Motor vehicles, A14(20) Revised Penal Code

1. Concept

Use of motor vehicles, as an aggravating circumstance under the Revised Penal Code – refers to the circumstance when the offender used a motor vehicle to commit the crime or facilitate the escape.

a. Legal basis

Article 14. Aggravating circumstances. - The following are aggravating circumstances:

20. That the crime be committed… by means of motor vehicles, airships, or other similar means.

(Revised Penal Code)

2. By means of motor vehicles, airships, etc.

For the aggravating circumstance of motor vehicles, the offender used a motor vehicle to commit the crime or facilitate the escape.

a. To commit the crime or facilitate escape

The use of a motor vehicle is aggravating when it is used either to commit the crime or to facilitate escape. (People v. Dayrit, G.R. No. 241632, October 14, 2020, Per Peralta, C.J.)

People v. Herbias, G.R. Nos. 112716-17, December 16, 1996, Per Bellosillo, J.:

• The use of motor vehicle may likewise be considered as an aggravating circumstance that attended the commission of the crime. The records show that assailants used a motorcycle in trailing and overtaking the jeepney driven by Saladio after which appellant...