Text of the provision
Art. 355. Libel by means of writings or similar means. - A libel committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means, shall be punished by prisión correccional in its minimum and medium periods or a fine ranging from Forty thousand pesos (₱40,000) to One million two hundred thousand pesos (₱1,200,000), or both, in addition to the civil action which may be brought by the offended party.
Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, Act No. 3815, as amended. Reproduced in full from the official enactment and verified against the LawPhil and ChanRobles renderings.
What this article means
Libel published through writing, printing, radio, painting, theatrical or cinematographic exhibition or any similar means is punished by prisión correccional in its minimum and medium periods or a fine from Forty thousand pesos (₱40,000) to One million two hundred thousand pesos (₱1,200,000), or both — on top of the civil action the offended party may bring.
Questions about this provision
Related provisions
- Article 354 — Requirement For Publicity.
- Article 356 — Threatening To Publish A Libel.
Penalty amounts. The text above is the article as amended by Republic Act No. 10951 (2017), which revised the property values and fines throughout this Code. Older reproductions of the Revised Penal Code still print the 1930 amounts — for theft and estafa they show 12,000 and 22,000 pesos where the current figures run to millions. Check which version any source you rely on is giving you.
Cases interpreting this article
- Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.