Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

fee Poi
H.B.No.

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is the policy of the State in the line with the principle that a public office is @ public
trust, that the Public Officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and
shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence and loyalty, act with
Patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.

As reported, about 148 murderers and robbers remain at large after escaping from jail.
The failure to recapture these escaped prisoners poses serious threats to the public and
bolsters demands for the improvement of the country's penology system. Certainly, our Public
Officials and employees fail to exercise utmost devotion and dedication to their duties, and

worst, for personal interest or for consideration, thus, giving a general perception that they are
fountain and source of undue patronage.

This bill, therefore, seeks to increase the penalties on our Public Officials and employees
in charge of custody of prisoners for their negligence, connivance with or consent to jail escape.

Approval of this bill is strongly urged

JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA.
Representative
Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
First Regular Session )

H.B.No. 254

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING STRICTER PENALTIES ON THE CRIME OF DELIVERING PRISONERS
FROM JAIL AND INFIDELITY IN THE CUSTODY OF PRISONERS, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE ARTICLES 156, 223 AND 224 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Article 156, Chapter 5, Title 3, Book Two of Republic Act 3815, as
amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“ART. 156. Delivering prisoners from jail. - The penalty of [arresto mayor]

PRISION MAYOR in its MEDIUM AND maximum periods [to prision correctional
in its minimum period] OR THE PENALTY NEXT LOWER IN DEGREE THAN
THAT IMPOSED ON THE PRISONER IN ITS MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM
PERIODS shall be imposed upon any person who shall remove from any jail or
penal establishment any person confined therein or shall help the escape of such
person, by means of violence, intimidation or bribery, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER.
If other means are used, the penalty of [arresto] PRISION mayor IN ITS
MINIMUM AND MEDIUM PERIODS OR TWO DEGREES LOWER THAN THAT
IMPOSED TO THE PRISONER IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD shall be imposed
LIWHICHEVER IS HIGHER.

If the escape of the prisoner shall take place outside of said
establishments by taking the guards by surprise, the same penalties
PRESCRIBED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH shall be
imposed in their minimum periods.”

SEC, 2. Article 223, Section One, Chapter Five, Title Seven, Book Two of Republic Act
No, 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revise Penal Code, is hereby amended to read
as follows:
“ART. 223. Conniving with or consenting to evasion. - Any public officer
who shall consent to the escape of a CONVICT OR DETENTION prisoner in his
custody or charge, OR WHO SHALL RELEASE SUCH CONVICT OR
DETENTION PRISONER AND ALLOW HIM TO RETURN TO PRISON OR


DETENTION WITHOUT ANY PROPER COURT ORDER OR AUTFIORIZATION
shall be punished:
(1) By prision [correccional] MAYOR in its medium and maximum
periods OR THE PENALTY NEXT LOWER IN DEGREE
THAN THAT IMPOSED ON THE PRISONER, IN ITS
MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM PERIODS, WHICHEVER IS
HIGHER and [temporary special disqualification in its
maximum period to perpetual special] PERPETUAL
ABSOLUTE disqualification, if the fugitive shall have been
sentenced by final judgment to any penalty.
(2) By prision [correctional] MAYOR in its minimum period OR
THE PENALTY EQUIVALENT TO THAT PRESCRIBED TO
AN ACCESSORY BASED ON THE CRIME IMPUTED UPON
THE PRISONER, IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD, WHICHEVER
is HIGHER and [temporary special] PERPETUAL
ABSOLUTE disqualification, in case the fugitive shall not
have been finally convicted but only held as a detention
prisoner for any crime or violation of law or municipal
ordinance."

SEC. 3. Article 224, Section One, Chapter Five, ‘Title Seven, Book Two of Republic Act
No, 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby amended to
read as follows:
“ART. 224. Evasion through negligence. - If the evasion of the CONVICT
OR DETENTION prisoner shall have taken place through the negligence of the
officer charged with the conveyance or custody of the escaping prisoner, said
officer shall suffer the penalties of [arresto mayor it its maximum period to prision
correctional in its minimum period] PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MEDIUM
AND MAXIMUM PERIODS OR THE PENALTY EQUIVALENT TO THAT
PRESCRIBED TO AN ACCESSORY BASED ON THE CRIME IMPUTED UPON
THE CONVICT OR DETENTION PRISONER IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD,
WHICHEVER IS HIGHER and temporary [special] ABSOLUTE disqualification.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE PUBLIC OFFICER
CHARGED WITH THE CUSTODY OR CONVEYANCE OF THE CONVICT OR
DETENTION PRISONER IS PRIMA FACIE PRESUMED TO HAVE
CONSENTED OR CONNIVED TO THE EVASION.”

SEC. 4. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, and rules and

regulations, and part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.


SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,