Mindanao State University

College of Law
PROSECUTOR ABDUL GAFFUR MADKI HOWARD M. ALONTO II
SPECIAL PENAL LAWS
Syllabus

I. Concept and Principles of Special Penal Laws

1. Mala in Se and Mala Prohibita

a. Art. 3, RPC
b. US vs. Go Chico, 14 Phil. 128 (1909)
c. Padilla vs. Dizon, 158 SCRA 127 (1988)
d. Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan, 369 SCRA 394 (2001)
[J. Mendoza's concurring opinion]
e. Go vs. Sandiganbayan, GR 172602, Sep. 3, 2007
f. Teves vs. Comelec, GR 180363, Apr. 28, 2009

2. Relation of RPC to Special Penal Laws

a. Art. 10, RPC
b. Sanchez vs. People, GR 179090, Jun. 5, 2009
c. People vs. Saley, 291 SCRA 715 (1998)
d. People vs. Simon, 234 SCRA 555 (1994)
[J. Davide concurring and dissenting]
e. Ladonga vs. People, 451 SCRA 673 (2005)
f. People vs. Bustinera, 431 SCRA 284 (2004)
g. Go-Tan vs. Tan, 567 SCRA 231 (2008)

II. Special Penal Laws Affecting Criminal Liability

1. Act No. 3326

a. Periods of Prescription
Citibank vs. Tanco-Gabaldon, GR 198444, Sep. 4, 2013
b. Commencement of Period
People vs. Pangilinan, GR 152662, Jun. 13, 2012
2. RA 9262
a. Battered Woman Syndrome as Justifying Circumstance
People vs. Genosa, GR 135981, Jan. 15, 2004
3. RA 9344, as amended by RA 10630 and PD 603, as amended
a. Child at risk
b. Child in conflict with the law
c. Minimum age of criminal responsibility
Ortega vs. People, GR 151085,
d. Determination of age
e. Exemption from criminal liability
f. Acted with discernment
g. Rule on Commitment of Children (AM No. 02-1-19-SC)
h. Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with Law (AM No. 02-1-18-SC)
i. Intent and Discernment, difference
Guevarra vs. Almodovar, 169 SCRA 476 (1989)
People vs. Doquena, 68 Phil 580 (1939)
People vs. Arpon, 662 SCRA 506, GR 183563, Dec. 14, 2011
j. Discernment and Age of Criminal Responsibility
Madali vs. People, GR 180380, Aug. 4, 2009
 k. Acted with Discernment and Burden of Proof
Jose vs. People, 448 SCRA 116 (2005)
Llave vs. People, 488 SCRA 376 (2006)
4. PD 1866, as amended by RA 8294
a. Unlicensed firearm used in any crime
People vs. Ladjaalam, 340 SCRA 617 (2000)
b. Special aggravating circumstance in murder or homicide
People vs. Castillo, GR 131592-93, Feb. 15, 2000
Sison vs. People, GR 187229, Feb. 22, 2012
c. If used in rebellion, sedition or attempted coup d'etat
5. RA 9165
a. As qualifying aggravating circumstance - Sec. 25
b. Attempt and conspiracy - Sec. 26
c. Immunity from prosecution and punishment - Sec. 33
d. First time offenders - Secs. 66-71
Offender: minor - People vs. Mantalaba, GR 186227, Jul. 20, 2011
e. Delay and bungling in the prosecution of drugs cases - Sec. 92
f. Limited applicability of RPC - Sec. 98
People vs. Cabugatan, GR 172019, Feb. 12, 2007
6. Some Significant Immunity Statutes:
a. PD 749 - Bribe givers and their accomplices
b. PD 1731 - Rewards and incentives to witnesses and informants
c. PD 1732 - Immunity to government witnesses
d. 1987 Constitution, Art. XIII, Sec. 18(8) - Power of Commission on
Human Rights to grant immunity
e. RA 6646, Sec. 26 -Additional Reforms in the Electoral System
f. RA 6770, Sec. 17 - Ombudsman Act of 1989
Quarto vs. Marcelo, GR 169042, Oct. 5, 2011
People vs. Sandiganbayan, GR 185729-32, Jun. 26, 2013
Mapa, Jr. vs. Sandiganbayan, GR 100295, Apr. 26, 1994
g. RA 6981 - Witness protection
Ampatuan vs. De Lima, GR 197291, Apr. 3, 2013
h. RA 9165 - Secs. 33 and 34
i. RA 9485, Sec. 15 - Anti-Red Tape Act

III. Special Penal Laws Affecting Penalties and Service Thereof

1. RA 9346 - Act Prohibiting the Imposition of the Death Penalty

People vs. Bon, 506 SCRA 168 (2006) - RA 9346 and Art. 71, RPC
harmonized
2. RA 4103 - Indeterminate Sentence Law
Batistis vs. People, GR 181571, Dec. 16, 2009
3. PD 968 - Probation Law
Llamado vs. CA, 174 SCRA 566 (1989)
Salgado vs. CA, 189 SCRA 304 (1990)
Francisco vs. CA, 243 SCRA 384 (1995)
Colinares vs. People, 662 SCRA 266 (2011)
Bala vs. Martinez, 181 SCRA 459 (1990)
Exception to Termination - Sec. 24, RA 9165
4. RA 9344 - Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006
PD 603 - Child and Youth Welfare Code
Sierra vs. People, GR 182941, Jul. 3, 2009
People vs. Sarcia, GR 169641, Sep. 10, 2009
People vs. Jacinto, GR 182239, Mar. 16, 2011
 5. RA 9372 - Human Security Act of 2007

IV. Crimes Against National Security

1. CA 616 -Act to Punish Espionage and Offenses Against National Security

Distinguish from Treason (Art. 114)
Distinguish from Espionage (Art. 117)
2. PD 532 - Anti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery
People vs. Catantan, GR 118075, Sep. 5, 1997
People vs. Tulin, GR 111709, Aug. 30, 2001
3. RA 6235 - Acts Inimical to Civil Aviation
4. PD 6235 - Anti-Hijacking Law
5. RA 9372 - Human Security Act of 2007

V. Crimes Against Fundamental Laws of the State

1. RA 7438 - Rights of Arrested Persons and Persons Under Custodial

Investigation
People vs. Olivarez, Jr., GR 77865, Dec. 04, 1998
2. RA 9851- International Humanitarian Law
3. RA 9372 - Human Security Act of 2007
4. RA 9745 - Anti-Torture Act of 2009
5. RA 9208 - Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
People vs. Hadja Jarma Lalli, GR 195419, Oct. 12, 2011
6. RA 6955 - Anti-Mail Order Bride Law
7. RA 9995 - Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009
8. RA 10173 - Data Privacy Act of 2012

VI. Crimes Against Public Order

1. RA 10591
People vs. Gaborney, GR 210710, Jul. 27, 2016
2. RA 9372
Southern Hemisphere Engagement Network, Inc. vs. Anti-Terrorism
Council, GR 178552, Oct. 5, 2010

VII. Crimes Against Public Interest

1. PD 247 - Defacement, Mutilation, Tearing, Burning or Destroying Central

Bank Notes and Coins
2. RA 8293 - Intellectual Property Code
Skechers vs. Inter Pacific Industrial Trading Corp., GR 164321, Mar. 23,
2011
Diaz vs. People and Levi Strauss Phil., Inc., GR 180677, Feb. 18, 2013
Republic Gas vs. Petron, GR 194602, Jun. 17, 2013
3. RA 9184 - New Public Building Law
Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service (DBM-PS)
vs. Kolonwel Trading, GR 175616, GR 175608, Jun. 8, 2007
4. RA 7581, as amended by RA 10623 - Price Act
5. CA 142 - Anti -Alias Law
Legamia vs. IAC, 131 SCRA 478
People vs. Estrada, GR 164368-69, Apr. 2, 2009 (Jose Velarde)
6. RA 9160 - Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001
 Republic of the Phil. vs. Cabrini Green & Ross, Inc., GR 154522, May 5,
2006
Republic of the Phil. vs. Glasgow Credit & Collections Services, Inc., GR
170281,Jan. 18, 2008
7. RA 8484 - Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998
Soledad vs. People, GR 184274, Feb. 23, 2011
8. RA 10088 - Anti-Camcording Act of 2010
9. RA 8042, as amended by RA 10022 - Illegal Recruitment
Sto. Tomas vs. Salac, GR 152642, Nov. 13, 2012
People vs. Hadja Jarma Lalli, GR 195419, Oct. 12, 2011
10. RA 10175 - Cybercrime Law
Disini, Jr. vs. The Secretary of Justice, GR 203335, Feb. 18, 2014
11. RA 10586 - Driving Under the Influence Law

VIII. Crimes Relative to Opium and Other Prohibited Drugs

1. RA 9165
People vs. Partoza, GR 182418, May 8, 2009
People vs. Padua, GR 174097, Jul. 21, 2010
People vs. Habana, GR 188900, Mar. 5, 2010
People vs. Santiago, GR 191061, Feb. 9, 2011
People vs. Watamama, GR 194945, Jul. 30, 2012
PDEA vs. Brodett and Joseph, GR 196390, Sep. 28, 2011
Estipona, Jr. vs. Lobrigo and People, GR 226679, Aug. 15, 2017
People vs. Lim, GR 231989, Sep. 4, 2018

IX. Crimes Committed by Public Officers or Related to Public Office

1. RA 3019 - Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

Morfe vs. Mutuc, 22 SCRA 424
Jaravata vs. Sandiganbayan, 127 SCRA 363
Mejorda vs. Sandiganbayan, 151 SCRA 399
Fonacier vs. Sandiganbayan, GR L-50691, Dec. 5, 1994
Mendoza-Arce vs. Ombudsman, GR 149148, Apr. 5, 2002
Trieste vs. Sandiganbayan, 145 SCRA 508
Alvarez vs. People, GR 192591, Jul. 30, 2012
Go vs. Sandiganbayan, GR 172602, Sep. 3, 2007
2. RA 6713 - Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees
Samson vs. Restrivera, GR 178454, Mar. 28, 2011
Ombudsman vs. Madriaga, GR 164316, Sep. 27, 2006
Rabe vs. Flores, AM No. P-97-1247, May 14, 1997
3. PD 46 - Anti-Gift Giving
4. RA 7080 - Anti-Plunder Act
Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan, GR 148560, Nov. 19, 2001
People vs. Macapagal-Arroyo, SB-12-CRM-0174 (Sandiganbayan Case)
5. RA 1379 - Sequestration Law
Cabal vs. Kapunan, GR L-19052, Dec. 29, 1962
Garcia vs. Sandiganbayan, GR 170122, Oct. 12, 2009
Republic vs. Sandiganbayan and Asistio, GR 90529, Aug. 16, 1991
Republic vs. Sandiganbayan and Marcos, GR 152154, Nov. 18, 2003
Bugarin vs. Republic, GR 174431, Aug. 6, 2012
6. RA 9372 - Human Security Act of 2007
7. RA 9485 - Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007