Review on

Criminal Law 1
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Construction/Interpretation of Criminal Statutes

◎ Liberally in favor of the accused.

◎ Retroactive application in favor of the accused
◎ Equipoise doctrine
◎ Doctrine of Pro Reo

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Characteristics of Criminal Law

Generality:
◎ it applies to all persons who commit crimes in the
Philippines.
◎ Binding to all persons who live or sojourn in the
Philippines whether citizens or not.

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Characteristics of Criminal Law

Territoriality:
◎ enforced within the Philippine Archipelago, including
its atmosphere, interior waters and maritime zone.

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Characteristics of Criminal Law

Prospectivity:
◎ Cannot make an act criminal when it was innocent at
the time it was committed.
◎ Crimes are punished under the laws in force at the
time of their commission.

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Constitutional Limitations

◎ Due Process and Equal Protection

◎ Freedom of Expression
◎ Freedom of Religion
◎ Others

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FELONIES

◎ Acts or omissions punishable under the Revised Penal

Code.

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Classification of Felonies

◎ Dolo: malice or deliberate intent

◎ Culpa: results from imprudence, negligence, lack of

foresight or lack of skill

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Liability for Incomplete Elements

Impossible Crimes
1. That the act performed would be an offense against persons or
property
2. That the act was done with evil intent
3. That its accomplishment is inherently impossible or that the
means employed is either inadequate or ineffectual
4. That the act performed should not constitute a violation of
another provision of the Revised Penal Code.

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Liability for Incomplete Elements

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Circumstances Affecting Criminal Liability

◎ Justifying
◎ Exempting
◎ Mitigating
◎ Aggravating
◎ Alternative

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Complex Crimes

◎ Compound Crime : When a single act constitutes two

or more grave or less grave felonies
or
◎ Complex Crime Proper: Where an offense is a
necessary means for committing the other

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Special Complex Crimes

◎ There are two simple crimes but which the Revised

Penal Code has defined as a single offense with a
single penalty.

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Assignment

◎ Read this case: People of the Philippines v. Randy

Gajila (G.R. No. 227502; July 23, 2018)
◎ Answer this question:
Did the Supreme Court find the existence of a
justifying circumstance? State your basis as mentioned in
the case.

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Format

◎ PDF File
◎ Times new roman
◎ 14 font style
◎ Letter paper size

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