FEU INSTITUTE OF LAW 

MAKATI CITY 
 
CRIMINAL LAW I – ATTY. J. M. PABITON 
 
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MODULE IX –  
 
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I. DEFINITION OF CRIMINAL LAW 
 
A. When is law Penal in Nature? What is the effect on the cases below of the law discussed 
as falling under the definition of Criminal Law or Penal Law?  
 
Lacson v. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 128096, January 20, 1999 
Rimando v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 176364, September 18, 2009 
 
 
B. Special Law v. Revised Penal Code (Mala in Se, Mala Prohibita) 
 
Dunlao v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 111343August 22, 1996 
Garcia v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 157171, March 14, 2006  
Ysidoro v. People, G.R. No. 192330, November 14, 2012 
People v. Ladjaalam, G.R. Nos. 136149-51, September 19, 2000 – read in the context 
of Illegal Firearms as a separate offense and as an aggravating circumstance 
 
C. Suppletory Nature of Revised Penal Code on Special Laws (See Article 10, Revised Penal 
Code)  
 
People v. Bustinera, G. R. No. 148233, June 8, 2004  
People v. Mantalaba, G.R. No. 186227, July 20, 2011 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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II. ​PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW 
 
A. Prospectivity – Articles 21 and 22, Revised Penal Code 
 
People of the P.I. v. Moran, et. al., G.R. No. L-17905, January 27, 1923 
People v. Avecilla, G.R. No. 117033, February 15, 2001  
 
 
B. Territoriality – Article 2, Revised Penal Code  
 
People v. Wong Cheng, G.R. No. L-18924, October 19, 1922  
Trenas v. People, G. R. No. 195002, January 25, 2012  
 
 
C. Generality – Understand the concept/principle of “Generality” in Criminal Law in 
Relation to:  
 
Republic Act 75​​, 21 October 1946,   
Liang v. People, G.R. No. 125865, January 28, 2000 
Liang v. People, G.R. No. 125865, March 26, 2001 
Schneckenburger v. Judge Moran, G.R. No. L-44896, July 31, 1936 

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