Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 3815)
The Revised Penal Code is an act revising the penal code and other penal laws in the Philippines, enacted on December 8, 1930, and effective from January 1, 1932. It defines crimes, penalties, circumstances affecting criminal liability, and persons criminally liable.
Felonies are acts and omissions punishable by law, committed either by deliberate intent (deceit or dolo) or by fault (culpa), which results from imprudence, negligence, lack of foresight, or lack of skill.
The Code classifies felonies as grave felonies, less grave felonies, and light felonies based on the penalties prescribed by law, including capital punishment, afflictive, correctional, and light penalties.
Justifying circumstances exempt a person from criminal liability if the act is done in defense of oneself or others, to avoid greater harm, in the lawful exercise of a right or duty, or in obedience to a lawful order and if certain requisites like unlawful aggression, reasonable necessity, and lack of sufficient provocation are met.
Principals include those who directly participate in the execution of the act, those who induce others to commit it, and those who cooperate with acts without which the crime would not have been accomplished.
Penalties include principal penalties such as death, reclusion perpetua, reclusion temporal, prision mayor, prision correccional, arresto mayor and menor, public censure, fines, and bonds to keep the peace. Accessory penalties include disqualifications, suspension, indemnification, forfeiture, and costs.
Treason is punishable by reclusion temporal to death and a fine not exceeding 20,000 pesos. Conviction requires testimony of at least two witnesses to the same overt act or confession in open court.
Perpetual absolute disqualification includes deprivation of public office, the right to vote or be elected, and loss of retirement pay or pension for any office formerly held.
Conspiracy and proposal to commit felony are punishable only when the law expressly provides a penalty for such acts.
Persons exempt from criminal liability include those who act under justifying circumstances, imbeciles or insane persons (except during lucid intervals), persons under nine years of age, and those who cause an injury by accident without fault or intention, or act under irresistible force or uncontrollable fear.