RPC Book 2 and Special Penal Laws Elements
RPC Book 2 and Special Penal Laws Elements
RPC Book 2 and Special Penal Laws Elements
BOOK 2
CRIMES AGAINST NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE LAW OF NATIONS
Art. 114 - Treason 1. The offender is a Filipino by birth or an alien residing in the Philippines
2. There is a war in which the Philippines is involved
a. There must be an actual assembly of men
b. For the purpose of executing or effecting a treasonable design by force
3. The offender either:
a. Levies war against the PH government
b. Adheres to the enemies by giving them aid or comfort
Art. 115 - Conspiracy:
Conspiracy and 1. There is a meeting of two or more persons
proposal to commit 2. They come to an agreement to commit the crime of treason
treason 3. They decide to commit it
Proposal:
1. A person has decided to commit the crime of treason
2. He proposes its execution to some other person or persons
Art. 116 - 1. Offender is a Filipino citizen who owes permanent allegiance to the Philippine government
Misprision of 2. That he has knowledge of any conspiracy to commit treason against the government
treason 3. He conceals or fails to disclose of knowledge to commit treason as soon as possible to the
authorities
Art. 117 - I. By entering, without authority therefore, a warship, fort, or naval or military
Espionage establishment or reservation to obtain any information, plans, photographs or other data
of a confidential nature, relative to the defense of the Philippines
II. By disclosing to the representative of a foreign nation the contents of the articles, data or
information referred to in par no. 1 of art. 117, which he head in his possession by
reason of the public office he holds
Art. 118 - 1. That the offender performs unlawful or unauthorized acts by the Philippine government
Inciting to war or 2. That the said acts provoke or give occasion for a war involving or liable to involve the
giving motives or Philippines or expose Filipino citizens to reprisals on their persons and property while they
reprisals are in a foreign country
3. He is not legally authorized to do so
Art. 119 - Violation 1. The crime is committed when there is a war but the Philippines is not involved in the said war
of Neutrality 2. The competent authority issued a regulation for the purpose of enforcing neutrality among
Filipino citizens
3. The offender violates such regulation imposed
Art. 120 - 1. That it is in the time of war in which the Philippines is involved
Correspondence 2. That the offender makes correspondence with an enemy country or any territory occupied by
with hostile country enemy troops
3. That the correspondence is either
a. Prohibited by the Philippine government
b. Carried on in ciphers or conventional signs
c. Containing notice or information which might be useful to the enemy
Art. 121 - Flight to 1. That there is a war in which the Philippines is involved
enemy’s country 2. That the offender must be owing allegiance to the Philippine government
3. That the offender attempts to flee or go to enemy’s country
4. That going to the enemy country is prohibited by a competent authority
Art. 122 - Piracy in Piracy
general and mutiny 1. The vessel is located either in the high seas or on Philippine waters
on the high seas or 2. Offenders must be strangers to the vessel, not members of the complement or passengers of
in Philippine waters the vessel.
3. Mode of committing piracy:
a. Offenders either attack or seize the vessel
b. Either seize in whole or in part the cargo, the equipment or the personal belongings of
the passengers or members of the complement
Mutiny
1. The vessel is either on the high seas or on Philippine waters
2. The offenders are members of the complement or passengers of the vessel
3. The offenders raise a commotion or disturbance on board the ship against the lawful
command of the captain or the commander of the ship
Art. 123 - Qualified Qualified piracy
piracy 1. The offender seized a vessel by boarding or firing upon the same
2. Offenders abandoned their victims without means of saving themselves
Persons liable:
1. Founders, directors, president
2. Mere members
Art. 148 – Direct I. Without public uprising, by employing force or intimidation for the attainment of any of
Assault the purposes enumerated defining the crimes of rebellion and sedition
1. Offender employs force or intimidation
2. Aim of the offender is to attain any of the purposes of the crime of rebellion or any
of the objects of the crime of sedition
3. There is no public uprising
II. Without public uprising, by attacking, by employing force, or by seriously intimidating or
seriously resisting any person in authority or any of his agents, while in the performance
of official duties, or on the occasion of such performance
1. The offender either
a. Makes an attack
b. Employs force
c. Makes a serious intimidation
d. Makes a serious resistance
2. The assault is against a person in authority or an agent of a person in authority
a. Any person directly vested with jurisdiction, whether as an individual or as a
member of some court or GOCC, board or commission
b. A barangay captain and a barangay chairman
c. Teachers, professors, or persons charged with supervision of public or duly
recognized private schools, colleges or institutions
d. Lawyers while engaged in their professional duties or while in the act of their
professional duties
3. That at the time of the assault, the person in authority is engaged in the
performance of his official duties or the attack was on occasion of such
Qualifying circumstances
1. By means of unlawful entry
2. By breaking doors, windows, gates, walls, roofs or floors
3. By using picklocks, false keys, disguise, deceit, violence or intimidation
4. Through connivance with other convicts or employees of the penal institution
Art. 158 – Evasion 1. That the offender is a convict by final judgment who is confined in a penal institution
of service of 2. That there is a disorder resulting from
sentence on the a. Conflagration
b. Earthquake
occasion of
c. Explosion
disorders, d. Similar catastrophe
conflagrations, e. Mutiny in which he has not participated
earthquakes, or 3. That the offender evades the service of his sentence by leaving the penal institution where he
other calamities is confined, on the occasion of such disorder or during the mutiny
4. That the offender fails to give himself up to the authorities within 48 hours following the
issuance of a proclamation by the Chief Executive announcing the passing of such calamity
Art. 159 – Evasion 1. The offender was a convict
of service of 2. He was granted a conditional pardon by the Chief Executive
sentence by 3. He violated any of the conditions of such pardon
violation of
conditional pardon
Art. 160 – 1. The offender was already convicted by final judgment of one offense
Commission of 2. He committed a new felony before beginning to serve such sentence or while serving the
another crime same.
during service of
penalty imposed for * Special aggravating circumstance
another previous
offense
CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC INTEREST
Art. 161 – I. Forging the Great Seal of the Government of the Philippines
Counterfeiting the II. Forging the signature of the President
great seal of the III. Forging the stamp of the President
government of the
Philippine islands,
forging the
signature or stamp
of the Chief
Art. 179 – Illegal use 1. The offender makes use of insignia, uniform, or dress
of uniforms and 2. That the insignia, uniform, or dress pertains to an office not being held by the offender or to a
insignia class of person of which he is not a member
3. That the said insignia, uniform, or dress is used publicly and improperly
Art. 180 – False 1. That there be a criminal proceeding
testimony against a 2. That the offender testifies falsely under oath against the defendant therein
defendant 3. That the offender who gives false testimony knows that it is false
4. That the defendant against whom the false testimony is given is either acquitted or convicted
in a final judgment
Art. 181 – False 1. That there be a criminal proceeding
testimony favorable 2. That the offender testifies falsely under oath against the defendant therein
3. That the offender who gives false testimony knows that it is false
(b) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit, for
himself or for any other person, in connection with any contract or transaction between the Government
and any other part, wherein the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene under the law.
(c) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present or other pecuniary or material benefit,
for himself or for another, from any person for whom the public officer, in any manner or capacity, has
secured or obtained, or will secure or obtain, any Government permit or license, in consideration for the
help given or to be given, without prejudice to Section thirteen of this Act.
(d) Accepting or having any member of his family accept employment in a private enterprise which has
pending official business with him during the pendency thereof or within one year after its termination.
(e) Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any
unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial
functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision
shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of
licenses or permits or other concessions.
(g) Entering, on behalf of the Government, into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly
disadvantageous to the same, whether or not the public officer profited or will profit thereby.
(h) Director or indirectly having financing or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in
connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by
the Constitution or by any law from having any interest.
(i) Directly or indirectly becoming interested, for personal gain, or having a material interest in any
transaction or act requiring the approval of a board, panel or group of which he is a member, and which
exercises discretion in such approval, even if he votes against the same or does not participate in the
action of the board, committee, panel or group.
Interest for personal gain shall be presumed against those public officers responsible for the approval of
manifestly unlawful, inequitable, or irregular transaction or acts by the board, panel or group to which
they belong.
(j) Knowingly approving or granting any license, permit, privilege or benefit in favor of any person not
qualified for or not legally entitled to such license, permit, privilege or advantage, or of a mere
representative or dummy of one who is not so qualified or entitled.
(k) Divulging valuable information of a confidential character, acquired by his office or by him on
account of his official position to unauthorized persons, or releasing such information in advance of its
authorized release date.
Sec. 4 – Prohibition (a) It shall be unlawful for any person having family or close personal relation with any public official to
on private capitalize or exploit or take advantage of such family or close personal relation by directly or indirectly
individuals requesting or receiving any present, gift or material or pecuniary advantage from any other person
having some business, transaction, application, request or contract with the government, in which such
public official has to intervene. Family relation shall include the spouse or relatives by consanguinity or
affinity in the third civil degree. The word "close personal relation" shall include close personal
friendship, social and fraternal connections, and professional employment all giving rise to intimacy
which assures free access to such public officer.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to induce or cause any public official to commit any of
the offenses defined in Section 3 hereof.
Sec. 7 – Statement Every public officer, within thirty days after the approval of this Act or after assuming office, and within
of assets and the month of January of every other year thereafter, as well as upon the expiration of his term of office,
liabilities or upon his resignation or separation from office, shall prepare and file with the office of the
corresponding Department Head, or in the case of a Head of Department or chief of an independent
office, with the Office of the President, or in the case of members of the Congress and the officials and
employees thereof, with the Office of the Secretary of the corresponding House, a true detailed and
sworn statement of assets and liabilities, including a statement of the amounts and sources of his
income, the amounts of his personal and family expenses and the amount of income taxes paid for the
next preceding calendar year: Provided, That public officers assuming office less than two months
before the end of the calendar year, may file their statements in the following months of January.
Sec. 8 – Dismissal If in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act Numbered One thousand three hundred seventy-
due to unexplained nine, a public official has been found to have acquired during his incumbency, whether in his name or in
wealth the name of other persons, an amount of property and/or money manifestly out of proportion to his
salary and to his other lawful income, that fact shall be a ground for dismissal or removal. Properties in
the name of the spouse and unmarried children of such public official may be taken into consideration,
when their acquisition through legitimate means cannot be satisfactorily shown. Bank deposits shall be
taken into consideration in the enforcement of this section, notwithstanding any provision of law to the
contrary.
Sec. 11 – All offenses punishable under this Act shall prescribe in ten years.
Prescription of
Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to prejudice or prohibit the practice of any profession, lawful
trade or occupation by any private person or by any public officer who under the law may legitimately
practice his profession, trade or occupation, during his incumbency, except where the practice of such
profession, trade or occupation involves conspiracy with any other person or public official to commit
any of the violations penalized in this Act.
1) Through misappropriation, conversion, misuse, or malversation of public funds or raids on the public
treasury;
2) By receiving, directly or indirectly, any commission, gift, share, percentage, kickbacks or any other
form of pecuniary benefit from any person and/or entity in connection with any government contract or
project or by reason of the office or position of the public officer concerned;
3) By the illegal or fraudulent conveyance or disposition of assets belonging to the National Government
or any of its subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities or government-owned or -controlled
corporations and their subsidiaries;
4) By obtaining, receiving or accepting directly or indirectly any shares of stock, equity or any other form
of interest or participation including promise of future employment in any business enterprise or
undertaking;
1. an act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted
on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him/her or a third person information or a
confession;
2. punishing him/her for an act he/she or a third person has committed or is suspected of having
committed;
3. or intimidating or coercing him/her or a third person;
4. or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted
by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a person in authority or
agent of a person in authority. It does not include pain or Buffering arising only from, inherent
in or incidental to lawful sanctions.
Sec. 4 – Acts of (a) Physical torture is a form of treatment or punishment inflicted by a person in authority or agent of a
torture person in authority upon another in his/her custody that causes severe pain, exhaustion, disability or
dysfunction of one or more parts of the body, such as:
(1) Systematic beating, headbanging, punching, kicking, striking with truncheon or rifle butt or other
similar objects, and jumping on the stomach;
(2) Food deprivation or forcible feeding with spoiled food, animal or human excreta and other stuff or
substances not normally eaten;
(4) Cigarette burning; burning by electrically heated rods, hot oil, acid; by the rubbing of pepper or other
chemical substances on mucous membranes, or acids or spices directly on the wound(s);
(5) The submersion of the head in water or water polluted with excrement, urine, vomit and/or blood
until the brink of suffocation;
(6) Being tied or forced to assume fixed and stressful bodily position;
(7) Rape and sexual abuse, including the insertion of foreign objects into the sex organ or rectum, or
electrical torture of the genitals;
(8) Mutilation or amputation of the essential parts of the body such as the genitalia, ear, tongue, etc.;
(11) Harmful exposure to the elements such as sunlight and extreme cold;
(12) The use of plastic bag and other materials placed over the head to the point of asphyxiation;
(13) The use of psychoactive drugs to change the perception, memory. alertness or will of a person,
such as:
(i) The administration or drugs to induce confession and/or reduce mental competency; or
(ii) The use of drugs to induce extreme pain or certain symptoms of a disease; and
(1) Blindfolding;
(2) Threatening a person(s) or his/fher relative(s) with bodily harm, execution or other wrongful acts;
(5) Preparing a prisoner for a "show trial", public display or public humiliation of a detainee or prisoner;
(6) Causing unscheduled transfer of a person deprived of liberty from one place to another, creating the
belief that he/she shall be summarily executed;
(8) Causing the torture sessions to be witnessed by the person's family, relatives or any third party;
(10) Shame infliction such as stripping the person naked, parading him/her in public places, shaving the
victim's head or putting marks on his/her body against his/her will;
(11) Deliberately prohibiting the victim to communicate with any member of his/her family; and
(b) To have sufficient government protection against all forms of harassment; threat and/or intimidation
as a consequence of the filing of said complaint or the presentation of evidence therefor. In which case,
the State through its appropriate agencies shall afford security in order to ensure his/her safety and all
other persons involved in the investigation and prosecution such as, but not limited to, his/her lawyer,
witnesses and relatives; and
(c) To be accorded sufficient protection in the manner by which he/she testifies and presents evidence
in any fora in order to avoid further trauma.
Sec. 13 – Who are Any person who actually participated Or induced another in the commission of torture or other cruel,
criminally liable inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment or who cooperated in the execution of the act of
torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment by previous or simultaneous
acts shall be liable as principal
Any superior military, police or law enforcement officer or senior government official who issued an
order to any lower ranking personnel to commit torture for whatever purpose shall be held equally liable
as principals.
The immediate commanding officer of the unit concerned of the AFP or the immediate senior public
official of the PNP and other law enforcement agencies shall be held liable as a principal to the crime of
torture or other cruel or inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment for any act or omission, or
Any public officer or employee shall be liable as an accessory if he/she has knowledge that torture or
other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is being committed and without having
participated therein, either as principal or accomplice, takes part subsequent to its commission in any of
the following manner:
(a) By themselves profiting from or assisting the offender to profit from the effects of the act of torture or
other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment;
(b) By concealing the act of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment
and/or destroying the effects or instruments thereof in order to prevent its discovery; or(c) By harboring,
concealing or assisting m the escape of the principal/s in the act of torture or other cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment or punishment: Provided, That the accessory acts are done with the abuse of the
official's public functions.
Sec. 14 – Penalties (a) The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be imposed upon the perpetrators of the following acts:
(aggravating
circumstances) (1) Torture resulting in the death of any person;
(4) Torture with other forms of sexual abuse and, in consequence of torture, the victim shall have
become insane, imbecile, impotent, blind or maimed for life; and
Art. 236 – 1. Offender is entitled to hold a public office or employment, either by election or appointment
Anticipation of 2. Law requires that he should first be sworn in and/or should first give a bond
duties of a public 3. He assumes the performance of the duties and powers of such office
4. He has not taken his oath of office and/or given the bond required by law
officer
Art. 237 – 1. Offender is holding a public office
Prolonging 2. Period provided by law, regulations or special provisions for holding such office, has already
performance of expired
duties and powers 3. He continues to exercise the duties and powers of such office
Art. 238 – 1. Offender is a public officer
Abandonment of 2. He formally resigns from his position
office or position 3. His resignation has not yet been accepted
4. He abandons his office to the detriment of the public service
Art. 239 – 1. Offender is an executive or judicial officer
Usurpation of 2. He (a) makes general rules or regulations beyond the scope of his authority, or (b) attempts
legislative powers to repeal a law or (c) suspends the execution thereof
Art. 240 – 1. Offender is a judge
Usurpation of 2. He (a) assumes a power pertaining to the executive authorities, or (b) obstructs the executive
executive functions authorities in lawful exercise of their powers
Art. 241 – 1. Offender is an officer of the executive branch of the Government
Usurpation of 2. He (a) assumes judicial powers, or (b) obstructs the execution of any order or decision
judicial functions rendered by any judge within his jurisdiction
Art. 242 – 1. Offender is public officer
Disobeying request 2. A proceeding is pending before such officer
for disqualification 3. There is a question brought before the proper authority regarding his jurisdiction, which is not
yet decided
4. He has been lawfully required to refrain from continuing proceeding
5. He continues the proceeding
Qualifying circumstances:
a. With treachery, taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men, or
employing means to weken the defense, or of means or persons to insure or afford impunity
b. In consideration of price, reward or promise
c. By means of inundation, fire, poison, explosion, shipwreck, stranding of a vessel, derailment
or assault upon a railroad, fall of an airship, by means of motor vehicles, or with the use any
other means involving great waste or ruin
d. On occasion of any of the calamities enumerated in the preceding paragraph, or of
earthquake, eruption of a volcano, destructive cyclone, epidemic, or any other public calamity
e. With evident premeditation
f. With cruelty, by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the suffering of the victim, or
outraging or scoffing at his person or corpse
Art. 249 – Homicide 1. A person was killed
2. Accused killed him without any justifying circumstance
3. Accused had the intention to kill, which is presumed
4. Killing was not attended by any of the qualifying circumstances of murder, or by that of
parricide or infanticide
Art. 251 – Death 1. There be several persons
caused in a 2. They did not compose groups organized for the common purpose of assaulting and attacking
tumultuous affray each other reciprocally
3. These several persons quarreled and assaulted one another in a confused and tumultuous
manner
4. Someone was killed in the course of the affray
5. It cannot be ascertained who actually killed the deceased
6. Person or persons who inflicted serious physical injuries or who used violence can be
identified
Art. 252 – Physical 1. There is a tumultuous affray as referred to in the preceding article
injuries inflicted in a 2. A participant or some participants thereof suffer serious physical injuries or physical injuries of
1. There is no requisite as to the number of perpetrators (even a single person can commit the
crime)
2. There must be an actual commission of robbery (otherwise no crime will arise)
3. There is no preconceived victim (it is done indiscriminately on any person passing on the
[Philippine] highway)
Art. 312 – I. Occupation of real property which is committed by any person who by means of violence
Occupation of real against or intimidation shall occupy the real property of another
property or II. Usurpation of real rights in property committed by any person who by means of violence
usurpation of real against or intimidation shall usurp any real rights in property of another person
rights in property
Elements:
1. Offender takes possession of any real property or usurps any real rights in property
2. Real property or the rights thereof belong to another
3. Violence or intimidation was used
4. Intent to gain
Art. 313 – Altering 1. That there be boundary marks or monuments of towns, provinces, or estates, or any other
boundaries or marks intended to designate the boundaries of the same
landmarks 2. Offender alters said boundary marks
Art. 314 – 1. Offender is a debtor who has obligations due and payable
Fraudulent 2. He absconds with his property
insolvency 3. Causes prejudice to his creditors
Art. 315 – Swindling General elements:
or estafa 1. That the accused defrauded another by means of abuse of confidence, or by means of
deceit; and
2. That damage or prejudice capable of pecuniary estimation is caused to the offended party or
third persons
a. Offended party was deprived of his money or property as a result of defraudation
b. Disturbance in property rights
c. Temporary prejudice
Art. 316 – Other 1. Any person who, pretending to be owner of any real property, shall convey, sell, encumber or
forms of swindling mortgage the same.
2. Any person, who, knowing that real property is encumbered, shall dispose of the same,
although such encumbrance be not recorded.
3. The owner of any personal property who shall wrongfully take it from its lawful possessor, to
the prejudice of the latter or any third person.
4. Any person who, to the prejudice of another, shall execute any fictitious contract.
5. Any person who shall accept any compensation given him under the belief that it was in
payment of services rendered or labor performed by him, when in fact he did not actually
perform such services or labor.
6. Any person who, while being a surety in a bond given in a criminal or civil action, without
express authority from the court or before the cancellation of his bond or before being
relieved from the obligation contracted by him, shall sell, mortgage, or, in any other manner,
encumber the real property or properties with which he guaranteed the fulfillment of such
obligation.
Art. 317 – Swindling 1. Offender takes advantage of the inexperience or emotions or feelings of a minor
a minor 2. Induces minor to:
a. Assume an obligation
b. To give release, or
c. To execute transfer of property right
3. For consideration of some loan of money, credit, or other personal property
4. To the detriment of the minor
Art. 318 – Other 1. By defrauding or damaging another by any other deceit not mentioned in the preceding
deceits articles
2. By interpreting dreams, by making forecasts, by telling fortunes, taking advantage of credulity
of public for profit or gain
Persons exempted:
1. Spouses, ascendants and descendants, relatives by affinity in the same line