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Special Penal Laws
Special Penal Laws
ascendancy is required
There may be principal by direct participation and principal by induction – Any
RA 7877 – ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACT person who directs or induces another to commit any act of sexual harassment as herein
defined, or who cooperates in the commission thereof by another without which it would not
• Limited scenario – have been committed, shall be liable under this Act.
1. Work-related or employment environment Employers or Head Officers may be liable solidarily for damages, if sexual
2. Education environment harassment is committed and no immediate action is taken.
3. Training related activities or environment
• Possible offenders –
RA 7610 – CHILD ABUSE LAW
Committed by employer, manager, supervisor, co-employee, agent of the
employer, teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainor or any other person. – • Possible Offenders –
maybe committed by a man or woman
1. Those who engage, promote, facilitate or induce child prostitution
Offender has authority, influence, and moral ascendancy 2. Those who commit the act of sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a
Involves a demand, request or requirement of sexual favor child exploited in prostitution or subjected to sexual abuse
Acceptance - immaterial
3. Those who derive profit or advantage from it – Manager or owner of the
establishment where child prostitution takes place
• Commission in work-related or employment environment –
Sexual favor as condition in the following : • Attempt to commit child prostitution under RA 7610 –
i. hiring 1. Any person found alone with the child in hidden or secluded area under
ii. employment circumstance which leads a reasonable person to believe that a child is about
iii. re-employment to be exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse, except if he is a relative
iv. continued employment 2. Any person who receives services from a child in a sauna parlor or bath,
v. granting of favorable compensation, terms of condition, massage clinic, health club and other similar establishment
promotions or privileges
Refusal to grant sexual favor results in limiting, segregating or classifying • Elements of child prostitution –
employees that will discriminate, deprive or diminish employment
Engaging in sexual intercourse or acts of lasciviousness with a child
opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the employee
It is for money or profit or due to coercion
The acts impairs employee rights and privileges under labor laws
Acts results in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for employee
Victim may be male or female child
Child below 12 years old – Statutory rape or acts of lasciviousness
• Commission in educational or training environment –
Child is between 12 and 18 years old – Prosecution under RA 7610
Victims include following :
Child trafficking – is an act of buying and selling a child for money, or any other
i. One who is under the care, custody or supervision of the
consideration or barter
offender
ii. One whose education, training, apprenticeship or tutorship is
entrusted to the offender
Sexual favor as condition to the giving of passing grade, granting honors or RA 9262 – ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF
scholarship, or payment of a stipend, allowance or other benefits, privileges 2004
or consideration
Acts result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the Battered Woman Syndrome – refers to a scientifically defined pattern of
student, trainee or apprentice psychological and behavioral symptoms found in women living in battering
relationships as a result of cumulative abuse.
In rape, grave abuse of authority is required. If acquitted, prosecution on sexual Victim-survivors suffering from BWS do not incur criminal liability even in the
harassment may be made. absence pf any of the elements of justifying circumstances of self-defense
under the RPC
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Battery – refers to any act of inflicting physical harm upon the woman or her child Mitigating circumstance of no intention to commit so grave a wrong – not available
resulting to physical and psychological emotional distress in the crime of hazing even if there is no intention to kill – Death is not the result of
intention
PEOPLE v GENOSA Jan 15, 2004 To be considered a battered woman, the accused and her Hazing – initiation rite as a prerequisite for membership in a fraternity, sorority or
spouse must go through the battering cycle at least twice. If a woman is in an abusive relationship organization by placing the recruit, neophyte or applicant in some humiliating
with a man and it occurs the second time but remains in the situation, then she is considered a
situations, including forcing him to do menial, silly, foolish and similar acts or
battered woman.
subjecting him to physical or psychological suffering or injury
Physical, mental or psychological training duly approved is not hazing
Hazing covers both killing and the infliction of physical injuries
RA 8049 – ANTI-HAZING LAW
• Possible Offenders –
1. Officers and members of fraternity, sorority or organization who actually RA 8294 – LAW PENALIZING ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AND
participated in the infliction of physical harm [PRINCIPAL] EXPLOSIVES
2. Officers or member who knowingly cooperated in carrying out the hazing by
inducing the victim to be present in it [PRINCIPAL] • Scope of unlicensed firearms –
3. Parents, if hazing is held in the home of once of the officers or members of the Firearms with expired license, or
fraternity, group or organization when they have actual knowledge of the Unauthorized use of licensed firearm in the commission of the crime
hazing conducted but failed to prevent it from happening [PRINCIPAL]
4. Officers, former officers, or alumni involved in the actual planning of the hazing • Acts punished –
even if absent during hazing [PRINCIPAL] 1. Unlawful manufacture, sale, acquisition or disposition of firearms and
5. Fraternity or sorority adviser who is present during hazing and failed to take ammunitions
action to prevent it from happening [PRINCIPAL] 2. Unlawful manufacture, sale, acquisition or disposition of explosives
6. President, manager, director or other responsible officer of a corporation 3. Tampering of firearm serial number
engaged in hazing as a requisite for employment [PRINCIPAL] 4. Repacking or altering the composition of lawfully manufactured explosives
7. School authorities and faculty member who – [ACCOMPLICE] 5. Unauthorized issuance of authority to carry firearms or ammunitions outside of
i. Consents to the activity, or residence
ii. Has actual knowledge but failed to take any action to prevent it
from happening • Possible Offenders –
8. Owner of the place where hazing is conducted is he has actual knowledge of the 1. a. Any person who unlawfully manufacture, deal, acquire, dispose or possess
hazing but failed any action to prevent it from happening [ACCOMPLICE] any
Low-powered firearm
• Qualifying circumstances – Max. penalty Part of a firearm
Recruitment accompanied by force, violence, threat, intimidation or deceit on Ammunition
the recruit who refuses to join Machinery, tool or instrument used or intended to be used in the
Recruit, neophyte or applicant initially consent to join but prevented from manufacture of any firearm or ammunition
quitting when he learned that there shall be a hazing b. The owner, president, manager, director or other responsible officer of any
Recruit, neophyte or applicant is prevented from reporting hazing through company who willfully, or knowingly allow any of the firearms owned by it to be
force, violence, threat or intimidation used by any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this act without
Hazing is committed outside the school or institution legal authority to be carried outside of their residence in the course of
At the time of hazing, the victim us below 12 years old employment
2. Any person who carries any licensed firearm outside his residence without
• When is hazing punishable? legal authority to do so
Physical injury 3. a. Any person who unlawfully manufacture, assemble, deal, acquire, dispose
Death or possess –
Hand grenades
Presence during hazing is prima facie evidence of participation as principal unless Rifle grenades
he prevented the commission of hazing – without qualification Other explosives
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Other incendiary devices capable of producing destructive effect on ii. lacks authority or license to possess the same
contiguous objects or causing injury or death While mere possession without criminal intent is sufficient to convict a person for illegal
possession of firearm, it must still be shown that there was animus possidendi or an intent to
b. Any person who shall unlawfully tamper, change, deface or erase the seria;
possess on the part of the accused. Criminal intent is the intent of the accused to commit an
number of any firearm offense with the use of an unlicensed firearm. It is not an important element for the conviction
4. Any person who shall unlawfully repack, alter or modify the composition of under this law. In order to be found guilty, it is sufficient that the accused had no authority or
any lawfully manufactured explosives license to possess and that he intended to possess it even if the possession was made in good
faith and without criminal intent.
PEOPLE v LADJAALAM 2000 No penalty for illegal possession, it is absorbed in an offense Temporary, incidental, casual, or harmless possession of firearms is not punishable.
which may carry a heavier penalty. Conviction for illegal possession may be evaded on conviction Example is when a person picks up a weapon or hands it to another to examine or
for illegal possession by committing lighter offense, like alarms and scandals. hold for a moment.
Transient possession is not sufficient to convict one. Example is on where the
Act What is the crime? accused stole a firearm and is in possession of the same when arrested.
Illegal possession only – no other crime Illegal possession Animus possidendi is a state of mind that may be proven by prior and coetaneous acts
Illegal possession is not a separate of the accused and the surrounding circumstances.
offense. It is not an aggravating Possession to convict one under PD 1866 – one where the accused possessed a firearm either
circumstance. Offender is free from physically or constructively with animus possidendi or intention to possess it.
Other crimes, except murder or homicide charges of illegal conviction
Murder or homicide with a special
aggravating circumstance of illegal RA 7080 – AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF PLUNDER – read
Murder or homicide possession page 117 ateneo notes
Rebellion or insurrection, sedition, or
Rebellion or insurrection, sedition, attempted coup d’etat. Illegal possession • Possible offenders –
attempted, coup d’etat is absorbed as an element of it 1. Public officer
2. Any private person in conspiracy with the public officer
Carrying of firearms outside ones residence during Gun Ban, 2 crimes are
committed – Ill gotten wealth amounts to 50M and above – plunder coverage
1. Violation of PD 1866 If there is plunder and malversation, only one information shall be filed because
2. Violation of resolution on gun ban malversation is absorbed in plunder
High powered firearm – those firearms with firing capability of full automatic and by RA 1379 on forfeiture of ill gotten wealth – creates a presumption juris tantum.
burst of two or three. There is a presumption against the public officer or employee who acquires a
Possession of machinery, tools or instrument used directly for manufacture of property grossly disproportionate to his income, that the property is unlawfully
firearms and ammunitions gives rise to a presumption of illegal manufacture of it acquired. It may be rebutted by contrary evidence.
If crime is committed with the use of explosives, detonation agents or incendiary
device resulted to death of any person – it is an aggravating circumstance REPUBLIC v IAC April 17, 1989 In determining whether there is unexplained wealth or not, the
Ownership of the firearm or ammunition is not a defense courts are not bound by the statement of assets and liabilities filed by the respondent.
PEOPLE v VERCHEZ June 15, 1994 Holding of firearm is illegal if there is no license or permit
to hold the same regardless of the period of possession. Control and management of the firearm RA 9372 – HUMAN SECURITY ACT OF 2007
is immaterial.
PEOPLE v VILLANUEVA July 15, 1997 Burden of proof is on prosecution. The following must
be proved – • Terrorism – is the commission of a person of any act punishable under any of the
Existence of the subject firearm following provisions of the RPC
Fact of ownership and possession of the accused 1. Art 122 – Piracy in General and Mutiny in the High Seas or in the
Philippine Waters
No license or permit to possess the same
GONZALES v PEOPLE August 18, 1997 Retroactive effect of a lower penalty. 2. Art 134 – Rebellion or insurrection
PEOPLE v DELA ROSA Jan 16, 1998 Rodolfo’s intentions was to turn over the ammunitions 3. Art 134A – Coup d’etat, including acts committed by private persons
which is owned by the NPA and denies possession of the same. The essential elements of illegal 4. Art 248 – Murder
possession of firearms and exclusive are – 5. Art 267 – Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention
i. possess a firearm or explosives 6. Art 324 Crimes involving destruction
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Or Under – either as principal or accomplice under articles 17 and 18 RPC, takes part
7. PD 1613 – The Law on Arson subsequent to its commission in any of the following manner
8. RA 6969 – Toxic Substance and Hazardous Nuclear Waster Control Act a. by profiting himself of assisting the offender to profit by the
of 1990 effects of the crime
9. RA 5207 – Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968 b. by concealing or destroying the body of the crime, or the effects,
10. RA 6235 – Anti-Hijacking Law or instrument thereof in order to prevent its discovery
11. PD 532 – Anti-Piracy and Anti-highway Robbery Law of 1974 c. by harboring, concealing or assisting in the escape of the
12. PD 1866, as amended (Decree Codifying the Law on Illegal and Unlawful principal or conspirator of the crime
Possession, Manufacture, Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition of Notwithstanding the above, the penalties for accessories shall not be imposed
Firearms, Ammunitions or Explosives upon those who are such with respect to their spouses, ascendants,
Thereby sowing and creating a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear descendants, legitimate, natural, and adopted brothers and sisters, or relatives
and panic among the populace, in order to coerce the government to give in to by affinity within the same degree, with the single exception of accessories
an unlawful demand falling within the provision of subpar a
Penalty = 10 years 1 days to 12 years of imprisonment
Penalty = 40 years imprisonment without benefit of Parole
Sec 7. Surveillance of Suspects and interception and recording of
• Who are considered terrorist and outlawed organizations, associations or communications
group of persons?
Any organization, association or group of persons organized for the purpose GR : RA 4200 Anti-wire tapping Law may be set aside if in pursuance to surveillance of
of engaging in terrorism or although not organized for such purpose, suspects and interception and recording of communications of terrorists – order from
actually uses the acts to terrorize mentioned in this act or to sow and create CA required
a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the EXC – Communications between
populace in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful 1. lawyers and clients
demand. 2. doctors and patients
- If evidence of guilt is not strong, he may be granted bail but 3. journalists and their sources and confidential business correspondence
shall be subject to travel restrictions that he may only travel
within the city or municipality where he resides or where the • Judicial authorization
case is pending Requisites for judicial authorization by CA –
- Such person may be placed under house arrest by court i. there is probable cause to believe based on personal knowledge
order at his usual place of residence. When under house of facts or circumstances that the said crimes of terrorism or
arrest he may not use any items as a means of conspiracy to commit terrorism has been committed or is being
communication with people outside the residence until committed, or is about to be committed
ordered by the court. ii. there is probable cause to believe based on personal knowledge
of the facts or circumstances that evidence which is essential to
Sec 4. Conspiracy to commit terrorism the conviction of any charged or suspected person for, or to the
There is conspiracy – when two or more persons come to an agreement solution or prevention of any crimes will be obtained
concerning the commission of the crime of terrorism and decide to commit the iii. there is no other effective means readily available for acquiring
same such evidence
Penalty = 40 years imprisonment Effective period = based on the length of time specified in the written
order but shall not exceed 30 days from receipt of written order. May be
Sec 5. Accomplice extended only once but shall not exceed 30 days, provided that it is for
Penalty = 17 years, 4 months one day to 20 years of imprisonment public interest.
PD 533
ANTI-CATTLE RUSTLING LAW
Republic vs IAC and Simplicio Berdon
Cattle Rustling and Qualified Theft of Large Cattle - The crime of
G.R. No. 74225. April 17, 1989
cattle-rustling is defined and punished under Presidential Decree No. 533,
the Anti-Cattle Rustling law of 1974, as the taking by any means, method
The Court has carefully gone over the evidence presented
or scheme, of any large cattle, with or without intent to gain and whether
by private respondents, and like the trial court and the
committed with or without violence against or intimidation of person or
Intermediate Appellate Court, finds the acquisition of the
force upon things, so long as the taking is without the consent of the
subject properties satisfactorily explained.
owner/breed thereof. The crime includes the killing or taking the meat or
While respondent spouses had acquired properties and
hide of large cattle without the consent of the owner.
constructed a house the costs of which were disproportionate
to their combined incomes from their employment in the
Since the intent to gain is not essential, the killing or destruction
government, it had been proved that such were financed
of large cattle, even without taking any part thereof, is NOT a crime of
through a donation and loans.
malicious mischief BUT cattle-rustling.
The Solicitor General also makes much of the fact that the
statements of assets and liabilities filed by private respondent
The Presidential Decree, however, does not supersede the crime
Simplicio Berdon covering the years material to the case did
of qualified theft of large cattle under Article 310 of the Revised Penal
not accurately reflect the donation and the loans granted to
Code, but merely modified the penalties provided for theft of large cattle
private respondent spouses and that Simplicio's testimony in
and, to that extent, amended Articles 309 and 310. Note that the overt act
effect contradicts the entries in said statements. It must be
that gives rise to the crime of cattle-rustling is the taking or killing of
emphasized, however, that in determining whether or not there
large cattle. Where the large cattle was not taken, but received by the
is unexplained wealth within the purview of R.A. No. 1379 the
offender from the owner/overseer thereof, the crime is not cattle-rustling;
courts are not bound by the statements of assets and liabilities
it is qualified theft of large cattle.
filed by the respondent.* On the contrary, this statute affords
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If the property taken is a large cattle the crime falls under PD 533. If the
Where the large cattle was received by the offender who property taken is not a large cattle (but small cattle) then it is simple
thereafter misappropriated it, the crime is qualified theft under Article theft.
310 if only physical or material possession thereof was yielded to him. If
both material and juridical possession thereof was yielded to him who Large Cattle = does not include goats (Pp vs. NAZARENO, infra) and pigs.
misappropriated the large cattle, the crime would be estafa under Article
315 (1b). PEOPLE vs. HON. RAMON NAZARENO
G.R. No. L-40037. April 30, 1976
Presidential Decree No. 533 is not a special law in the context of
Article 10 of the Revised Penal Code. It merely modified the penalties The legal issue in this case is whether the theft of two goats valued
at one hundred fifty pesos is qualified theft.
provided for theft of large cattle under the Revised Penal Code and
amended Article 309 and 310. This is explicit from Section 10 of the Private respondents were charged with qualified theft in Cebu
Presidential Decree. Consequently, the trial court should not have for having allegedly stolen two female goats valued at P150, penalized
convicted the accused of frustrated murder separately from cattle- under the RPC.
rustling, since the former should have been absorbed by cattle-rustling The Supreme Court ruled that goats cannot be categorized as
large and therefore larceny of two goats valued at P150.00 constitute
as killing was a result of or on the occasion of cattle-rustling. It should
only simple theft punishable under Article 309(4) of the Revised Penal
only be an aggravating circumstance. But because the information did Code,
not allege the injury, the same can no longer be appreciated; the crime We hold that the CFI and the Sol. Gen. are in error because the
should, therefore be only, simple cattle-rustling. (People v. Martinada, theft of two goats is not qualified theft. It is simple theft. Goats do not
February 13, 1991) belong to the category of "large cattle" as contemplated in article 310
of the Revised Penal Code.
The term "cattle" refers to domesticated quadrupeds such as
sheep, horses and swine, or to bovine animals such as cows, bulls and
Presumption of cattle rustling (Sec. 7) steers. The term "large cattle" in article 310 refers to ganado mayor
Every person having in his possession, control or custody of such as mules, as distinguished from ganado menor like sheep. Small
large cattle shall, upon demand by competent authorities, exhibit the cattle are known as ganado lanar y cabrio. The terms lanar and cabrio
documents prescribed in the preceding sections. Failure to exhibit the refer to sheep and goats, respectively.
required documents shall be prima facie evidence that the large cattle in Act No. 2030, which amended articles 503, 508, 512 and 520 of
his possession, control, or custody are the fruits of the crime of cattle the old Penal Code regarding theft of large cattle, provides that for
purposes of that law the term "large cattle" includes "carabaos,
rustling horses, mules, asses, and all members of the bovine family" (Art. 367
of the Revised Penal Code repealed Act No. 2030).
Penalties (Sec. 8) According to the dictionary, the word "bovine" refers to animals
related to or resembling oxen or cows. They belong to the genus Bos
Irrespective of the value of the large cattle involved:
(Bovidae). While goats may be included in the term "cattle", or belong
1. Without violence against or intimidation of persons or force to the bovine family (genus Capra), they cannot be included in the term
upon things - prision mayor in its maximum period to reclusion temporal "large cattle". To include goats in the term "large cattle" would render
in its medium period meaningless the adjective "large". The law evidently has made a
2. With violence against or intimidation of person or force upon distinction between large cattle and small cattle.
things - the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to
reclusion perpetua shall be imposed. As goats cannot be categorized as large cattle, the larceny of two
3. If a person is seriously injured or killed as a result or on the goats valued at P150 is simple theft punishable under article 309(4) of
occasion of the commission of cattle rustling - reclusion perpetua to the Revised Penal Code by imprisonment for two months and one day
of arresto mayor medium to two years and four months of prision
death
correccional minimum.
Q: Mr. X took property from the national museum, what is the crime
committed?
A: the crime is theft of property of the national library or national
museum, not theft only. Reason: this is no ordinary theft, the penalty is
higher.