- Statute
- Revised Penal Code
- Article
- Art. 353
- Topic
- Definition of libel
- Status
- In force
- Year
- 1930
- Cited by
- A Supreme Court decision
The provision
ARTICLE 353. Definition of Libel. — A libel is a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a 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.
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)