Criminal law

Effectivity of the Revised Penal Code (RPC)
- Took effect on January 1, 1932.
Characteristics of Criminal Law
- Generality: Criminal law applies to all persons who reside or sojourn in Philippine territory, regardless of nationality.
- Territoriality: Criminal law undertakes to punish crimes committed within the Philippine territory.
- Exceptions to Territoriality (Article 2, RPC): Applies to offenses committed:
  - On a Philippine ship or airship.
  - Involving forging/counterfeiting coins or currency notes of the Philippines.
  - By public officers in the exercise of their official functions abroad.
  - Crimes against national security and the law of nations.
- Prospectivity: Penal laws operate prospectively and cannot penalize acts committed prior to their enactment, except when favorable to the accused (provided the accused is not a habitual delinquent).
Mala in Se vs. Mala Prohibita
- Mala in Se: Acts inherently wrong or immoral (punished under the RPC); criminal intent (dolo) is an essential element.
- Mala Prohibita: Acts prohibited by specific statutes for public welfare; criminal intent is not required, and good faith is generally not a defense.

Elements of a Felony
- An act or omission.
- Punishable by law.
- Committed by means of dolo (deceit) or culpa (fault).
Dolo (Deceit/Intentional Felonies)
- Elements of Dolo:
- Freedom: Voluntarily performing the act.
- Intelligence: Ability to determine morality and consequences.
- Intent: Purpose to bring about the unlawful result.
Culpa (Fault/Unintentional Felonies)
- Committed due to imprudence, negligence, lack of foresight, or lack of skill without malice.

Article 4 of the RPC
- Criminal liability is incurred by any person committing a felony although the wrongful act done be different from that which was intended.
Mistakes / Aberrations in Intent
- Aberratio Ictus (Mistake in the Blow): The offender directs the act toward one target, but hits another due to bad aim or accident.
- Error in Personae (Mistake in Identity): The offender intends to strike a specific person but mistakes another individual for the target.
- Praeter Intentionem: The injury or resulting felony exceeds what was originally intended by the perpetrator.
Proximate Cause
- That cause which, in natural and continuous sequence, unbroken by any efficient intervening cause, produces the injury and without which the result would not have occurred.
Stages of Execution of a Felony
- Attempted: The offender commences the commission directly by overt acts but fails to perform all acts of execution due to some cause or accident other than voluntary desistance.
- Frustrated: The offender performs all acts of execution necessary to produce the felony, but the result is not produced due to causes independent of the perpetrator's will.
- Consummated: All elements necessary for the execution and accomplishment of the felony are present.

Anti-Fencing Law (P.D. 1612)
- Punishes the act of fencing, which involves buying, receiving, keeping, acquiring, or selling property known to be derived from theft or robbery.
Obstruction of Justice (P.D. 1829)
- Punishes acts that knowingly obstruct, impede, frustrate, or delay the apprehension, investigation, or prosecution of criminal offenders.

Branches of Government
- Executive Branch (Enforces laws).
- Legislative Branch (Enacts laws).
- Judicial Branch (Interprets laws).
Composition of Government Bodies
- Supreme Court: Composed of 15 Justices (1 Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices).
- Senate: Composed of 24 Senators.
Power of Eminent Domain
- The inherent power of the State to take private property for public use upon payment of just compensation.