The impossible crime
“Binaril ang kama, pero walang tao. May krimen ba?”
When the victim is already dead, the room is empty, or the poison is sugar: the felony could never succeed, but the law punishes the evil intent and social danger under Article 4(2).
Study material, not legal advice. Written and checked by the PhilippineLaws team to the best of our knowledge; not reviewed by a lawyer. Check every provision and case against its full text before you rely on it or cite it.
Read the strip. The last panel does not answer — you do, before the rule shows up.
Midnight outside a dark bedroom window. Arnel raises a firearm and aims at the mosquito net over the bed, knowing Ben always sleeps there at 12 a.m.
NARRATIONInabangan ni Arnel ang hatinggabi. Nakatutok ang baril sa kulambo kung saan palaging natutulog si Ben.
The intent to kill is complete. The act is directed against persons.
Muzzle flashes in the dark. Bullets rip through the mattress and pillows. Dust and cotton fill the air.
NARRATIONSunod-sunod na putok. Binutas ang kutson at unan. Walang sumigaw.
Every physical act of execution is completed by the shooter.
Ben walking into the room from the bathroom down the hall, holding a glass of water, horrified, completely untouched.
BEN“Diyos ko... nagising ako kanina para uminom ng tubig sa kusina!”
The intended victim was never in the line of fire. Death was physically impossible from the start.
Arnel in handcuffs at the precinct. His lawyer argues with the police investigator.
CAPTIONWalang nasaktan dahil walang tao sa kama. Anong krimen ang nagawa ni Arnel?
Vote before the rule is revealed.