CRIMINAL LAW I

Prescribed text book/s:

1. Revised Penal Code Book I by Luis B. Reyes and/or
2. Commentaries on Criminal Law by Atty. Maximo P. Amurao Jr.
NB: Closed book policy shall be observed during class. Only handwritten notes will be allowed.
I. General Principles of Criminal Law
A. Nature and definition
People v. Genosa, G.R. No. 135981, 29 September 2000, 341 SCRA 493
B. Characteristics of Criminal Law
1. General (Art. 2, RPC)
Minucher v. Scalzo, G.R. No. 142396, 11 February 2003
Liang v. People, G.R. No. 125865, 28 January 2000
2. Territorial (Art.2, RPC)
People v. Tulin, G.R. No. 111709, 30 August 2001, 364 SCRA 10
3. Prospective (Article 21 and 22, RPC)
a. Effects of repeal
C. Sources of Criminal Law
1. Revised Penal Code
2. Special Penal Laws
D. Constitutional Limitations on Criminal Law
1. Due process and Equal protection (Art. 3, Sec. 1, 1987 Constitution)
White Light Corp. v. City of Manila, G.R. No. 122846, 20 January 2009
Garcia v. Drilon, G.R. No. 179267, 25 June 2013
2. Freedom of expression (Art. 3, Sec. 4, 1987 Constitution)
Guingguing v. People, G.R. No. 128959, 30 September 2005.
3. Freedom of religion (Art. 3, Sec. 5, 1987 Constitution)
Estrada v. Escritor, AM No. P-02-1651, 22 June 2006, 492 SCRA 1
4. No excessive fines, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment. (Art. 3, Sec. 19, 1987
Constitution)
People v. Echagaray, G.R. No. 117472, 7 February 1997, 267 SCRA 682
Corpuz v. People, G.R. No. 180016, 29 April 2014
5. Non-imprisonment for debt or non-payment of poll tax ( Art. 3, Sec. 19, 1987 Constitution)
6. Bill of attainder (Art. 3, Sec. 22, 1987 Constitution)
People v. Ferrer, L-32613-14, 27 December 1972, 48 SCRA 382
7. Ex-post facto laws (Art. 3, Sec. 22, 1987 Constitution)
US v. Diaz Conde, L-18208, 14 February 1922
E. Construction and interpretation
1. Liberally in favour of the accused
2. Spanish text of the RPC prevails over the English text
People v. Abilong, L-1960, 26 November 1948.
3. Retroactive application when favourable to the accused
4. Prescribed but undeserved penalties (Art. 5, RPC)
People v. Formigones, L-3246, 29 November 1950