultingfromoutrage(collateraldamage:reckless
imprudenceresultingtohomicideonly)
PeoplevsAbarca

Murder

Physical Injury (Art 252)

Treacherydoesnotabsorbevidentpremeditationbuttreatedas
genericaggravatingcircumstance

Tumultuousaffray atleastfourpersonsinvolved,cannotimpute
authorshipofblows

Giving Assistance to Suicide

Dicharge of Firearms

Penaltyasifhomicideiscommitted
Noliabilityonthepartofpersonwhocommittedsuicide(remember
itmaybesuccessfulorunsuccessful)
Ifunsuccessful,lesserpenaltyofarrestomayor

Bestevidenceofintentiontokillisdeathofthevictim
Cananoffenderbeconvictedofdischargeoffirearmsinsteadof
attemptedmurder,ifintenttokillisnotproven?Yes.

Infanticide

Mutilation

Lessthanthreedaysofage
Ifmorethansaidage,parricideorhomicide
Concealdishonor,onlymitigating(Onlymothercanclaimthisin
abortion)

Twokinds:(1)intentionalmutilationdamagetosexualorgan;and(2)
otherorgan

JOKE TIME

Physical injury

FiscalSalva:Whydoesmutilation(Reclusionperpetual)havea
higherpenaltythanhomicide(prisionmayor)?Forone,themancan
nolongerfulfilhismandatetoGoForthandMultiply.Second,hewill
beknownasthemanwithoutaweapon.Third,iftheorganisnot
severed,hewillbeknownasthemanwithdeadweapon!

Dependingonhealingperiod
Exceptphysicalinjuryspecificallydenominatedasserioussuchasone
thatdeformsthevictim

Rape (Art 266)

Kidnapping & Illegal Detention

New:fraudelentmachination
Newtypeofrape:sexualassault,byinsertionhispenis,object,
instrumenttomouthoranalorifice.
Dontforgetthetwowaysofcommittingrapeindefiningrape!

Whatisseriousillegaldetention
Differentiatekidnappinganddetention
Whenisillegaldetentionserious
Slight victimcanonlybemalenotminororfemale(ifso,already
serious)

Unlawful forrest

Slavery

Purpose:deliveringtoauthorities
Offender:PrivateIndividuals/Offdutypublicofficer

Lesserpenaltythankidnapping
Kidnappingmeansofcommitting
Servicesrenderedforpaymentofdebt(askedinthebar)

Trespass to Dwelling Vs Other Forms

Threats and Coercion

Seeabsolutory(codalArt280)
Ifdwellingisabandoned,merelytresspasstoproperty
Ifhomicideisafterthoughtoftrespass,twocrimesresults.

Gravecoercion lawfulpurpose.Ifunlawful,kidnappingorforcible
abduction
Ex:Ladwantstomarrygirlanddeprivedherliberty,gravecoercion.
Butifheismarried,kidnappingresults.
BlackMail Art286(publicationforcompensation

Robbery

PD 532 (Highway Robbery Brigandage)

Notethekindsofrobbery(NOTE:Discussionisverycodal)
Specialcomplexcrimeofrobbery(favoritebarquestion)
Canhomicideresultingfromnegligenceduringrobberybecomplexed
withcrimeofrobbery?SC:No.SeeoriginalSpanishtextofpara1Art
294
Merepossessionofpicklockspenalized(preferatoryactpunishable)
Falsekey genuinekeylostbyowner.Merepossessionnot
punishable.

Higherpenaltythansimplerobbery
Atleast4armedman
Indiscriminate
SC:Ifthereisonlyonevictimtargetted,thereisnohighwayrobbery
brigandage.

Theft

Swindling and Other Deceits

Taking,withabuseofconfidence,isqualifiedtheft.
Verycodaldiscussion

Art315(2)(d)inreltoBP22
Estafa issuanceofcheckisefficientcause.Ifbounces,twoviolation:
oneunderRPCandBP22.
Demandneededfirst.Ifwithin3days,itispaid,thennoestafa.If
not,presumptionthatitwasissuedworthless,liablefoestafa.
Ifcompromised,barsprosecutionofBP22(Completedefense).If
dishonored,5bankingdaysfromnotice(graceperiod).
CheckissuedforaccomodationEtc,notasourceofestafa
Merenonpaymentofboardandlodging,collectionforsumofmoney
only,notestafa.

Access Device Law

Grave Coercion vs Robbery

Iffakecardisusedtopurchase,liableforestafaandspecialpenallaw
ofaccessdevicelaw.
Cannotbecomplexed.

Ifapersonalpropertyistakenbyowneragainstthewillofunlawful
possessorisnotrobbery(nointenttogain),butthereisgrave
coercion(Iflawful,estafa)

Arson

BIGAMY

Ifsomebodydied,qualifiedarson.
Ifmainpurposeistokill,crimeismurderbymeansoffire.
Maliciousmischiefincompatiblewitharson,aslongasitisdueto
hatetotheprejudiceofotherpersons.

Punishment:Prisionmayor(joke:withaccesorypenaltyoftwo
mothersinlaw)
SC:Nomarriage,nobigamywherepartiesonlysignedmarriage
certificatewithoutlicensenorregistration.(BangayanvsBangayan)

Cyber Libel

Reckless Imprudence

SameelementsinRPC
Firstaccessed notproperlayingofthevenue,mustbesameIn
RPC:whereitwaspublishedoractualresidenceofoffendedparty.

Ivlercase(doublejeopardy)
InrelationtocomplexcrimeunderArt48