The Crime of Treason
Article 114 of the Revised Penal Code states: "Any Filipino citizen who levies war against the Philippines or adheres to her enemies, giving them aid or comfort within the Philippines or elsewhere, shall be punished by reclusion perpetua to death and shall pay a fine not to exceed Four million pesos (P4,000.000.00). No persons shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two (2) witnesses at least to the same overt act or on confession of the accused in open court. Likewise, an alien, residing in the Philippines, who commits acts of treason as defined in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be punished by reclusion temporal to death and shall pay a fine not to exceed Four million pesos (P4,000.000.00). (As amended by Sec. 2, R.A. No. 7659 and R.A. No. 10951)" The elements of treason: 1. That the offender is a Filipino citizen or an alien residing in the Philippines; 2. That there is a war in which the Philippines is inv...