Revised Penal Code, Art. 353

Statute

Revised Penal Code

Article

Art. 353

Topic

Definition of libel

Year

1930

The provision

Key points

Article 353 defines libel as a public and malicious imputation of a crime, vice, or defect — real or imaginary — or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead.

Its elements are an imputation, publicity, malice, and identifiability of the person defamed. The definition supplies the substance of the offense, while Article 355 fixes the means and penalty and Article 354 governs the presumption of malice. It also underlies cyberlibel under Section 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Cases applying this article

• Causing v. People G.R. No. 258524 (2023)

Related provisions

• Revised Penal Code Art. 354 — Requirement of publicity; presumption of malice
• Revised Penal Code Art. 355 — Libel by writings or similar means
• Cybercrime Prevention Act Sec. 4(c)(4) — Cyberlibel (online libel)
• Revised Penal Code Art. 360
• Revised Penal Code Art. 361
• Revised Penal Code Art. 362

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