Act No. 3815 · December 8, 1930
The Revised Penal Code, Your Rights if Charged.
Act 3815 is the Philippines' criminal code. Signed on December 8, 1930, it defines what acts are crimes (felonies), classifies them by severity, and sets the penalties courts must impose. It has been amended many times — most recently by RA 10951 (2017), which updated penalty thresholds to account for decades of inflation.
BatasKo breaks down the two Books and 367 articles so every Filipino knows what the state can and cannot charge them with — and what defenses the law itself provides.
367
Total articles
2
Books
RA 10951 (2017)
As amended by
All 367 articles covered. Every article of the Revised Penal Code has an ELI5 plain-language guide. Articles marked ★ are key provisions with in-depth analysis.
Book One · Arts. 1–113
General Provisions on Criminal Liability
The rules that apply to ALL crimes: what makes an act criminal, who can be held liable, how penalties are calculated and served, and what civil damages a victim can recover.
Book One · Arts. 1–20
Title I — Felonies and Circumstances Affecting Criminal Liability
What makes an act a crime: intent (dolo) vs. negligence (culpa), impossible crimes, stages of commission, and circumstances that modify liability.
Book One · Arts. 16–20
Title II — Persons Criminally Liable
Who can be held liable: principals (those who directly commit, induce, or cooperate), accomplices, and accessories after the fact.
Book One · Arts. 21–76
Title III — Penalties
Classification of penalties (capital, afflictive, correctional, light), their duration, and accessory penalties like civil interdiction and perpetual disqualification.
Book One · Arts. 47–77
Title IV — Application of Penalties
How courts compute sentences: mitigating and aggravating circumstances, indeterminate sentencing, recidivism, habitual delinquency.
Book Two · Arts. 114–367
Specific Felonies
Every specific crime the Philippines criminalizes — from treason to theft to libel. Organized by the nature of the right being protected.
Book Two · Arts. 114–123
Title I — Crimes Against National Security
Treason, conspiracy to commit treason, misprision of treason, espionage, inciting war — the most severe political offenses.
Book Two · Arts. 124–133
Title II — Crimes Against the Fundamental Laws of the State
Arbitrary detention, delay in delivery of detained persons, illegal search and seizure, violation of domicile — when STATE ACTORS violate your constitutional rights.
Book Two · Arts. 134–160
Title III — Crimes Against Public Order
Rebellion, sedition, tumults and other disturbances of public order, unlawful assembly, illegal associations.
Book Two · Arts. 161–187
Title IV — Crimes Against Public Interest
Forgery, falsification of documents, fraud, illegal use of public funds — crimes that undermine trust in public instruments and government.
Book Two · Arts. 246–266
Title VIII — Crimes Against Persons
Homicide, murder, parricide, physical injuries, mutilation — and rape (now primarily governed by RA 8353, the Anti-Rape Law of 1997).
Book Two · Arts. 267–274
Title IX — Crimes Against Personal Liberty and Security
Kidnapping and serious illegal detention, slight illegal detention, unlawful arrest, inducing a minor to abandon home.
Book Two · Arts. 293–332
Title X — Crimes Against Property
Robbery, theft, usurpation, culpable insolvency, swindling (estafa), other deceits, chattel mortgage fraud, arson, malicious mischief — the most litigated Title in everyday life.
Book Two · Arts. 333–346
Title XI — Crimes Against Chastity
Adultery, concubinage, acts of lasciviousness, seduction, corruption of minors — note that rape was moved out of this title by RA 8353 in 1997.
Plain-language breakdown
6 Provisions Every Filipino Should Know
Art. 3
Core conceptWhat is a felony?
An act becomes a felony only when it is punishable by law AND committed with intent (dolo) or negligence (culpa). The act alone doesn't make you guilty — intent or negligence must be proven.
Arts. 11–12
Your defenseJustifying and exempting circumstances
You are NOT criminally liable if you acted in self-defense (Art. 11), were legally insane (Art. 12), were under 15 years old (RA 9344), or caused harm by pure accident. These are complete defenses.
Art. 13
Reduces penaltyMitigating circumstances
These don't erase your crime but reduce your penalty: acting under impulse of a passion or obfuscation, voluntary surrender, being under 18, acting under immediate vindication of a grave offense, or being intoxicated (if not habitual).
Arts. 293 + RA 10951
Most litigatedTheft vs. robbery — critical difference
Theft (Art. 308) is taking without consent and without force. Robbery (Art. 293) adds violence or intimidation against a person, OR force upon things. RA 10951 (2017) updated peso thresholds: theft of less than ₱5,000 is now only arresto mayor.
Arts. 353–355
Very commonLibel — criminal, not just civil
In the Philippines, libel is a CRIMINAL offense with possible jail time (prisión correccional in its minimum period), not merely civil. A public and malicious imputation of a crime, vice, or defect to a person — in writing or by similar means — constitutes libel.
Art. 266-A (as amended by RA 8353)
AmendedRape — now governed by RA 8353
RA 8353 (Anti-Rape Law of 1997) reclassified rape from a crime against chastity to a crime against persons, expanded the definition beyond Art. 266, and introduced new circumstances. Always cite RA 8353 alongside the RPC.
Context
The RPC and Special Penal Laws
- —The RPC is supplemented by hundreds of special penal laws — RA 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act), RA 9262 (VAWC), RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act), and many more.
- —When a special law and the RPC conflict on a specific act, the special law usually governs. The RPC applies suppletorily where the special law is silent.
- —RA 10951 (2017) is the most important recent RPC amendment — it updated the peso amounts tied to penalties across the entire Code to reflect modern values. Theft of less than ₱5,000 no longer carries a multi-year sentence.
- —The RPC uses Spanish civil law concepts (dolo, culpa, indeterminate sentence) inherited from the 1870 Spanish Penal Code. Understanding these terms is key to reading any criminal case.
Legend
Mandatory section
For OFWs / Para sa OFW
Criminal law follows territory — but Philippine law has specific rules about when it follows you abroad and what protections you carry with you.
- —Crimes committed IN the Philippines are prosecuted under Philippine law, always — even if you're currently deployed abroad as an OFW (Art. 2, RPC territorial principle).
- —Crimes committed ABROAD: Philippine courts generally have NO jurisdiction unless the crime involves national security (Art. 2 exceptions — e.g., crimes against Philippine ships, forgery of Philippine currency).
- —If you are accused of a crime while abroad, contact the Philippine Embassy or Consulate immediately. They can refer you to legal aid and, in some countries, provide a list of accredited lawyers.
- —You are presumed innocent until proven guilty under Art. III, Sec. 14 of the 1987 Constitution — this right applies in ANY Philippine criminal case, whether you're an OFW or not.
- —If you cannot afford a lawyer in the Philippines, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) provides free legal representation in criminal cases. You can also reach out through OWWA if you are a registered member.
- —Bail rights: most offenses under the RPC are bailable as a matter of right at the pre-conviction stage. Only offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua to death (when evidence of guilt is strong) are non-bailable.
Sources
Legal disclaimer: BatasKo provides general legal information, not legal advice. This content is for civic education only. Criminal law has serious consequences — for advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed Filipino lawyer or contact the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) at your nearest Hall of Justice.