2000 BAR EXAMINATION
I
After drinking one (1) case of San Miguel beer and taking two plates of "pulutan", Binoy, a Filipino seaman, stabbed to death Sio My, a Singaporean seaman, aboard M/V "Princess of the Pacific", an overseas vessel vesse l which was sailing in the South China Sea. The vessel, although Panamanian registered, is owned by Lucio Sy, a rich Filipino businessman. When M/V "Princess of the Pacific" reached a Philippine Port at Cebu City, the Captain of the vessel turned over the assailant Binoy to the Philippine authorities. An information for homicide was filed against Binoy in the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City. He moved to quash the information for lack of jurisdiction. If you were the Judge, will you grant the motion? Why? (5%) SUG G E STE ST E D AN SWE R :
Yes, the Motion to Quash the Information should be granted. The Philippine court has no jurisdiction over the crime committed since it was committed on the high seas or outside of Philippine territory and on board a vessel not registered or licensed in the Philippines (US vs. Fowler, 1 Phil 614) It is the registration of the vessel in accordance with the laws of the Philippines, not the citizenship of her owner, which makes it a Philippine ship. The vessel being registered in Panama, the laws of Panama govern while it is in the high seas. II Osang, a married woman in her early twenties, was sleeping on a banig on the floor of their nipa hut beside the seashore when she was awakened by the act of a man mounting her. Thinking that it was her husband, Gardo,who had returned from fishing in the sea, Osang continued her sleep but allowed the man, who was actually their neighbor, Julio, to have sexual intercourse with w ith her. After Julio satisfied himself, he said "Salamat Osang" as he turned to leave. Only then did Osang realize that the man was not her husband. Enraged, Osang grabbed a balisong from the wall and stabbed Julio to death. When tried for homicide, Osang claimed defense of honor. Should the claim be sustained? Why? (5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER: No, Osang"s claim of defense of honor should not be sustained because the aggression on her honor had ceased when she stabbed the aggressor. In defense of rights under paragraph 1, Art. 11 of the RPC, It is required inter alia that there be
(1) unlawful aggression, and (2) reasonable necessity of the means employed to prevent or repel it. The unlawful aggression must be continuing when the aggressor was injured or disabled by the person making a defense. But if the aggression that was begun by the injured or disabled party already ceased to exist when the accused attacked him, as in the case at bar, the attack made is a retaliation, and not a defense. Paragraph 1, Article 11 of the Code does not govern. Hence, Osang's act of stabbing Julio to death after the sexual intercourse was finished, is not defense of honor but an immediate vindication of a grave offense committed against her, which is only mitigating. III
Sunshine, a beauteous "colegiala" but a shoplifter, went to the Ever Department Store and proceeded to the women's wear section. The saleslady was of the impression that she brought to the fitting room three (3) pieces of swimsuits of different colors. When she came out of the fitting room, she returned only two (2] pieces to the clothes rack. The saleslady became suspicious and alerted the store detective. Sunshine was stopped by the detective before she could leave the store and brought to the office of the store manager. The detective and the manager searched her and found her wearing the third swimsuit under her blouse and pants. Was the theft of the swimsuit consummated, frustrated or attempted? Explain. (5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER: The theft was consummated because the taking or asportation was complete. The asportation is complete when the offender acquired exclusive control of the personal property being taken: in this case, when Sunshine wore the swimsuit under her blouse and pants and was on her way out of the store. With evident intent to gain, the taking constitutes theft and being complete, it is consummated. It is not necessary that the offender is in a position to dispose of the property. ALTERNATIVE ANSWER: The crime of theft was only frustrated because Sunshine has not yet left the store when the offense was opportunely discovered and the article seized from her. She does not have yet the freedom to dispose of the swimsuit she was taking (People vs. Dino, CA 45 O.G. 3446). Moreover, in case of doubt as to whether it is consummated or frustrated, the doubt must be resolved in favor of the milder criminal responsibility. IV
While they were standing in line awaiting their vaccination at the school clinic, Pomping repeatedly pulled the ponytail of Katreena, his 11 years, 2 months and 13 days old classmate in Grade 5 at the Sampaloc Elementary School. Irritated, Katreena turned around and swung at Pomping with a ball pen. The top of the ball pen hit the right eye of Pomping which bled profusely. Realizing what she had caused. Katreena immediately helped Pomping. When investigated, she freely admitted to the school principal that she was responsible for the injury to Pomping's eye. After the incident, she executed a statement admitting her culpability. Due to the injury. Pomping lost his right eye. a) Is Katreena criminally liable? Why? (3%) b) Discuss the attendant circumstances and effects thereof. (2%) SUGGESTED ANSWER: a) No, Katreena is not criminally liable although she is civilly liable. Being a minor less than fifteen (15) years old although over nine (9) years of age, she is generally exempt from criminal liability. The exception is where the prosecution proved that the act was committed with discernment. The burden is upon the prosecution to prove that the accused acted with discernment. The presumption is that such minor acted without discernment, and this is strengthened by the fact that Katreena only reacted with a ballpen which she must be using in class at the time, and only to stop Pomping's vexatious act of repeatedly pulling her ponytail. In other words, the injury was accidental. b) The attendant circumstances which may be considered are: 1. Minority of the accused as an exempting circumstance under Article 12. paragraph 3, Rev. Penal Code, where she shall be exempt from criminal liability, unless it was proved that she acted with discernment. She is however civilly liable; 2. If found criminally liable, the minority of the accused as a privileged mitigating circumstance. A discretionary penalty lower by at least two (2) degrees than that prescribed for the crime committed shall be imposed in accordance with Article 68. paragraph 1, Rev. Penal Code. The sentence, however, should automatically be suspended in accordance with Section 5(a) of Rep. Act No. 8369 otherwise known as the "Family Courts Act of 1997"; 3. Also if found criminally liable, the ordinary mitigating circumstance of not Intending to commit so grave a wrong as that committed, under Article 13, paragraph 3, Rev. Penal Code; and 4. The ordinary mitigating circumstance of sufficient provocation on the part of the offended party immediately preceded the act.
V
A. For defrauding Lorna, Alma was charged before the Municipal Trial Court of Malolos, Bulacan. After a protracted trial, Alma was convicted. While the case was pending appeal in the Regional Trial Court of the same province, Lorna who was then suffering from breast cancer, died. Alma manifested to the court that with Lorna's death, her (Alma's) criminal and civil liabilities are now extinguished. Is Alma's contention correct? What if it were Alma who died, would it affect her criminal and civil liabilities? Explain. (3%) SUGGESTED ANSWER: No. Alma's contention is not correct. The death of the offended party does not extinguish the criminal liability of the offender, because the offense is committed against the State [People vs. Misola, 87 Phil. 830, 833). Hence, it follows that the civil liability of Alma based on the offense committed by her is not extinguished. The estate of Lorna can continue the case. On the other hand, if it were Alma who died pending appeal of her conviction, her criminal liability shall be extinguished and therewith the civil liability under the Revised Penal Code (Art. 89, par. 1, RPC). However, the claim for civil indemnity may be instituted under the Civil Code (Art. 1157) if predicated on a source of obligation other than delict, such as law, contracts, quasi-contracts and quasi-delicts (People vs. Bayotas 236 SCRA 239, G.R. 152007, September 2. 1994)
B. Name at least two exceptions to the general rule that in case of acquittal of the accused in a criminal case, his civil liability is likewise extinguished. (2%) SUGGESTED ANSWER: Exceptions to the rule that acquittal from a criminal case extinguishes civil liability, are: 1) When the civil action is based on obligations not arising from the act complained of as a felony; 2) When acquittal is based on reasonable doubt or acquittal is on the ground that guilt has not been proven beyond reasonable doubt (Art. 29, New Civil Code); 3) Acquittal due to an exempting circumstance, like Insanity; 4) Where the court states in its Judgment that the case merely involves a civil obligation; 5) Where there was a proper reservation for the filing of a separate civil action; 6) In cases of independent civil actions provided for in Arts. 31, 32, 33 and 34 of the New Civil Code;
7) When the judgment of acquittal includes a declaration that the fact from which the civil liability might arise did not exist (Sapiera vs. CA, 314 SCRA 370); 8) Where the civil liability is not derived or based on the criminal act of which the accused is acquitted (Sapiera vs. CA. 314 SCRA 370).
