People Vs Lopez

SUBJECT: TOPIC: Date Made: Digest Maker:
Crim 2 Art. 304-305 April 9, 2016 Juvy

CASE NAME: People vs Lopez
PONENTE: J. Bengzon, J.P. Case Date: May 20, 1965
Case Summary:
The Chief of Police of Bacuag, Surigao del Norte apprehended three suspicious-looking
strangers who were loitering. A bag which they were carrying was confiscated which
contained several guns, clothes, screw driver, balisong, and seven false keys, one of
which was a master key. SC ruled that the accused violated Arts. 304-305 of RPC which
constituted the crime of possession of picklocks or similar tools and false keys. Since
picking of locks is one way to gain entrance to commit robbery, a picklock is per
se specially adapted to the commission of robbery. This also applies to false keys.
Therefore, the elements in Art. 304 and 305 were satisfied. The order quashing the
information was hereby set aside and the case was remanded for further trial.
Rule of Law:
Art. 304. Possession of picklocks or similar tools. Any person who shall without
lawful cause have in his possession picklocks or similar tools especially adopted to the
commission of the crime of robbery, shall be punished by arresto mayor in its maximum
period to prision correccional in its minimum period. The same penalty shall be imposed
upon any person who shall make such tools. If the offender be a locksmith, he shall
suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods.
Art. 305. False keys. The term "false keys" shall be deemed to include:
1. The tools mentioned in the next preceding articles.
2. Genuine keys stolen from the owner.
3. Any keys other than those intended by the owner for use in the lock forcibly opened
by the offender.
Art. 299. Robbery in an inhabited house or public building or edifice devoted to

worship. Any armed person who shall commit robbery in an inhabited house or public
building or edifice devoted to religious worship, shall be punished by reclusion temporal,
if the value of the property taken shall exceed 250 pesos, and if
(a) The malefactors shall enter the house or building in which the robbery was
committed, by any of the following means:
3. By using false keys, picklocks or similar tools. (Emphasis supplied)
Art. 302. Robbery in an uninhabited place or in a private building. Any

robbery committed in an uninhabited place or in a building other than those mentioned
in the first paragraph of article 299, if the value of the property taken exceeds 250
pesos, shall be punished by prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods
provided that any of the following circumstances is present:
xxx xxx xxx
3. If the entrance has been effected through the use of false keys, picklocks or other
similar tools.
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Detailed Facts:
The Chief of Police of Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, apprehended three suspicious-
looking strangers who were loitering.
A bag which they were carrying was confiscated with the following contents: three
carbines, caliber .30 Ml; one revolver, caliber .22; three flashlights with batteries;
two carbine ammunition magazines, fully loaded; twelve rounds of carbine
ammunition; one balisong; a screw driver; seven false keys, one of which was a
master key; trousers; shirts; and a pair of shoes.
After an investigation, the aforesaid persons Ramon Lopez, Manuel Buico and
Arturo Caniete were charged in the Justice of the Peace Court of Bacuag with the
crime of illegal possession of firearms and, in a separate complaint, the crime of
illegal possession of false keys.
Buico and Caniete pleaded guilty. Lopez, pleading not guilty, stood trial.
After the prosecution presented one witness, Lopez moved to dismiss the case on
the ground that the facts charged in the information do not constitute an offense. It
was argued that an essential element of illegal possession of false keys was not
alleged, namely, that the picklock or false keys in the possession of the accused
were "specially adapted to the commission of the crime of robbery."
The trial court dismissed the case. The prosecution appealed.
Issue:
Whether or not the accused committed a crime of possession of picklocks and other tools
(Art. 304 of RPC) and false keys (Art. 305 of RPC)? -YES
Holding:
YES, the accused violated Arts. 304-305 of RPC.
The crime of illegal possession of picklocks or similar tools has two elements:
(1) possession of picklocks or similar tools specially adapted to the commission of
the crime of robbery;
(2) such possession is without lawful cause.
A picklock is in itself specially adapted to the commission of robbery of the kind
provided for in Articles 299 (a) 3 and 302, par. 3 of the Revised Penal Code.
Since picking of locks is one way to gain entrance to commit robbery, a
picklock is per se specially adapted to the commission of robbery. The
description in the information of a picklock as "specially adapted to the
commission of robbery" is therefore unnecessary for its sufficiency. Therefore, the
charge of the offense of illegal possession of a picklock is valid.
Furthermore, the information alleged illegal possession of "seven (7) false keys."
Article 305 defines "false keys" to include "the tools mentioned in the next
preceding article." Article 304 "the next preceding article" mentions
"picklocks or similar, tools specially adapted to the commission of the crime of
robbery." It follows that the term "false keys" appearing in the information
BLOCK D 2019 2
sufficiently describes such tools.
Ruling:
WHEREFORE, the order quashing the information is hereby set aside and the case is
remanded for further trial.
BLOCK D 2019 3

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SUBJECT: TOPIC: Date Made: Digest Maker:

Crim 2 Art. 304-305 April 9, 2016 Juvy

Art. 299. Robbery in an inhabited house or public building or edifice devoted to

3. By using false keys, picklocks or similar tools. (Emphasis supplied)

Art. 302. Robbery in an uninhabited place or in a private building. Any

xxx xxx xxx

The trial court dismissed the case. The prosecution appealed.

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