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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
H O U S E   O F   R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by REP. CAMILLE A. VILLAR 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THEFT, ROBBERY AND 
DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There are more than twenty-four million (24 Million) students enrolled for the 
School Year 2021-2022 in public schools and SUCs/LUCs.1 Amid online classes during 
the pandemic, data shows that millions of Filipino students utilize and benefit from 
public school facilities. Moreover, the state allocates billions of its budget to maintain 
and develop school facilities as exemplified by the 2022 GAA where PhP2.72 billion is 
allocated for Learning Tools and Equipment while PhP5.94 billion is allocated for 
Basic Education Facilities.2 Thus, public school properties are valuable resources for 
all Filipino students and for the state, in general. 
Crimes against public school properties including theft, robbery, and 
destruction are more than just damage to materials but cause disturbance to the 
supposed seamless conduct of learning and education. Therefore, it is of the utmost 
necessity to protect and value public school properties to ensure seamless and 
quality delivery of learning for students and educators.  
_____________ 
1.https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/11/18/deped-posts-4-increase-in-enrollment-for-basic-education-in-sy-2021-
2022/
2.https://www.deped.gov.ph/2022/01/04/deped-thanks-pres-duterte-congress-as-education-sector-gets-biggest-
hike-in-2022-budget/
August 3, 2022
1:33 pm
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Providing stiffer penalties for theft, robbery, and destruction of public school 
properties acts as an additional layer of protection for education’s valuable resources 
and signifies the genuine mission to deliver quality education and facilitate 
continuous human development. 
This proposed legislative measure, if enacted, will increase the jail time and 
monetary penalties for felons convicted of theft, robbery and destruction of public 
school property, at the same time, it increases security of educational resources. 
In view of the above premises, the passage of this bill is hereby earnestly 
sought. 
CAMILLE A. VILLAR


1
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
H O U S E   O F   R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by REP. CAMILLE A. VILLAR 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THEFT, ROBBERY AND 
DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Public School Security 
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Act of 2022”. 
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Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the following terms 
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shall mean: 
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(a)
"School property” refers to all buildings, grounds and other property, real
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and personal, which belong to a public school, whether the property is
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acquired through public funds, loans, donations or lease.
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(b)
“Public School” refers to all state-owned schools, colleges and universities.
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Sec. 3. Penalty for Theft and Robbery of School Property. – Any person 
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convicted of the crime of theft or robbery as defined under Chapters One and Three 
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of Title Ten of the Revised Penal Code of any school property shall be punished by 
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the penalty next higher in degree than those respectively specified in the 
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aforementioned articles of the Revised Penal Code: Provided, That the additional 
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penalty specified herein shall no longer be made applicable if the imposable penalty 
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is in its maximum period. 
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Sec. 4. Penalty for Destruction of School Property. – A public school building 
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shall be considered a building of public ownership devoted to the use of public in 
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general under Article 320 of the Revised Penal Code. Any person who shall burn a 
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public school building shall be convicted of the crime of destructive arson as defined 
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in Article 320 of the Revised Penal Code. 
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Sec. 5. Penalty for Special Case of Malicious Mischief. – Destruction to school 
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property not covered by the immediately preceding Sections shall be considered a 
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special case of malicious mischief under Chapter Nine of Title Ten of the Revised 
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Penal Code. Any person who shall cause damage to school property shall be 
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punished with the penalty next higher in degree than those specified in Articles 328 
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and 329 of the Revised Penal Code. 
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Sec. 6. Penalty for Public Officials. – If the person convicted of the crimes 
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referred in this Act is a public official as defined in Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code 
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of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the additional 
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penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office shall be imposed. Conviction 
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of a public officer under this Act is without prejudice to criminal prosecution and/or 
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administrative proceedings under applicable Civil Service laws and regulations, 
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Republic Act No. 6713, and Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt 
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Practices Act. 
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
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and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
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repealed or modified accordingly. 
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. – If any portion of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
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remain in force and effect. 
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Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect 15 days after its 
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complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved