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EXPLANATORYNOTE
TheRevisedPenalCodelistssomeminorfelonies,offenses,and
infractionswhichcauselittleornodamagetopersons,propertyandcommunity,
andwhichareoftenmotivatednotbymalicebutbysomepsychologicaldisorders
thatshouldbeaddressedwithtreatment,ratherthanwithpunishment.
Onegoodexampleisvagrancy,penalizedunderArticle202oftheRevised
PenalCode,whichfailstoseethatvagrantsarevictimsofpovertyandthelackof
opportunitiesforemploymentandaccesstodecentstandardsoflivingqndquality
oflife.
Asidefromvagrancyaresuchfeloniesassimpledisobediencetoanagent
ofapersoninauthority,alarmsandscandals,refusalofassistance,refusalto
dischargeelectiveoffice,abandonmentofminorbyapersonentrustedwithhis
custodyandcareandindifferenceofparentsandprematuremarriages.
Inthecaseofcrimesofanticipationofdutiesofapublicoffice,reckless
imprudenceandnegligencerespectingdamageonlytoproperty,theapplicable
penaltiesarefines,indemnification,restitution,compensationandcommunity
service,ratherthandeprivationofliberty.
Thisbillseekstodecriminalizetheaboveoffensesinordertodecongestthe
loadofthejusticesystem,allowourlawenforcementofficerstopaymoreattention
tograveroffenses,andimprovetheadministrationofjusticeinourland.This
measurealsoseekstogiveamorehumanecountenanceonourjusticesystem,
whichprioritizestherehabilitationoftheoffenderandacknowledgesthevalueof
everyhumanlife.
Inviewoftheforegoing,earlypassageofthisbillisearnestlyrequested.
SERGIOOSMENA111
Senator

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IntroducedbySenatorS.R.Osmefia111
ANACT
TOIMPROVETHEADMINISTRATIONOFJUSTICEBYDECRIMINALIZING
ANDPROVIDINGFORTHEIMPOSITIONOFALTERNATIVEPENALTIES
SHORTOFDEPRIVATIONOFLIBERTYFORCERTAINOFFENSES
BeifenactedbytheSenateandtheHouseofRepresentativesoftheRepublicof
thePhilippinesinCongressassembled:
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SECTION1.DeclarationofPolicy.Itisherebydeclaredthepolicyof
2theStatetoprovideforamorehumane,realisticandresponsivemodeof
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dealingwithcriminaloffenders.Thisobjectiveshallbeattained,amongothers,
4bydecriminalizingordeclaringaslawfulcertainoffensethatinflictnoharmor
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onlyminimaldamagetosocietyandbytheimpositionofalternativepenalties
G
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See.2.

OffensesDecrimina/ized. Thefollowingoffensesare
shortofdeprivationoflibertyasregardscertainoffenses.
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herebydecrirnininalized:
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a)Simpledisobediencetoanagentofapersoninauthorityasdefinedin
Article151oftheRevisedPenalCode;
b)AlarmsandscandalsasdefinedinArticle155oftheRevisedPenal
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Codeexceptthosecommittedinsidepublicbuildings,churchesand
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schoolsonoccasionswhenthereareassembliesorofficialfunctions
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takingplace;
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c)VagrancyasdefinedinArticle202oftheRevisedPenalCode:
Provided,ThatprostitutionasdefinedbythesameArticleshall
continuetobepunishable;
d)RefusalofassistanceasdefinedinArticle233oftheRevisedPenal
Code;
e)RefusaltodischargeelectiveofficeasdefinedinArticle234ofthe
RevisedPenalCode;
PrematuremarriagesasdefinedinArticle351oftheRevisedPenal
Code;and
f)
g)Alloffensessimilartotheforegoingwhicharepenalizedbyspecial
lawsorordinances.
Sec.3.
OffenseswithSubsfifufedPenalties.Inlieuofthe
existingpenaltiesinvolvingdeprivationoflibertyforanticipationofdutiesofa
publicofficeasdefinedinArticle236andrecklessimprudenceandnegligence
asdefinedinArticle365resultingonlyindamagetoproperty,respectivelyof
theRevisedPenalCode,thefollowingsanctionsshallbeimposedeither
alternativelyorcumulativelyinthediscretionoftheCourt:
(a)Fine
(b)Indemnification
(c)Restitution
(d)Compensation
(e)Communityservicefornotmorethanthirty(30)days.
Sec.4.
TransitoryProvisions.Allcasespendingbeforethe
courtsandtheprosecutorsofficesinvolvingoffensesdecriminalizedhereinshall
beipsofactodismissedand/orterminated.Allconvictsservingsentenceherein
decriminalizedshallbereleasedimmediately.
SEC.5.SeparabilityClause.IfanysectionorprovisionofthisAct
shallbedeclaredunconstitutionalorinvalid,theothersectionsorprovisionsnot
affectedtherebyshallremaininfullforceandeffect
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SEC.6.RepealingClause.Alllaws,decrees,orders,rulesand
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SEC.7.Effecfivify.ThisActshalltakeeffectfifteen(15)daysafterits
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publicationintwo(2)leadingnewspapersofnationalcirculation.
regulationsandotherissuancesinconsistentwiththeprovisionsofthisActare
deemedmodified,revokedorrepealedaccordingly.
Approved,
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