This was replaced with the old Penal Code which was put in place by Spanish authorities, and took effect in the Philippines on July 14, 1876.
Conspiracy can also be proven based on the idea of "unity of purpose" and acts leading to a common design.
The presence of certain circumstances have the effect of removing, mitigating or aggravating criminal liability of persons.
Persons who commit crimes when justifying circumstances are present do not incur criminal or civil liability.
On the other hand, the presence of one or more mitigating circumstances when a crime is committed, can serve to reduce the penalty imposed.
Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code defines murder as killing someone other than a family member[1] with any of the following six circumstances:
The essence of treachery is that the attack comes without a warning and in a swift, deliberate, and unexpected manner, affording the hapless, unarmed, and unsuspecting victim no chance to resist or escape.
Violations of the crimes listed in the Revised Penal Code are referred to as mala in se, which literally means, that the act is inherently evil or bad or wrongful in itself.
On the other hand, violations of Special Penal Laws are generally referred to as malum prohibitum or an act that is wrong because it is prohibited.
Thus, no criminal intent is needed in order to find a person liable for crimes punished under Special Penal Laws.
In crimes punished under Special Penal Laws, the moral trait of the offender is not considered; it is enough that the prohibited act was voluntarily done.