Course Outline

Criminal Law (Book 1)

1 Semester, SY 2022-2023
st

I. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

A. Definition of Criminal Law

B. Kinds of crimes
1. Mala in se
2. Mala prohibita
3. Felonies
4. Offenses
5. Infractions

C. Sources of Philippine Criminal Law

1. Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815)
2. Special penal laws passed by Congress
3. Presidential Decrees

D. Theories of Criminal Law

1. Classical or JuristicTheory
2. Positivist or Realistic Theory
3. Ecclectic or Mixed Theory
4. Utilitarian or Protective Theory

E. Power to Define and Punish Crimes

F. Constitutional Limitations on Legislative Power to Enact Penal Laws

1. Equal protection
2. Due process
3. Cruel and unusual punishment
4. Bill of attainder/Ex post facto law

G. Characteristics of Criminal Law

1. Prospective
2. General
3. Territorial

H. Construction of Penal Laws

II. THE REVISED PENAL CODE, ACT NO. 3815

A. History

B. Divisions of the RPC

1. Books 1 & 2
2. Titles – Book I: Prelim Title + Titles 1-5; Book II: Titles 1-14
3. Chapters - Book I: 15 Chapters; Book II: 46 Chapters
4. Sections – Book I: 8 Sections; Book II: 35
5. Articles – Book I: Arts. 1–113; Book II: Arts. 114-367

III. PRELIMINARY TITLE – DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS AND APPLICATION OF THE

PROVISIONS OF THIS CODE

IV. TITLE ONE: FELONIES AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH AFFECT CRIMINAL

LIABILITY
Chapter One. Felonies
 Chapter Two. Justifying Circumstances and Circumstances which Exempt from
Criminal Liability
Chapter Three. Circumstances which Mitigate Criminal Liability
Chapter Four. Circumstances which Aggravate Criminal Liability
Chapter Five. Alternative Circumstances

V. TITLE TWO: PERSONS CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR FELONIES

VI. TITLE THREE: PENALTIES

Chapter One. Penalties in General
Chapter Two. Classification of Penalties
Chapter Three. Duration and Effect of Penalties
Section 1 – Duration of Penalties
Section 2 – Effects of the Penalties according to their Respective Nature
Section 3 – Penalties in which Other Accessory Penalties are Inherent
Chapter Four. Application of Penalties
Section 1 – Rules for the Application of Penalties to the Persons Criminally Liable
and for the Graduation of the Same
Section 2 – Rules for the Application of Penalties with regard to the Mitigating
and Aggravating Circumstances and Habitual Delinquency
Section 3 – Provisions Common in the Last Two Preceding Sections
Chapter Five. Execution and Service of Penalties
Section 1 – General Provisions
Section 2 – Execution of Principal Penalties

VII. TITLE FOUR: EXTINCTION OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY

Chapter One. Total Extinction of Criminal Liability
Chapter Two. Partial Extinction of Criminal Liability

VIII. TITLE FIVE: CIVIL LIABILITY

Chapter One. Persons Civilly Liable for Felonies
Chapter Two. What Civil Liability Includes
Chapter Three. Extinction and Survival of Civil Liability