PENALTIES – Video 9 and ¼ of Video 10

ARTICLE 21. Penalties that May Be Imposed. — No felony shall be punishable by any penalty not
prescribed by law prior to its commission.

ARTICLE 22. Retroactive Effect of Penal Laws. — Penal laws shall have a retroactive effect in so
far as they favor the person guilty of a felony, who is not a habitual criminal, as this term is
defined in rule 5 of article 62 of this Code, although at the time of the publication of such laws a
final sentence has been pronounced and the convict is serving the same.

ARTICLE 23. Effect of Pardon by the Offended Party. — A pardon by the offended party does not
extinguish criminal action except as provided in article 344 of this Code; but civil liability with
regard to the interest of the injured party is extinguished by his express waiver.

ARTICLE 24. Measures of Prevention or Safety Which are Not Considered Penalties.

The following shall not be considered as penalties:

1. The arrest and temporary detention of accused persons, as well as their detention by
reason of insanity or imbecility, or illness requiring their confinement in a hospital.

2. The commitment of a minor to any of the institutions mentioned in article 80 and for
the purposes specified therein.

3. Suspension from the employment or public office during the trial or in order to
institute proceedings.

4. Fines and other corrective measures which, in the exercise of their administrative or
disciplinary powers, superior officials may impose upon their subordinates.

5. Deprivation of rights and the reparations which the civil laws may establish in penal
form.

CLASSIFICATION OF PENALTIES
ARTICLE 25. Penalties Which May Be Imposed. — The penalties which may be imposed,
according to this Code, and their different classes, are those included in the following:

HIERARCHY OF PRINCIPAL PENALTIES

Capital punishment:
 Death.

Afflictive penalties:
 Reclusión perpetua,
 Reclusión temporal,
 Perpetual or temporary absolute disqualification,
 Perpetual or temporary special disqualification,
 Prisión mayor.
Correctional penalties:
 Prisión correccional,
 Arresto mayor,
 Suspensión,
 Destierro.

Light penalties:
 Arresto menor,
 Public censure

Penalties common to the three preceding classes:

 Fine, and
 Bond to keep the peace.

HIERARCHY OF ACCESSORY PENALTIES

 Perpetual or temporary absolute disqualification,

 Perpetual or temporary special disqualification,
 Suspension from public office, the right to vote and be voted for, the profession or
calling.
 Civil interdiction,
 Indemnification,
 Forfeiture or confiscation of instruments and proceeds of the offense,
 Payment of costs.

ARTICLE 26. Fine — When Afflictive, Correctional or Light Penalty. — A fine, whether imposed
as a single or as an alternative penalty, shall be considered an afflictive penalty, if it exceeds
6,000 pesos; a correctional penalty, if it does not exceed 6,000 pesos but is not less than 200
pesos; and a light penalty, if it be less than 200 pesos.

DURATION AND EFFECTS OF PENALTIES

Duration of Penalties

ARTICLE 27. Reclusión Perpetua. — Any person sentenced to any of the perpetual penalties
shall be pardoned after undergoing the penalty for thirty years, unless such person by reason of
his conduct or some other serious cause shall be considered by the Chief Executive as unworthy
of pardon.

Reclusión temporal. — The penalty of reclusión temporal shall be from twelve years and one
day to twenty years.

Prisión mayor and temporary disqualification. — The duration of the penalties of prisión mayor
and temporary disqualification shall be from six years and one day to twelve years, except
when the penalty of disqualification is imposed as an accessory penalty, in which case its
duration shall be that of the principal penalty.

Prisión correccional, suspensión, and destierro. — The duration of the penalties of prision
correccional, suspensión and destierro shall be from six months and one day to six years, except
when suspension is imposed as an accessory penalty, in which case, its duration shall be that of
the principal penalty.
Arresto mayor. — The duration of the penalty or arresto mayor shall be from one month and
one day to six months.

Arresto menor. — The duration of the penalty of arresto menor shall be from one day to thirty
days.

Bond to keep the peace. — The bond to keep the peace shall be required to cover such period
of time as the court may determine.

ARTICLE 28. Computation of Penalties. — If the offender shall be in prison the term of the
duration of the temporary penalties shall be computed from the day on which the judgment of
conviction shall have become final.

If the offender be not in prison, the term of the duration of the penalty consisting of
deprivation of liberty shall be computed from the day that the offender is placed at the disposal
of the judicial authorities for the enforcement of the penalty. The duration of the other
penalties shall be computed only from the day on which the defendant commences to serve his
sentence.

ARTICLE 29. One-half of the Period of the Preventive Imprisonment Deducted from Term of
Imprisonment. — Offenders who have undergone preventive imprisonment shall be credited in
the service of their sentence consisting of deprivation of liberty, with one-half of the time
during which they have undergone preventive imprisonment, except in the following cases:

1. When they are recidivists, or have been convicted previously twice or more times of
any crime;

2. When upon being summoned for the execution of their sentence they have failed to
surrender voluntarily;

(Note from Atty Carandang: If the detention prisoner does not agree to abide by the
same disciplinary rules imposed upon convicted prisoners, he shall be credited in the
service of his sentence with 4/5 of the time during which he has undergone preventive
imprisonment (As amended by RA 6127, June 17, 1970)

Whenever an accused has undergone preventive imprisonment for a period equal to or

more than the possible maximum imprisonment of the offense charged to which he may
be sentenced and his case is not yet terminated, he shall be released immediately
without prejudice to the continuation of the trial thereof or the proceedings in appeal, if
the same is under review. In case the maximum penalty to which the accused may be
sentenced is destierro, he shall be released after thirty (30) days of preventive
imprisonment (as amended by EO No 214, July 10, 1988)

3. When they have been convicted of robbery, theft, estafa, malversation of public
funds, falsification, vagrancy, or prostitution.
EFFECTS OF PENALTIES ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
NATURE
ARTICLE 30. Effects of the Penalties of Perpetual or Temporary Absolute Disqualification. — The
penalties of perpetual or temporary absolute disqualification for public office shall produce the
following effects:

1. The deprivation of the public offices and employments which the offender may have held,
even if conferred by popular election.

2. The deprivation of the right to vote in any election for any popular elective office or to be
elected to such office.

3. The disqualification for the offices or public employments and for the exercise of any of the
rights mentioned.

In case of temporary disqualification, such disqualification as is comprised in paragraphs 2 and 3

of this article shall last during the term of the sentence.

4. The loss of all right to retirement pay or other pension for any office formerly held.

ARTICLE 31. Effects of the Penalties of Perpetual or Temporary Special Disqualification. — The
penalties of perpetual or temporary special disqualification for public office, profession or
calling shall produce the following effects:

1. The deprivation of the office, employment, profession or calling affected;

2. The disqualification for holding similar offices or employments either perpetually or during
the term of the sentence, according to the extent of such disqualification.

ARTICLE 32. Effects of the Penalties of Perpetual or Temporary Special Disqualification for the
Exercise of the Right of Suffrage. — The perpetual or temporary special disqualification for the
exercise of the right of suffrage shall deprive the offender perpetually or during the term of the
sentence, according to the nature of said penalty, of the right to vote in any popular election
for any public office or to be elected to such office. Moreover, the offender shall not be
permitted to hold any public office during the period of his disqualification.

ARTICLE 33. Effects of the Penalties of Suspension from Any Public Office, Profession or Calling,
or the Right of Suffrage. — The suspension from public office, profession or calling, and the
exercise of the right of suffrage shall disqualify the offender from holding such office or
exercising such profession or calling or right of suffrage during the term of the sentence.

The person suspended from holding public office shall not hold another having similar functions
during the period of his suspension.

ARTICLE 34. Civil Interdiction. — Civil interdiction shall deprive the offender during the time of
his sentence of the rights of parental authority, or guardianship, either as to the person or
property of any ward, of marital authority, of the right to manage his property and of the right
to dispose of such property by any act or any conveyance inter vivos.

ARTICLE 35. Effects of Bond to Keep the Peace. — It shall be the duty of any person sentenced
to give bond to keep the peace, to present two sufficient sureties who shall undertake that such
person will not commit the offense sought to be prevented, and that in case such offense be
committed they will pay the amount determined by the court in its judgment, or otherwise to
deposit such amount in the office of the clerk of the court to guarantee said undertaking.

The court shall determine, according to its discretion, the period of duration of the bond.

Should the person sentenced fail to give the bond as required he shall be detained for a period
which shall in no case exceed six months, if he shall have been prosecuted for a grave or less
grave felony, and shall not exceed thirty days, if for a light felony.

ARTICLE 36. Pardon; Its Effects. — A pardon shall not work the restoration of the right to hold
public office, or the right of suffrage, unless such rights be expressly restored by the terms of
the pardon.

A pardon shall in no case exempt the culprit from the payment of the civil indemnity imposed
upon him by the sentence.

ARTICLE 37. Costs — What are Included. — Costs shall include fees and indemnities in the
course of the judicial proceedings, whether they be fixed or unalterable amounts previously
determined by law or regulations in force, or amounts not subject to schedule.

ARTICLE 38. Pecuniary Liabilities — Order of Payment. — In case the property of the offender
should not be sufficient for the payment of all his pecuniary liabilities, the same shall be met in
the following order:

1. The reparation of the damage caused.

2. Indemnification of consequential damages.

3. The fine.

4. The costs of the proceedings.

ARTICLE 39. Subsidiary Penalty. — If the convict has no property with which to meet the
pecuniary liabilities mentioned in paragraphs 1st, 2nd and 3rd of the next preceding article, he
shall be subject to a subsidiary personal liability at the rate of one day for each 2 pesos and 50
centavos, subject to the following rules:

1. If the principal penalty imposed be prisión correccional or arresto and fine, he shall
remain under confinement until his fine and pecuniary liabilities referred in the
preceding paragraph are satisfied, but his subsidiary imprisonment shall not exceed one-
third of the term of the sentence, and in no case shall it continue for more than one
year, and no fraction or part of a day shall be counted against the prisoner.

2. When the principal penalty imposed be only a fine, the subsidiary imprisonment shall
not exceed six months, if the culprit shall have been prosecuted for a grave or less grave
felony, and shall not exceed fifteen days, if for a light felony.

3. When the principal penalty imposed is higher than prisión correccional no subsidiary
imprisonment shall be imposed upon the culprit.

4. If the principal penalty imposed is not to be executed by confinement in a penal

institution, but such penalty is of fixed duration, the convict, during the period of time
established in the preceding rules, shall continue to suffer the same deprivations as
those of which the principal penalty consists.
 5. The subsidiary personal liability which the convict may have suffered by reason of his
insolvency shall not relieve him from reparation of the damaged caused, nor from
indemnification for the consequential damages in case his financial circumstances
should improve; but he shall be relieved from pecuniary liability as to the fine.

Penalties in Which Other Accessory Penalties are Inherent

ARTICLE 40. Death — Its Accessory Penalties. — The death penalty, when it is not executed by
reason of commutation or pardon shall carry with it that of perpetual absolute disqualification
and that of civil interdiction during thirty years following the date of sentence, unless such
accessory penalties have been expressly remitted in the pardon.

ARTICLE 41. Reclusión Perpetua and Reclusión Temporal — Their accessory penalties. — The
penalties of reclusión perpetua and reclusión temporal shall carry with them that of civil
interdiction for life or during the period of the sentence as the case may be, and that of
perpetual absolute disqualification which the offender shall suffer even though pardoned as to
the principal penalty, unless the same shall have been expressly remitted in the pardon.

ARTICLE 42. Prisión Mayor — Its Accessory Penalties. — The penalty of prisión mayor shall carry
with it that of temporary absolute disqualification and that of perpetual special disqualification
from the right of suffrage which the offender shall suffer although pardoned as to the principal
penalty, unless the same shall have been expressly remitted in the pardon.

ARTICLE 43. Prisión Correccional — Its Accessory Penalties. — The penalty of prisión
correccional shall carry with it that of suspension from public office, from the right to follow a
profession or calling, and that of perpetual special disqualification from the right of suffrage, if
the duration of said imprisonment shall exceed eighteen months. The offender shall suffer the
disqualification provided in this article although pardoned as to the principal penalty, unless the
same shall have been expressly remitted in the pardon.

ARTICLE 44. Arresto — Its Accessory Penalties. — The penalty of arresto shall carry with it that
of suspension of the right to hold office and the right of suffrage during the term of the
sentence.

ARTICLE 45. Confiscation and Forfeiture of the Proceeds or Instruments of the Crime. — Every
penalty imposed for the commission of a felony shall carry with it the forfeiture of the proceeds
of the crime and the instruments or tools with which it was committed.

Such proceeds and instruments or tools shall be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the
Government, unless they be the property of a third person not liable for the offense, but those
articles which are not subject of lawful commerce shall be destroyed.
DISCUSSION

WHAT IS A PENALTY?
o A penalty is actually a suffering that is inflicted by the state for a transgression of a law
o In Article 21, if the penalty is not indicated in the ROC, then it is not imposable

o Different juridical conditions with respect to penalty?

 Penalty must be productive of suffering without affecting the integrity of
the human personality
 It must commensurate to the offense. Different crimes must be punished
with different penalties
 Penalties are personal. No one should be punished for the crime of
another person
 Penalties must also be legal. It should be a consequence of a judgement
according to law.
 Penalties must also be certain. No one may escape its effects.
 Penalties must also be equal to all
 In Philippines jurisdiction, Penalties are correctional.

o Different Theories Justifying Penalties?

 Prevention – This theory provides that we impose penalties in order to

be able to suppress dangers that are provided to the state
 Self-Defense – That penalties are imposed in order to protect the society
from the threat and wrong inflicted by the criminal
 Reformation – penalties are imposed to correct and reform the offender
 Exemplarity – penalties are being imposed in order to serve as an
example to deter others from committing crimes
 Justice – for retributive justice, a vindication of absolute right and moral
law violated by the criminal

o DEATH PENALTY – is not imposable or prohibited in the Philippines

 The law that prohibits the imposition of death penalty is RA 9346

 RA 8177 (Death by Lethal Injection) and RA 7659 (Death Penalty Law)
were repealed by RA 9346
 RA 9346 Section 2: In lieu of the death penalty, the following shall be
imposed:
 The penalty of Reclusion Perpetua – when the law violated makes
use of nomenclature of penalties of the RPC
 Life Imprisonment – when the law violated does not make use of
nomenclature of the penalties of the RPC

o 3 Purpose of Penalties under the RPC:

 Retribution or Retributive Justice – the penalty is commensurate with the
gravity of the offense. It permits society to exact proportionate revenge
and the offender to atone for his wrongs
 Correctional or Reformation – As shown by the rules which regulates the
execution of the penalties consisting in deprivation of liberty
 Social Defense – as shown by its inflexible severity to recidivist and
habitual delinquents
 o Different Classifications of Penalties:

MAJOR CLASSIFICATION:

o Principal Penalties – are those expressly imposed by the courts in the judgement
of conviction
o Accessory Penalties – are those that are deemed included in the imposition of
the principal penalties (cannot stand alone, and they are deemed to be included
every time a principal penalty is imposed)
o Subsidiary Penalties – Those imposed in lieu of principal penalties (ex:
imprisonment in inability to pay the fine)

OTHER CLASSIFICATION:

o Divisible Penalties – penalties that have fix duration and they are divisible into
three periods (ex: prision correcional in minimum, maximum)
o Indivisible Penalties – no fix duration (ex: death, reclusion perpetua, perpetual
absolute disqualification, public censure)

CLASSIFICATION OF PENALTIES WITH RESPECT TO SUBJECT MATTER:

o Corporal Penalty – Death

o Deprivation of Freedom - Reclusions, Prisions, Arrestos
o Restricts Freedom – Destierro (form of banishment)
o Deprivation of Rights – Disqualification and Suspension
o Pecuniary Penalties - Fines

CLASSIFICATION OF PENALTIES WITH RESPECT TO GRAVITY:

o Capital Penalties
o Afflictive Penalties
o Correctional Penalties
o Light Penalties

RETROACTIVE EFFECT OF PENAL LAWS (Art 22)

o Penal Laws have retroactive effect in favor of the accused who is not a habitual criminal
o If not favorable to the accused, the law should be given a prospective effect (if
retroactive then it is ex post facto law)

EFFECT OF PARDON BY THE OFFENDED PARTY (Art 23)

o A pardon of the offended party DOES NOT EXTINGUISH CRIMINAL ACTION except as
provided in Article 344 (adultery, concubinage, seduction, abduction, rape and acts of
lasciviousness) – This is contemplated when Information has been filed in court
o CIVIL LIABILITY with regards to the interest of the injured party is EXTINGUISED by his
express waiver
 o NOTE: If the Pardon was given even before a criminal Information can be filed in court, it
EXTINGUISHES THE CRIMINAL ACTION

THE FOLLOWING SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED PENALTIES (Art 24)

o The arrest and temporary detention of accused persons, as well as their detention by
reason of insanity or imbecility, or illness requiring their confinement in a hospital.

o The commitment of a minor to any of the institutions mentioned in article 80 and for
the purposes specified therein.

o Suspension from the employment or public office during the trial or in order to institute
proceedings. (Example: preventive suspension by the ombudsman, this is not
considered a penalty)

o Fines and other corrective measures which, in the exercise of their administrative or
disciplinary powers, superior officials may impose upon their subordinates.

o Deprivation of rights and the reparations which the civil laws may establish in penal
form.

CLASSIFICATION OF PENALTIES (Art 25)

HIERARCHY of Principal Penalties

a. Capital punishment: (D)

(1) Death.

b. Afflictive penalties: (RP, RT, PAD, TAD, PSD, TSD, PM)

(1) Reclusion perpetua,
(2) Reclusion temporal,
(3) Perpetual or temporary absolute disqualification,
(4) Perpetual or temporary special disqualification,
(5) Prision mayor.

c. Correctional penalties: (PC, AM, S, Des)

(1) Prision correccional,
(2) Arresto mayor,
(3) Suspension
(4) Destierro.

d. Light penalties: (Am, Pc)

(1) Arresto menor,
(2) Public censure.

e. Penalties common to the three preceding classes: (F, Bond)

(1) Fine, and
(2) Bond to keep the peace.
 HIERARCHY OF ACCESSORY PENALTIES

a. Perpetual or temporary absolute disqualification,

b. Perpetual or temporary special disqualification,
c. Suspension from public office, the right to vote and be voted for, the profession or calling.
d. Civil interdiction,
e. Indemnification,
f. Forfeiture or confiscation of instruments and proceeds of the offense,

Reclusion Perpetua VS Life Imprisonment:

RECLUSION PERPETUA LIFE IMPRISONMENT

o The law violated makes use of
nomenclature of penalties of the RPC
o It carries accessory penalties
o It entails an imprisonment of at least
30 years, after which the convicts
become eligible for pardon although
the maximum period shall in no case
exceed 40 years
o The law violated does not make use
of nomenclature of the penalties of
the RPC
o It does not carry accessory penalties
o It does not appear to have any
definite extent or duration

DURATION, EFFECTS OF PENALTIES (Art 27)

PENALTY DURATION EFFECTS ACCESSORIES

Death
Indivisible
(REPEALED)

Death, when not executed due (1) PAD

to pardon or commutation
(REPEALED)
Reclusion Perpetua
(2) Civil Interdiction 30
years from sentence
20 years and 1 day (1) PAD
to 40 years (2) Civil Interdiction for
(indivisible) Life

(1) Deprivation of Public

Office
(2) Deprivation of Right to
Perpetual Absolute
For Life Vote and be voted for
Disqualification (PAD)
(3) Disqualification from
public office held
(4) Loss of Retirement Rights
 (1) Deprivation of Office,
Employment, Profession or
Perpetual Special Calling affected
For Life
Disqualification (PSD) (2) Disqualification from
Similar Offices or
Employments

(1) PAD
12 years and 1 day
Reclusion Temporal (2) Civil Interdiction for
to 20 days
Duration of Service

6 years and 1 day (1) TAD

Prision Mayor
to 12 years (2) PSD of Suffrage
(1) Deprivation of Public
Office, even if by Election
(2) Deprivation of Right to
Vote and be voted for
Temporary Absolute 6 years and 1 day
during sentence
Disqualification (TAD) to 12 years
(3) Disqualification from
public office held during
sentence
(4) Loss of Retirement Rights
(1) Deprivation of Office,
Employment, Profession or
Temporary Special 6 years and 1 day Calling affected
Disqualification (TAD) to 12 years (2) Disqualification from
similar offices or
emplyments
(1) Suspension from
Public Office
(2) Suspension from
6 months and 1 day Profession or Calling
Prision Coreccional
to 6 years (3) PSD of Suffrage, if the
duration of
imprisonment
exceeds 18 months
(1) Public Office
6 months and 1 day
Suspension (2) Profession or Calling
to 6 years
(3) Suffrage
Prohibition to enter within
6 months and 1 day
Destierro 25-250 km radius from the
to 6 years
designated place
(1) Suspension of right to
1 month and 1 day hold office
Arresto Mayor
to 6 months (2) Suspension of right to
suffrage

PENALTY DURATION ACCESSORIES

(1) Suspension of right to hold

office
Arresto Menor 1 day to 30 days
(2) Suspension of right to
suffrage
Public Censure
PENALTIES COMMON TO ALL THREE TYPES:

PENALTY DURATION ACCESSORIES

Fine

Bond to Keep the Peace As determined by court

COMPUTATION OF PENALTIES (Art 28)

o The term of duration of temporary penalties shall be computed from the day on which
the judgement of conviction shall have become final

NOTE: ARTICLES 29 – 39 are all reflected on the table, kindly read the provisions na lang

ON PARDONS:

PARDON BYTHE OFFENDED PARTY PARDON BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE

(ON ARTICLE 23)
o Applied only to crimes against
chastity under RPC
o With respect to extinguishment of
criminal liability, pardon by the
offended party does not extinguish
criminal liability, although it may
constitute a bar to the prosecution of
the offender
o ON CIVIL LIABILITY: offended party
can waive civil liability
o WHEN CAN BE GRANTED: It has to be
granted before the institution of
criminal action (filing of information)
o TO WHOM IT IS GRANTED: must
include both offenders
o ALWAYS ABSOLUTE
(ON ARTICLE 36)
o Applies to all crimes, subject to
certain constitutional limitations
o With respect to extinguishment of
criminal liability, Pardon by Chief
Executive extinguishes criminal
liability
o ON CIVILI LIABILITY: Does not affect
civil liability
o WHEN CAN BE GRANTED: Extend only
after the conviction by final
judgement of the accused
o TO WHOM IT IS GRANTED: to all of
the accused
o ABSOLUTE OR CONDITIONAL