Designation Of The Offense

Category: Criminal Procedure

Designation Of The Offense

Sec. 8. Designation of the offense. – The complaint or information shall state the designation of the offense given by the statute, aver the  acts  or  omissions  constituting  the  offense,  and  specify  its qualifying and aggravating circumstances. If there is no designation of the offense, reference shall be made  to the section or subsection of the statute punishing it.

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE  DESIGNATION  OF   THE OFFENSE IN THE COMPLAINT OR INFORMATION?

1.    Designation of the offense given by the statute
2.    Acts and omissions constituting the offense
3.    Qualifying and aggravating circumstances
4.    If there is no designation of the offense by the statute, reference shall be made to the section or subsection of the statute punishing it
 

THE  INFORMATION  MERELY  ALLEGED  EVIDENT  PREMEDITATION BUT   THE   TRIAL   COURT   CONSIDERED   IT   IN   IMPOSING   THE PENALTY.  VALID?

> Invalid.    It  is  not  enough  that  the  aggravating  circumstance  of evident premeditation be alleged.
> The essential elements thereof, just like the offense itself, must be clearly proven and established 
 

X   WAS   CHARGED   WITH   HOMICIDE.      CAN   HE   POSSIBLY   BE CONVICTED OF MURDER?

> Yes.  If the recitals in the complaint or information of the acts and missions  constituting  the  offense  actually  allege  murder,  X  can be convicted of murder.
> The reason  is that the recital of facts and not the designation of the offense that is controlling
 

IN IMPOSING THE PENALTY FOR THE CRIME OF MURDER THE TRIAL COURT  CONSIDERED  THE  CIRCUMSTANCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  AN UNLICENSED FIREARM AS PROVEN DURING THE TRIAL TO QUALIFY THE CRIME PURSUANT TO RA 8294, EVEN IF NOT ALLEGED IN THE INFORMATION.  VALID?

> No.    The  culprit’s  use  of  an  unlicensed  firearm  is  an  essential element, of which circumstances which must be alleged
 

X  WAS  CHARGED  WITH  ESTAFA  BUT  THE  RECITAL  OF  FACTS ACTUALLY ALLEGES THEFT.  CAN X BE CONVICTED OF THEFT?

> Yes,  because  it  is  the  recital  of  facts,  not  the  designation  of  the offense which is controlling
 

X  WAS  CHARGED  WITH  ESTAFA  AND  THE  RECITAL  OF  FACTS ALLEGE ESTAFA.  CAN X BE CONVICTED OF THEFT?

> No,  the  two  crimes  have  elements  that  are  different  from  each other. To  convict  X  of  theft  under  an  information  that  alleges estafa  would  violate  his  right  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and cause of the accusation against him.

X  WAS  CHARGED  WITH  MURDER.    CAN  HE  BE  CONVICTED  OF HOMICIDE?

> Yes.   It is the recital of the facts and not the designation  of the offense, which is controlling.
> Murder  is  constituted  of  homicide  with  additional  qualifying aggravating circumstances.  It may be the case that the qualifying aggravating  circumstances  were  not  proven,  to  convict  the accused