UNDERSTANDING

CRIMINAL AND CIVIL

LIABILITIES
OF PUBLIC OFFICERS

Atty. REX R. ROJ AS

Office of the Ombudsman
OVERVIEW
1. Concept of a Public Officer
2. Three-fold Liability Rule
a) Administrative
b) Civil
c) Criminal

II. Administrative Liability

• Administrative Code of the Philippines
• Agency Administrative Rules & Regulations
• Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the
Civil Services
• Other Special laws (RA 6713, RA 3019 etc.)
III. Civil Liability
Art. 19 to 21, Civil Code
RA 1379 (Forfeiture Law)

IV. Criminal Liability

Title VII, Revised Penal Code

RA 6713 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for
Public Officials and Employees
RA 3019 Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
Other Special Penal Laws
PUBLIC OFFICER

"Public officer" includes elective and appointive

officials and employees, permanent or
temporary, whether in the classified or
unclassified or exempt service receiving
compensation, even nominal, from the
government. (Sec. 2 (b), RA 3019)
PUBLIC OFFICER

"Public Officials" includes elective and appointive

officials and employees, permanent or temporary,
whether in the career or non-career service,
including military and police personnel, whether or
not they receive compensation, regardless of
amount. Sec. 3 (b), RA 6713
PUBLIC OFFICER

"Public Officials" includes elective and appointive

officials and employees, permanent or temporary,
whether in the career or non-career service,
including military and police personnel, whether or
not they receive compensation, regardless of
amount. Sec. 3 (b), RA 6713
Characteristics of Public Office

•Delegation of sovereign functions

(legislative, executive, judicial) of the State to
an individual.
•Exercised for a time being.
•For the benefit of the public.
Breach of office or acts giving rise to liability of PO:

Malfeasance- performance of some act which

ought not to be done.
Misfeasance- improper performance of some act
which might lawfully be done, and
Nonfeasance- omission of some act which ought
to be performed.
Threefold Liability Rule
Basic Principle:
“The violation or wrongful act of
a PO may give rise to CIVIL, CRIMINAL
and/or ADMINISTRATIVE liabilities.”
Civil Liabilities
Art. 19, NCC
Every person must, in the exercise of his
rights and in the performance of his duties,
act with justice, give everyone his due, and
observe honesty and good faith.

Art. 20, NCC

Every person who, contrary to law, wilfully or
negligently cause damage to another, shall
indemnify the latter for the same.
Art. 21, NCC
Any person who wilfully cause loss or injury
to another in a manner that is contrary to
morals, good customs or public policy shall
compensate the latter for the damage.

Art. 22, NCC

Every person who, contrary to law, wilfully or
negligently cause damage to another, shall
indemnify the latter for the same.
For failure or neglect to perform official
duty:

 “Any person suffering material or moral loss

because a public servant or employee
refuses or neglects, without just cause, to
perform his official duty may file an action
for damages and other relief against the
latter without prejudice to any disciplinary
administrative action that may be taken.”
 RA 1379
Provides for the procedure to declare forfeited any
property found to have been unlawfully acquired by a
public officer. It punishes with imprisonment for a term
not exceeding five (5) years or a fine not exceeding
P10,000 or both such imprisonment or fine, any public
officer or employee who shall transfer or convey any
unlawfully acquired property. (Sec. 12 thereof.)

Unexplained wealth
Grossly disproportional to one’s legitimate sources of income
 Title VII, RPC (Crimes Committed by PO) Selected
Crimes

Bribery (Arts. 210, 211 &211-A, RPC)

BRIBERY is the act of offering, giving, receiving or soliciting

of any thing of value to influence action of an official or in
the discharge of legal or public duty.

Whether direct, indirect or qualified, bribery is

considered the most common form of corruption
practiced by public officers in the course of their
official duties.
 II. Title VII, RPC (Crimes Committed by PO) Selected
Crimes
Indirect Bribery (Art. 211, RPC)
How Committed
Public officer accepts gifts which are offered to him by
reason of his office.
Direct Bribery -vs.- Indirect Bribery
1. In DB, there is an agreement; in IB usually no agreement.
2. In DB, offender agrees to perform or performs an act or
refrains from doing something, because of the gift or
promise; in IB, it is not necessary that the offender should
do an act or promise to do an act, as it is enough that he
accepts gift or promise by reason of his office (POZAR vs.
CA, 132 SCRA 729)
 II. Title VII, RPC (Crimes Committed by PO) Selected
Crimes
Qualified Bribery (Art. 211-A)
-Public officer entrusted with law enforcement refrains from
arresting/prosecuting offender for crime punishable by reclusion
perpetua and/or death, In consideration of any offer, promise or gift

Distinction of QB vs. DB

In QB, the crime involved is capital offense; In DB, it involved

lighter offense.
QB is committed only by law enforcers; DB is committed by law
enforcers or any public officers
 II. Title VII, RPC (Crimes Committed by PO) Selected
Crimes

Malversation of Public Funds

or Property (Art. 217, RPC)
Malversation [embezzlement, misappropriation]
-The act of appropriating or misappropriating public funds or
property for personal gain.
Acts punished in Malversation:
a.By appropriating public funds or property;
b.By taking or misappropriating the same;
 II. Title VII, RPC (Crimes Committed by PO) Selected
Crimes
c. By consenting, or through abandonment or negligence,
permitting any other person to take such public funds or
property;

d. By being otherwise guilty of misappropriating of such public

funds or property.
 II. Title VII, RPC (Crimes Committed by PO) Selected
Crimes

Illegal Use of Public Funds or Property (Art. 220,

RPC)
Technical Malversation, How Committed
There is public fund or property under the administration of a
public officer. Such public fund or property has been
appropriated by law or ordinance. [w/o this, it is simple
malversation even if applied to other public purpose]. He applies
the same to a public use other than for which such fund or
property has been appropriated by law or ordinance.
 II. Title VII, RPC (Crimes Committed by PO) Selected
Crimes

Illegal Use of Public Funds or Property (Art. 220,

RPC)
Note:
Technical Malversation (Art. 220) vs. Malversation (Art.
217)
In Technical Malversation, offender does not derive
any personal gain, the funds are merely devoted to
some other public use. In Malversation, offender
derived personal gain.
Absence of damage is only a mitigating circumstance
II. Title VII, RPC (Crimes Committed by PO) Selected
Crimes

Failure to Deliver Public Funds

or Property (Art. 221, RPC)

How committed:
Offender has government funds or property in his
possession;
He is under obligation to either: make payment from such
funds or to deliver property in his custody or administration
when ordered by competent authority;
He maliciously fails or refuses to do so.
THANK YOU

Office of the Ombudsman

Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City
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www.ombudsman.gov.ph