UNIVERSITY

OF SAN CARLOS
SCHOOL OF LAW AND GOVERNANCE
College of Law

Cebu City

COURSE SYLLABUS IN

CRIMINAL LAW1

AY 2020-2021

A. USC VISION AND MISSION

VISION

The University of San Carlos sees:
a WORLD where the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the
Word and the Spirit of grace
a SOCIETY where citizens are competent, noble in character and community-oriented
- What they know, they apply justly and honestly...
- What they do not know, they seek to learn...
- What they do not have, they endeavor to acquire...
- What they have, they share.

MISSION

The University of San Carlos is a Catholic institution of learning that embodies the principles of
academic discipline of San Carlos Borromeo and the missionary charism of the Society of the
Divine Word (SVD).

We aim to develop competent and socially responsible professionals and lifelong learners in an
environment that fosters excellence in the academic core processes of teaching-learning,
research, and community extension service.

Our mission is to provide timely, relevant, and transformative academic programs responsive to
the needs of the local, national, and global communities in a rapidly changing world.

B. CAROLINIAN LAW GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES


At the end of the law program, the Carolinian law graduate is expected to be Witness to the
Word and to embody the following:

Graduate Attributes:
Scientia: A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL
Critical thinker
Lifelong learner

Skilled researcher

Sound decision- maker

Innovative problem-solver

Effective and articulate communicator

Virtus: A VIRTUOUS EXEMPLAR
Incorruptible servant leader
Ethical and values-driven practitioner

Devotio: A DEDICATED ADVOCATE
Committed peacemaker
Culture- sensitive patriot
Socially- engaged citizen

Passionate worker for the marginalized

C. PROGRAM LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES1 (PLLO):

Upon completion of the Law program, Carolinian law graduates will demonstrate the following:

PLLO 1: KNOWLEDGE

PLLO 2: ETHICS, PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WITNESS TO THE WORD

PLLO 3: THINKING SKILLS which include the skills to identify and articulate legal issues;
apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to legal
issues; engage in critical analysis and make a reasoned choice amongst
alternatives; and think creatively in approaching legal issues and generating
appropriate responses.

PLLO 4: RESEARCH SKILLS

PLLO 5: COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

PLLO 6: SELF-MANAGEMENT

1
Based in part on ALTC’s Learning and Teaching Academic Standards Program, December 2010.

D. COURSE LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLLO)

Upon completion of the course Criminal Law 1, the students should be able to:

CLLO 1: Have a working knowledge of the various crimes classifications
and their elements.

CLLO 2: Make evidence based decision on identification of crimes in any
given case.

CLLO 3: Research legal statutes and cases and recite facts, statutes and
court decisions.

CLLO 4: Demonstrate basic skills, such as reading, writing, speaking and
listening. To this end, students are expected to participate in each
session in discussions of issues relating to the course.

CLLO 5: Demonstrate thinking skills such as creative thinking and doing
so logically, problem solving and decision-making. Current issues will be
discussed and students are challenged to attempt to solve them.

CLLO 6: Demonstrate ability to learn and work independently, as well as
the ability to work in groups or cooperatively with others.

E. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Criminal Law I tackles Book One of the Revised Penal Code.

Book One of the Revised Penal Code provides the general provisions on the application of the
law, and the general principles of criminal law. It defines felonies and circumstances which
affect criminal liability, justifying circumstances and circumstances which exempt, mitigate or
aggravate criminal liability, and defines the classification, duration, and effects of criminal
penalties. Finally, it provides for the extinction and survival of criminal and the corresponding
civil liabilities in crimes.

The delivery of instruction will be MODULAR.
Each module deals with every Title of the Revised Penal Code Book1.

F. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Passing grades in Summative tests 

Regular Attendance 

Class Participation in Oral Examinations and passing score in evaluative exam
Discussion Papers 


G. EVALUATIVE MEASURES

1. Summative Tests -- four (4) major examinations to be given by instructor, in two types:
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and essay format and application
schemes; may also include evaluative quizzes given by the instructor in
the course of the semester. Observance of the basic rules on grammar
will be made part of the assessment and evaluation. Students are
required to take note of the rules governing conduct of major
examinations enforced in the USC College of Law, and to comply with
them.

2. Graded Participation -- this will help monitor and evaluate the individual students as they
conduct self-studies with regard to their reading assignments.

3. Discussion Paper -- a requirement to be submitted after participating in symposia and/or
lecture fora or after assigning reading materials

H. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Reading Assignments -- students will be asked to read various reading materials consisting
primarily of decisions of Philippine Supreme Court containing pertinent
discussion related to the content of the course.

Interactive class discussion/ Graded Oral Examinations -- each reading assignment will be
substantiated by interactive class discussion pioneered by the students
themselves and facilitated by the instructor.

Class Interaction -- in addition to graded oral examinations, class interactions may be had to
allow students to freely share their ideas about current political issues
relating to the course.

Attending Symposia/Lecture Fora -- the students may also be asked to hold or organize or
attend certain lecture fora and/or symposia where they will then be
required to submit discussion papers containing their concrete learnings
out of their experienced symposia/lecture fora

I. DISCUSSION GUIDE

Preliminary Title:

1. FUNDAMENTAL PRINICIPLES
a. What is criminal law.
b. What are the constitutional limitations on the right to enact penal laws.
c. What is an expost facto law.
d. What are the characteristics of penal law. (generality, territoriality,
prospectivity)
e. Does prospectivity rule cover only laws enacted by the legislature.
f. What is the effect of the court’s interpretation upon a written law.
g. What is principle of retroactivity of laws and what is the rationale behind it.
h. What are the different philosophies underlying the criminal law system
(classical or jurisctic, positivist or realistic, eclectic, utilitarians).
i. What is the principle of nulum crime nula poena sine lege.
j. What is the rule in the interpretation of penal laws in relation to accused
culpability.
k. What is the equipoise rule.
l. What is the principle of liberality in the application of laws on the accused.
m. What is the meaning of the maxim actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea.
n. How are crimes classified.
o. What are crimes mala in se.
p. What are crimes mala prohibita.
q. If a special law uses the nomenclature of penalties in the Revised Penal Code
what is the effect on the nature of the crime covered by the special law.
r. Which of mala in se and mala prohibita involve moral turpitude.
s. What is the effect of the repeal of penal law on the accused.

2. Article 1: Time when RPC takes effect

3. Article 2: Application of RPC
a. What are the scope of application of the Revised Penal Code.
b. What does the phrase “except as provided in treaties and laws of
preferential application” mean.
c. What comprises the Philippine Archipelago.
d. Is it correct to refer to the Philippine Government as Government of
Philippine Island.