QuestionsQuestions (Commonwealth Act No. 578)
Commonwealth Act No. 578 amends Article 152 of Act No. 3815 (the Revised Penal Code).
It expressly includes teachers, professors, and persons charged with the supervision of public or duly recognized private schools, colleges, and universities within the term “persons in authority.”
Any person directly vested with jurisdiction, whether individually or as a member of a court or governmental corporation, board, or commission.
They are deemed persons in authority for purposes of applying Articles 148 and 151.
Persons charged with the supervision of public or duly recognized private schools, colleges, and universities.
No. It also covers duly recognized private schools, colleges, and universities.
It implies that the private educational institution must be officially recognized; otherwise, the supervision of such school may not fall within the law’s intended coverage.
Persons who are directly given authority/jurisdiction by law or by their official role—such as members of courts or governmental boards/commissions—rather than those with only incidental or indirect influence.
Articles 148 and 151 are specifically referenced in the amended text.
It is reflected in the amendment to Article 152 of the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815).
The first paragraph provides the general definition of persons in authority (those directly vested with jurisdiction), while the second paragraph adds specific educational roles (teachers, professors, and certain supervisors) for applying Articles 148 and 151.
Because classifying teachers/professors/school supervisors as “persons in authority” affects the application of penal provisions where the identity of the victim as a person in authority is an element.
It was enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines and was approved without Executive approval, effective June 8, 1940.
It takes effect upon approval (which, per the enactment note, occurred without Executive approval on June 8, 1940).