The Department announced today its support for Senate Bill No. 2680, entitled "An Act adjusting the amount involved, value of property or damage on which a penalty is based and the fines under Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code (RPC)," recently filed by Senate President Franklin M. Drilon.
"We are coordinating closely with the legislature to ensure that the work of the Criminal Code Committee is translated into policies and laws," said Secretary of Justice Leila M. De Lima. "It is acknowledged that our general criminal law needs to be reformed and updated. This indexation effort is a key component of the DOJ codification program," she added.
SBN 2680 will amend Article 26 of the RPC and most of the threshold figures in Book 2 based on the proportionality of the crime to the prescribed penalty in relation to present values.
"A scientific approach to criminal justice research starting with the proper indexation of crimes and penalties will close a major gap in our justice system. Since 1932, we have not done a simple yet comprehensive review of the RPC," said DOJ Assistant Secretary Geronimo L. Sy, Chair of the Criminal Code Committee. "Laws need to be responsive to current situation. The value of 200 pesos eighty-three years ago is just different from its worth today," he said.
The Criminal Code committee was established in 20 April 2011 to craft a modern, simplified, responsive and truly Filipino Criminal Code that will enhance access to justice by the poor and other marginalized sectors. Book 1 of the draft criminal Code was filed as House Bill. No. 2300 by Representative Niel C. Tupas, Jr., Chairperson of the Justice Committee. Book 2 on Crimes and Penalties was completed on 31 July 2014 and endorsed to the House Committee on August 2014. Books 1 and 2 were endorsed to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III as Chairperson of the Committee on Justice on the same date. Copy of the draft Criminal Code is available at http://doj.gov.ph/criminal-code-committee.html SBN 2680 can be downloaded at www.senate.gov.ph
