Crime of Moral Turpitude

Paras v Vailoces 1961

Under Section 25, Rule 127, of the Rules of Court, a member of

the bar may be removed or suspended from his office as attorney
if it appears that he has been convicted of a crime involving
moral turpitude. Moral turpitude, as used in this section,
includes any act deemed contrary to justice, honesty or good
morals.1 Among the examples given of crimes of this nature by
former Chief Justice Moran are the crime of :
1) seduction
2) crime of concubinage
3) falsification of public document
4) embezzlement
5) forgery
6) robbery
7) swindling are crimes

as a general rule, all crimes of which fraud is an element are

looked on as involving moral turpitude" (58 C.J.S., 1206).

Moral turpitude, it has been said, includes everything which is done contrary to justice, honesty,
modesty, or good morals. (Bouviers Law Dictionary, cited by numerous courts.) Although no decision
can be found which has decided the exact question, it cannot admit of doubt that crimes of this character
involve moral turpitude. The inherent nature of the act is such that it is against good morals and the
accepted rule of rigMoral turpitude, it has been said, includes everything which is done contrary to
justice, honesty, modesty, or good morals. (Bouviers Law Dictionary, cited by numerous courts.)
Although no decision can be found which has decided the exact question, it cannot admit of doubt that
crimes of this character involve moral turpitude. The inherent nature of the act is such that it is against
good morals and the accepted rule of right conduct.

Since then, some of the identified crimes involving moral turpitude were identified as follows:

1. Abduction with consent

2. Seduction under promise of marriage
3. Bigamy
4. Concubinage
5. Adultery
6. Smuggling
7. Rape
8. Estafa through falsification of a document
9. Attempted Bribery
10. Profiteering
11. Robbery
12. Murder, whether consummated or attempted
13. Estafa
14. Theft
15. Blackmail
16. Illicit Sexual Relations with a Fellow Worker
17. Violation of BP Bldg. 22
18. Falsification of Document
19. Mutilation of public records
20. Fabrication of evidence
21. Making fraudulent proof of loss on insurance contract
22. Offenses against pension laws
23. Evasion of income tax
24. Intriguing against Honor
25. Violation of the Anti-Fencing Law
26. Violation of Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 (Drug-pushing)
27. Criminal conspiracy to smuggle opium
28. Perjury
29. Forgery
30. Libel
31. Direct Bribery
32. Frustrated Homicide
33. Arson
34. Barratry
35. Dueling
36. Embezzlement
On the other hand, the following crimes were ruled out not to be involving moral turpitude:

1. Minor transgressions of the law (i.e., conviction for speeding)

2. Illegal recruitment
3. Slight physical injuries
4. Carrying of deadly weapon (Illegal possession of firearms)
5. Indirect Contempt
ht conduct.