SPECIAL PENAL LAWS

Atty. Alloysius R. Yebra

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Definitions
a. What is a Penal Law; What is a Special Penal Law
• Inmates of NBP vs. de Lima; G.R Nos. 212719/214637, June 25,
2019
b. Mala Prohibita vs. Mala In Se
• ABS-CBN Corporation vs. Gozon; G.R No. 195956, March 11,
2015
• Dungo vs. People; G.R No. 209464; July 1, 2015
c. Ex Post Facto
d. Probable Cause
e. Prima facie evidence

2. Rules of Construction
a. Of Penal Laws
b. Of Evidence in Criminal Prosecution
c. Of Quantum of Proof
d. Of Acquittal
e. Of Estoppel, Laches, and Waiver

II. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPECIAL PENAL LAWS AND REVISED PENAL CODE

1. Applicability of the Revised Penal Code on Special Laws

a. Article 10, RPC
• People vs Simon; G.R No. 93028, July 29, 1994
• Ladonga vs. People; G.R No. 141066, February 17, 2005
b. Intent of the Offender
c. On criminal liability of offenders
d. On system of penalties

2. Principles of the Code Applicable to Special Laws

a. Repeal of Penal Laws
b. Delito Continuado
c. Preventive Remedies/Measures

3. Prescription of Special Penal Laws

a. Act. No. 3326
b. Articles 90-93, RPC
• Republic vs Cojuangco, Jr.; G.R No. 139930, June 26, 2012
III. JURISDICTIONAL RULES AND PRINCIPLES

1. Supreme Court
a. When technical rules of procedures may be set aside
2. Court of Appeals
3. Sandiganbayan
a. R.A 8249
b. R.A 6770

IV. SPECIAL LAWS AFFECTING PENALTIES

1. Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act

a. R.A 9344
b. R.A 10630
c. Intent of the Law
• Sierra vs. People; G.R No. 182941, July 3, 2009
d. Exempting Circumstances
• Ortega vs. People; G.R No. 151085, August 20, 2008
• Madali vs. Peoplel G.R No. 180380, August 4, 2009
e. Mitigating Circumstances
• People vs. Jacinto; G.R No. 182239, March 16, 2011
f. Imprisonment
• Hubilla vs. People; G.R No. 176102, November 26, 2014
• SPARK vs. Quezon City; G.R No. 225442, August 8, 2017

2. Indeterminate Sentence Law

a. Act No. 4103
b. Objective of ISLAW
• Spouse Jose and Trinidad Bacar vs. De Guzman; A.M No RTJ-96-
1349; April 18, 1997
c. ISLAW, not applicable to escapee
• People vs. Martinado; G.R No. 92020, October 19, 1992
d. Penalty not composed of 3 periods, Article 65 and 76
• Zafra vs. People; G.R No. 176317, July 23, 2014
e. S.C Circular No. 66-97

3. Probation Law
a. P.D 968
b. P.D 1257
c. R.A 10707
d. Nature of Probation
• Villareal vs. People; G.R Nos. 178057 & 178080, December 1,
2014
• Manibog vs. People; G.R No. 211214, March 20, 2019
 e. Conditions of Probation
• Baclayon vs. Mutia; G.R No. L-59298, April 30, 1984
• Soriano vs. Court of Appeals; G.R No. 123936, March 4, 1999
f. Termination of Probation
• Bala vs. Martinez; G.R No. 67301, January 29, 1990

V. SPECIAL PENAL LAWS

1. Child Abuse Law

a. R.A 7610
b. R.A 7658
c. R.A 9231
d. R.A 7659
e. R.A 8353
f. Section 5, R.A 7610
• People vs. Larin; G.R No. 128777, October 7, 1998
• People vs. Dagsa; G.R No. 219889, January 29, 2018
• People vs. Ejercito; G.R No. 229861, July 2, 2018
• People vs. Tulagan; G.R No. 227363, March 12, 2019

2. Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act

a. R.A 9262
b. Offender in VAWC; application of conspiracy under RPC
• Go-Tan vs. Tan; G.R No. 168852, September 30, 2008
c. Violence against women through harassment
• Dabalos vs. RTC; G.R No. 193960, January 7, 2013
d. TPO, no compromise under R.A 9262
• BBB vs. AAAA; G.R No. 193225, February 9, 2015
e. Elements of psychological abuse
• Dinamhing vs. People; G.R No. 199522, June 22, 2015

3. Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002

a. R.A 9165
b. R.A 10640
c. R.A 10586
d. Elements of Sale and Illegal Possession
• People vs. Lopez; G.R No. 221465, November 16, 2016
e. Selling, possession, chain of custody
• People vs. Ismael; G.R No. 208093, February 20, 2017
f. Chain of custody not established
• People vs. Gayoso; G.R No. 206590, March 27, 2017
g. Plea bargaining in drug cases
• Estipona, Jr. vs. Lobrigo; G.R No. 226679, August 15, 2017
4. Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
a. R.A 3019 as amended
b. Section 3 (a)
• Baviera vs. Zoleta; G.R No. 169098, October 12, 2006
c. Elements of Sec. 3 (e)
• Fuentes vs. People; G.R No. 186421, April 17, 2017
d. Mejorada Doctrine
• Consigna vs. People and Sandiganbayan; G.R No. 175750-51,
April 21, 2014
e. Purpose of SALN
• Carabeo vs. CA; G.R No. 178000 & 178003, December 4, 2009

5. Bouncing Checks Law

a. B.P No. 22
b. S.C Circular No. 12-2000
c. S.C Circular No. 13-2001
d. Foreign Checks covered by B.P 22
• De Villa vs. CA; Gr. No. 87416, April 8, 1991
e. Presumption; Notice of dishonor
• San Mateo vs. People; G.R No. 200090, March 6, 2013
f. Prima facie evidence of bounced check
• Chang vs. IAC; G.R No. L-68589-90, December 29, 1986
g. Payment beyond 5 days
• Lim vs. People; G.R No. 190834, November 26, 2014

6. Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016

a. R.A 10883

7. Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of

1994
a. R.A 7832

8. Fisheries Code
a. R.A 8550

9. Anti-Fencing Law of 1979

a. P.D No. 1612
b. Proof of legit transaction
• Jaime Ong y Ong vs. People of the Philippines; G.R No. 190475,
April 10, 2013
c. Elements
• Ireneo Cahulugan vs. People; G.R No. 225695, March 21, 2018
10. Swindling by Syndicate
a. P.D 1689

11. Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995

a. R.A 10022 as amended

12. Anti-Illegal Numbers Games Law

a. P.D 1602
b. R.A 9287

13. Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act

a. Elements of Illegal Possession of Firearms
• People vs. Castillo; G.R No. 131592-93, February 15, 2000
b. Ownership not necessary in Illegal Possession
• People vs. Reynaldo Cruz; G.R No. 76728, August 3, 1998

14. Anti-Hazing Act of 2018

a. R.A 11053
b. Definition of hazing (Sec. 2)
c. Prohibition on hazing (Sec. 3)

15. Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees
a. R.A No. 6713
b. Norms of conduct (Sec. 4)
c. Prohibited acts (Sec. 7)

16. Anti-Plunder Act

a. R.A No. 7080
b. Plunder, mala in se
• Joseph Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan; G.R No. 148560, November
19, 2001
c. Prescription; Ill-gotten wealth
• The Wellex Group vs. Sandiganbayan; G.R No. 187951, June 25,
2012

17. Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001

a. R.A 9160
b. 2016 RIRR

18. Obstruction of Justice Law

a. P.D No. 1829
b. P.D 1829 Absorbed in Rebellion
• Juan Ponce Enrile vs. Judge Omar Amin; G.R No. 93335,
September 13, 1990
c. Persons liable
 • Prudente Soller, et al.; G.R No. 144261-62; May 9 2001
d. Illegal Arrest
• Roger Posadas vs. Ombudsman; G.R No. 131492, September
29, 2000

19. Anti-Torture Act of 2009

a. R.A No. 9745
b. Physical Torture
c. Mental Torture
d. Remedy of victims
e. Doctrine of command responsibility

20. Human Security Act of 2007

a. R.A No. 9372
b. Elements on acts of terrorism (Sec. 3)

21. The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012

a. R.A No. 10168

22. Anti-Wire Tapping Act

a. R.A No. 4200
b. Wiretapping phone extension
• Gaanan vs. IAC; G.R No. 69809, October 16, 1986
c. Tape recording of crime; bribery
• Mamba vs. Garcia; A.M No. MTJ-96-1110, June 25, 2001

23. Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

a. R.A 10175
b. Cybercrime; no double jeopardy
• Jose Disini, Jr. et al. vs. Secretary of DOJ; G.R No. 203335,
February 18, 2004

24. Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009

a. R.A 9775

25. Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of2009

a. R.A 9995

26. Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995

a. R.A No. 7877
b. Casual buss on the cheek, not considered SH
• Aquino vs. Acosta; A.M CTA-01-1, April 2, 2002
c. Proper conduct of victim
• Digital Telecom Phils vs. Mariquit Soriano; G.R No. 166039; June
26, 2006
27. Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
a. R.A No. 9208, as amended by R.A 10364
b. Recruitment and trafficking-prostitute; no double jeopardy
• People vs. Hadja Lalli; G.R No. 195419, October 12, 2011
c. Qualified trafficking; minor; consent
• People vs. Jefrey Hirang; G.R No. 223528, January 11, 2017

28. Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination

Act
a. R.A 7610

29. Safe Spaces Act

a. R.A No. 11313

30. Data Privacy Act

a. R.A 10173
• Disini vs. Secretary of Justice; G.R No. 203335, February 11,
2014

31. The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020

a. R.A 11479

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