REVISED PENAL

CODE
Criminal Law
ARTICLE 1 – TIME WHEN
ACT TAKES EFFECT
JANUARY 01, 1932

The date where the Revised Penal Code

took effect.
CRIMINAL LAW
Is one that defines crimes, treats of
their nature, and provides for their
punishment.
CRIME
Is an act committed or
omitted in violation of a
public law.
CRIMINAL LAW IN THE
PHILIPPINES

• Revised Penal Code (Act

No.3815)
• Special Laws
• Presidential Decrees
COMMON LAW

Are they recognized in

Philippines or not?
COURT DECISIONS

Are not sources of criminal law.

NULLUM CRIMEN,
NULLA POENA
SINE LEGE

No crime where there no law is

punishing it.
DOES THE STATE HAS
POWER TO DEFINE AND
PUNISH CRIMES?
LIMITATIONS
1. No ex post facto law or bill attainder shall be enacted. (Art.
III, Sec. 22)
2. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense
without due process of law. (Art. III, Sec. 14)
CHARACTERISTICS
OF CRIMINAL LAW

1. GENERAL
2. TERRITORIAL
3. PROSPECTIVE
GENERAL
The criminal law is binding on
all persons who live or sojourn in
Philippine territory.
TERRITORIAL
That the criminal laws undertake
to punish crimes committed
within Philippine territory.
PROSPECTIVE
That a penal law cannot make an
act punishable in a manner in
which it was not punishable
when committed.