MORAL TURPITUDE

[An] act of baseness, vileness, or the depravity in private and social duties which man owes
to his fellow man, or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and
duty between man and man. xxx Act or behavior that gravely violates moral sentiment or accepted
moral standards of community and is a morally culpable quality held to be present in some criminal
offenses as distinguished from others. xxx The quality of a crime involving grave infringement of the
moral sentiment of the community as distinguished from statutory mala prohibita. (Black’s Law
Dictionary)

A case which involved a lawyer (In Re Basa, 1920) having committed abduction with consent,
the Supreme Court (of the Philippines) through Justice Malcolm have spoken:

“Moral turpitude,” it has been said, “includes everything which is done contrary to justice,
honesty, modesty, or good morals.” (Bouvier’s 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.

The following are some of the identified crimes involving moral turpitude:

1. Abduction with consent 24. Intriguing against Honor

2. Seduction under promise of marriage 25. Violation of the Anti-Fencing Law
3. Bigamy 26. Violation of Dangerous Drugs Act of
4. Concubinage 1972 (Drug-pushing)
5. Adultery 27. Criminal conspiracy to smuggle opium
6. Smuggling 28. Perjury
7. Rape 29. Forgery
8. Estafa through falsification of a 30. Libel
document 31. Direct Bribery
9. Attempted Bribery 32. Frustrated Homicide
10. Profiteering 33. Arson
11. Robbery 34. Barratry
12. Murder, whether consummated or 35. Dueling
attempted 36. Embezzlement
13. Estafa
On the other hand, the following crimes were
14. Theft
ruled out not to be involving moral turpitude:
15. Blackmail
16. Illicit Sexual Relations with a Fellow 1. Minor transgressions of the law (i.e.,
Worker conviction for speeding)
17. Violation of BP Blg. 22 2. Illegal recruitment
18. Falsification of Document 3. Slight physical injuries
19. Mutilation of public records 4. Carrying of deadly weapon (Illegal
20. Fabrication of evidence possession of firearms)
21. Making fraudulent proof of loss on 5. Indirect Contempt
insurance contract
22. Offenses against pension laws
23. Evasion of income tax