Académique Documents
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in
Criminal Law
by:
Prof. Arturo M. de Castro
(Pre-Bar Reviewer, Global Best Practices, UP Law
Center, Ateneo Law School Pre Bar Review, PCU;
Professor of Law, UP, Ateneo, Lyceum, U.E.)
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Ans:
a) When in the commission of a crime, advantage is taken by the
offender of his public position.
b) If the offense is by any person who belong to an
organized/syndicated crime group, which means a group of 2 or
more persons collaborating, confederating or mutually helping one
another for purposes of gain in the commission of any crime.
V
1. Distinguish between attempted and frustrated felonies?
Ans: In attempted felonies, the offender commenced directly by overt
acts and commission of a felony, and does not perform all the acts
of execution which should produce the felony by reason of some
cause or accident other than his own spontaneous desistance.
In frustrated felony, the offender performs all the acts of execution
which would produce the felony as a consequence but which,
nevertheless, do not produce it by reason of causes independent
upon the will of the perpetrator.
2. A shoots B inflicting a fatal wound on B, who survives due to timely
medical attendance. Is the crime attempted or frustrated homicide?
Ans: Frustrated, because by inflecting a fatal wound, A performed all the
acts of execution which would produce homicide, but due to timely
medial attendance, a cause independent of the will of A, homicide
was not produced.
3. If A, without intent to kill, shoots B to scare him without intent to kill, but B
is hit and suffers a wound which will heal after 90 days. What is the crime
committed by A?
Ans: Serious physical injuries, because there is no intent to kill.
4. Will your answer be the same if A has intent to kill B?
Ans: Yes, the crime is attempted homicide because A was not able to
perform all the acts of execution which would produce the felony,
being unable to inflict a fatal wound.
V
1. Who are accomplices punishable as principals?
Ans:
a. Ascendants, guardians curators, teachers and any person who,
by abuse of authority or confidential relationship, shall
cooperate as accomplices in crimes of rape, acts of
lasciviousness, seduction, corruption of minors, white slave
trade or abduction (Art. 346); and
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V
1. What are the elements of Estafa thru post-dating or issuance of a
bouncing check?
Ans: The elements of this form of Estafa are: (1) postdating or issuing a
check in payment of an obligation contracted at the time the check
was issued; (2) lack of sufficient funds to cover the check; (3)
knowledge on the part of the offender of such circumstances; and
(4) damage to the complainant. Damage and deceit are essential
elements of the offense and must be established with satisfactory
proof to warrant conviction. The false pretense or fraudulent act
must be committed prior to or simultaneously with the issuance of
the bad check. Thus, the drawer of the dishonored check is given
three days from receipt of the notice of dishonor to cover the
amount of the check. Otherwise a prima facie presumption of deceit
arises. (People of the Philippines vs. Josefina M. Dimalanta,
October 1, 2004; People of the Philippines vs. Lea Sagan
Juliano, January 17, 20005; People of the Philippines vs. Cora
Abella Ojeda, June 3, 2004)
2. Is notice of dishonor required for prosecution for Estafa thru issuance of a
bouncing check?
Ans: YES. Finally, it is worth mentioning that notice of dishonor is
required under both par. 2 (d) Art.315 of the RPC and Sec. 2 of BP
22. While the RPC prescribes that the drawer of the check must
deposit the amount needed to cover his check within three days
from receipt of notice of dishonor, PB 22, on the other hand,
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requires the maker or drawer to pay the amount of the check within
five days receipt of notice of dishonor. Under both laws, notice of
dishonor is necessary for prosecution (for estafa and violation of BP
22). Without proof of notice of dishonor, knowledge of insufficiency
of funds cannot be presumed. No crime (whether estafa or violation
of BP 22) can be deemed to exit. (People of the Philippines vs.
Cora Abella Ojeda, June 3, 2004)
3. What are the elements of estafa with abuse of confidence?
Ans: The elements of estafa under Article 315, par. 1 (b) of the Revised
Penal Code are the following; (a) that money, goods or other
personal property is received by the offender in trust or on
commission, or for administration, or under any other obligation
involving the duty to make delivery of or to return the same; (b) that
there be misappropriation or conversion of such money or property
by the offender, or denial on his part of such receipt; (c) that such
misappropriation or conversion or denial is to the prejudice of
another; and (d) there is demand by the offended party of the
offender. (Jorge Salazar vs. People of the Philippines, August
18, 2004)
4. Is demand an element of estafa with abuse of confidence?
Ans: No. Demand is not an element of the felony or a condition
precedent to the filing of a criminal complaint for estafa. Indeed, the
accused may be convicted of the felony under Article 315,
paragraph 1 (b) of the Revised Penal Code if the prosecution
proved misappropriation or conversion by the accused of the
money or property subject of the Information. In a prosecution for
estafa, demand is not necessary where there is evidence of
misappropriation or conversion. However, failure to account upon
demand, for funds or property held in trust, is circumstantial
evidence of misappropriation.
Demand need no be formal. It may be verbal. In Barrameda v.
Court of Appeals, the Court ruled that even a query as to the
whereabouts of the money is tantamount to a demand:
It must be noted that the specific word demand need not
be used to show that demand had, indeed, been made upon the
person charged of the offense. A query as to the whereabouts of
the money, such as the one proven in the case at bench, is
tantamount to a demand. (Robert Crisanto D. Lee vs. People
of the Philippines and Atoz Trading Corporation, April 11,
2005)
V
A, B, C, & D, American servicemen, went night clubbing. A carries F, tipsy
and groggy under the influence of liquor, inside a Van and rapes her, in the
presence of B, C & D inside the Van. While A is pumping on F in sexual
intercourse, B, C & D cheer Go,Go A, Go.
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V
5. May a woman be charged with rape committed by sexual intercourse?
Ans: Yes. Under the Revised Penal Code, however, an accused may be
considered a principal by direct participation, by inducement, or by
indispensable cooperation. This is true in a charge of rape against
a woman, provided of course a man is charged together with her.
Thus, in two cases this Court convicted the woman as a principal
by direct participation since it was proven that she held down the
complainant in order to allow her co-accused spouse consummate
the offense.
In People v. Villamala, the Court found the husband and wife guilty
for raping their neighbor and kumare in this factual setting, viz. the
wife visited the victim at her home on the pretext of inquiring as to
the whereabouts of her husband. Once inside, she whistled for her
husband and he immediately appeared at the doorstep. The wife
then suddenly pinned her kumare to the floor. The husband
forcefully removed the victims skirt and panties, removed his
shorts, placed himself on top of the victim and consummated the
rape. In the more recent People v. Saba(n), the accused married
couple victimized a fourteen (14) yeal-old epileptic who stayed at
their home for treatment by the wife who was a reputed healer. On
the pretext of conducting a healing session, the wife ordered the
victim to lie down on the floor then pinned the victims hands to the
floor and covered her mouth while her husband removed his pants
and briefs and the victims panties and raped the young girl. These
two cases show not only the possibility but the reality of rape
committed by a woman together with a man. (People vs. Suarez,
April 15, 2005)
6. What are the elements of acts of lasciviousness?
Ans: Upon the other hand, Article 366 of the Revised Penal Code states:
(a)ny person who shall commit any act of lasciviousness upon the
other person of either sex, under any of the circumstances
mentioned in the preceding article, shall be punished by prision
correccional. The elements of this crime are: (1) that the offender
commits any act of lasciviousness or lewdness; (2) that it is done
(a) by using force and intimidation, or (b) when the offended party is
deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious, or (c) when the
offended party is under 12 years of age; and (3) that the offended
party is another person of either sex. As explained by an eminent
author of criminal law, rape and acts of lasciviousness have the
same nature. There is, however, a fundamental difference between
the two. In rape, there is the intent to lie with a woman whereas this
element is absent in acts of lasciviousness. (People vs. Mendoza,
January 31, 2005)
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7. What are the elements of sexual abuse under RA 7610, in addition to the
elements of acts of lasciviousness under the Revised Penal Code?
Ans: The elements of sexual abuse under Section 5, Article of Rep.
Act No. 7610 that must be proven in addition to the elements of
acts of lasciviousness are the following:
(1) The accused commits the act of sexual intercourse or
lasciviousness conduct;
(2) The said act is performed with a child exploited in prostitution or
subjected to other sexual abuse; and
(3) The child, whether male or female, is below 18 years of age.
The first element obtains. Section 32, Article X of the
Implementing Rules and Regulations of Rep. Act No. 7610 defines
lasciviousness conduct as follows:
(T)he intentional touching, either directly or through clothing, of the
genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the
introduction of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth of any
person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with an intent to
abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade or arouse or gratify the sexual
desire of any person, bestiality, masturbation, lascivious exhibition
of the genitals or public area of a person. (Emphasis Supplied)
As we observed in People v. Larin, Section 5 of Rep. Act No. 7610
does not merely cover a situation of a child being abused for profit,
but also one in which a child engages in any lascivious conduct
through coercion or intimidation. As case law has it, intimidation
need not necessarily be irresistible. It is sufficient that some
compulsion equivalent to intimidation annuls or subdues the free
exercise of the will of the offended party. This is especially true in
the case of young, innocent and immature girls who could not be
expected to act with equanimity of disposition and with nerves of
steel. Young girls cannot be expected to act like adults under the
same circumstances or to have the courage and intelligence to
disregard the threat. (Amployo vs. People, April 26, 2005)
X
1. Distinguish between Robbery and Theft?
Ans:
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X
1. When does Sandiganbayan have jurisdiction over Murder or Homicide
committed by public officers?
Ans: Indeed, murder and homicide will never be the main function of any
public office. No public office will ever be a constituent element of
murder. When then would murder or homicide, committed by a
public officer, fall within the exclusive and original jurisdiction of the
Sandiganbayan? People v. Montejo (108 Phil. 613) provides the
answer. The Court explained that a public officer commits an
offense in relation to his office if he perpetrates the offense while
performing, though in an improper or irregular manner, his official
functions and he cannot commit the offense without holding his
public office. In such a case, there is an intimate connection
between the offense and the office of the accused. If the
information alleges the close connection between the offense
charged and the office of the accused, the case falls within the
jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. People v. Montejo is an
exception that Sanchez v. Demetriou recognized. (Crisostomo
vs. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 152398, April 14, 2005, Caprio J.)
Aguinaldo v. Domagas (G.R. No. 98452, resolution dated Sept.
26, 1991, cited in Republic vs. Asuncion, 231 SCRA 680)
promulgated on 26 September 1991, modified Deloso v. Domingo
Aguinaldo v. Domagas, clarified that offenses specified in Section
4(a)(2) of PD 1606, as amended by PD 1861, must be committed
by public officers and employees in relation to their office and the
information must allege this fact. The succeeding cases of
Sanchez v. Demetriou (227 SCRA 627) and Natividad v. Felix
(229 SCRA 680) reiterated the Aguinaldo v. Domagas ruling.
(Crisostomo vs. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 152398, April 14,
2005, Caprio J.)
2. What determines whether a public officer is an accountable public officer?
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X
1. What are the essential elements of violation of B.P. No. 22?
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X
1. The Senate issues a summons to Jok Jok Bolante to appear before the
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the fertilizer scam in aid of
legislation. Jok Jok Bolante refuses, without any legal excuse to obey
such summons. What crime, if any, does Jok Jok Bolante commit?
Ans: Disobedience to summons issued by the National Assembly under
Art. 150 of the Revised Penal Code.
2. RB appears before the Senate as a witness or resource person but
refuses to answer any legal inquiry and to produce the books and papers
in his possession in relation to the engagement of a lobby group in the
United States concerning the initiative to amend the Philippine
Constitution.
a.
Ans: Refusal to answer any inquiry and refusal to produce books and
papers in his possession.
3. A restrains B from attending as a witness or induces B to disobey the
summons or to be sworn by any Congressional body or official. What are
the possible offenses committed by A?
Ans: Also violation of Art. 150 which penalizes such acts.
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Aberratio ictus
Error en personae
Mistake of fact
Praeter intentionem
Select the best answer and explain why it is the best answer and why the
other choices are not the best answer.
3. Assume that A, B and C in the first problem above pre-agreed to steal the
large cattle of A and to have the same slaughtered for sale to divide the
profits.
D pardons A after A pays for the price of the cattle to D. What is the effect
of pardon of A on the criminal liability of B and C?
4. A inserts his finger in the vagina of B, As girl friend, without the prior
knowledge and consent of B, stealthily, but without violence, force or
intimidation. B is annoyed because of his perceived lack of respect of A for
her dignity.
A commits the crime of:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Select the best answer and explain why the other answers are not the
best answer.
5. Assume that B is a minor below 18 at the time A inserts his finger in the
vagina of B, the crime committed by A is:
a) unjust vexation
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b) anti-child abuse
c) rape through sexual assault
d) acts of lasciviousness
6. H and W, husband and wife, have a lovers quarrel one night. W refuses
the sexual advances of H. H waits until W falls aslept and has sexual
intercourse with W. H commits the crime of:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
marital rape
statutory rape
unjust vexation
malicious mischief
no crime
7. Isau was the first borne of Isaac and by tradition and customary practice of
premoginator, he is entitled to inherit the fortune of Isaac in trust for the
other siblings. Jacob, posing as Isau, with the aid and cooperation of their
mother and the wife of Isaac, succeeded in making Isaac believe that
Jacob was Isau leading Isaac to give his blessing to Jacob as the
successor to all his fortune.
a) Was Jacob guilty of usurpation of civil status of Isau?
b) Was the mother guilty as a principal by indispensable cooperation or
as an accomplice? Explain fully.
c) Did Jacob commit theft or estafa?
d) Was Jacob criminally liable to Isau, assuming the Revised Penal Code
was applicable at the time of the commission of deceit by Jacob?
8. As mother, M, cannot be released from the hospital because they cannot
pay the hospital bills. M suggests to A that she wants to commit suicide if A
cannot release her from the hospital. Fearing that M would commit
suicide, A issues post-dated checks to secure the release of M from the
hospital in payment for her medical and hospital bills. All the PDCs
bounced.
Charged with estafa, A interposes the defense of avoidance of greater evil
and injury.
a) Will the defense proper?
b) Did A commit estafa and violation of B.P. # 22 or only violation of B.P. #
22?
Explain your answer.
OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Is mistake of fact a justifying or an exempting circumstance? Explain.
2. Are the provisions of the Revised Penal Code applicable to crimes defined
under the Human Security Act?
3. Distinguish between rebellion and coup d etat.
4. Why is there no frustrated theft? (Valenzuela vs. People, G.R. No.
160188, June 21, 2007)
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Exempting
Justifying
Mitigating
Aggravating
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6. Intoxication is aggravating
a) If purposely sought and resorted to before the commission of the
crime.
b) If not habitual although purposely resorted to before the commission of
the crime to gain courage.
c) If accidental provided that the accused is not a habitual drunkard.
7. Violation of the Trust Receipt Law is a crime against:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Property
National security
Pubic Order
Public interest
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a) May not be made without a Drug Test conducted on the person of the
Accused.
b) May be made provided that the penalty for illegal possession is lower
than the penalty for illegal use in which case the prosecution would
be for illegal use provided it is supported by a Drug Test.
14. Illegal Possession of Firearm
a) May not be prosecuted separately when used in the commission of
homicide or murder, but will only be appreciated as an aggravating
circumstance.
b) May be complexed with the killing if it is the means of committing the
crime, such as Homicide thru illegal possession of firearms.
c) May be prosecuted even without the evidence of lack of license or
permit.
15. Rape is a crime against:
a) Chastity
b) Person
c) Honor
16. A jumps from the roof of a tall building to commit suicide. He falls on
B who is physically injured requiring medical attendance for more
than 3 months.
a) A is not liable because suicide in not an offense. Under Art. 4, only a
person committing a felony is liable for all the natural consequences of
his felonious acts.
b) A is liable for Serious Physical Injuries thru reckless Imprudence
because he did not exercise prudence and precaution not to cause
anybody any harm in the process of committing suicide.
c) A is not liable because he has no criminal intent to cause injury to B.
17. Libel is committed:
a) By publication of facts connected with the private life of another and
offensive to the honor, virtue and reputation of said person, even
though said publication is made in connection with narration in any
judicial or administrative proceeding.
b) By offensive and scurrilous epithets, including words imputing
unchastity to the mother and tending to injure the character of the
daughter.
c) By performing any act which shall cast dishonor, discredit or contempt
upon another person.
d) By directly imputing to an innocent person the commission of a crime.
e) By doing any intrigue which has for its principal purpose to blemish the
honor or reputation of a person.
18. What is the crime committed by person who contracts a marriage
knowing that the requirements of the law have not been complied
with by obtaining the consent of the other by means of violence,
intimidation or fraud.
a) Bigamy
b) Marriage contracted against provisions of law
c) Premature marriage
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Adultery
Concubinage
Rape
Acts of lasciviousness
Consented abduction
Corruption of minors
Seduction
22. What is the crime committed by a person who kissed the offended
party and her breast was touched as an incidental consequence of
the embrace.
a) Light coercion under Art. 287 (2)
b) Acts of lasciviousness
c) Slander by Deeds
23. A buys a car on installments secured by a chattel mortgage recorded
in the Register of Deeds of Makati City. A brings the car to Davao and
sells it there. A commits the crime of:
a) Estafa with abuse of confidence
b) Removal and Sale of mortgaged property
c) Estafa thru deceit
24. Spouses, ascendants and descendants and relatives by affinity in
the same line, brother and sisters and brothers-in-law and sisters-inlaw living together, the widowed spouse, are both criminally and
civilly liable in the crime of:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Theft
Estafa
Malicious mischief
Robbery
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31. What is the crime committed by the police officers who arrested
rallyists without any ground for warrantless arrest for the purpose of
delivering them to the authorities?
a) Grave coercion
b) Arbitrary detention
c) Unlawful arrest under Act 269
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32. The crime committed by a husband who killed his pregnant wife with
violence is/are:
a) Parricide and unintentional abortion
b) Complex Crime of parricide with unintentional abortion
c) Parricide and Intentional Abortion
33. Killing a child less than 3 day old
a) Parricide
b) Infanticide
c) Murder
34. Shooting a person without intent to kill is:
a) Discharge of Firearms (Art. 254)
b) Attempted Homicide
c) Alarm and sandal
35. A person who destroys an official document to defraud another is
guilty of:
a) Infidelity in the custody of documents
b) Other form of swindling
36. The crime committed by a public officer who accepts gifts offered to
him by reason of his office without doing any favor to the giver:
a) Direct Bribery
b) Indirect Bribery
c) None of the above
37. A public officer who agrees to perform an act or refrain to perform
any act in connection with the performance of his official duty in
consideration of any offer, promise gift or present is guilty of:
a) Indirect Bribery
b) Direct Bribery
c) Corruption of Public Official
38. The crime committed by the private person who offers or gives the
bribe is:
a) Corruption of Public Official
b) Direct Bribery
c) Indirect Bribery
39. As defined in the Revised Penal Code:
a) A woman who indulges in sexual intercourse for money even
occasionally only and not habitually or regularly is a prostitute.
b) A woman who for money or profit habitually indulges in lascivious
conduct is a prostitute.
c) She is a prostitute if she habitually engages in sexual intercourse only
for money.
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