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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
1755 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
'13 
OCT -2 All:27 
Medical Parole is defined as the release of a person from prison prior to the end of his 
sentence due to medical considerations. It is usually considered a gesture of mercy or 
compassion. Medioal Parole may however also be considered to save tax payer's money from 
prisoner's expenses. This is because caring for inmates cost taxpayers nearly twice as much as it 
does to lock up healthy. inmate because they can end up needing high-level care in expensive 
nursing homes. 
The statistics on deaths due to medical conditions while in custody are overwhelming. 
The grant of Medical Parole by the Board of Pardons and Parole should be allowed since all 
persons must be treated as human beings, whether in or out of prison, and irrespective of the 
crimes they had committed. 
The proposed bill seeks to authorize the Board of Pardons and Parole to grant qualified 
prisoners a medical parole based on medical considerations. The proposed bill also seeks to 
provide the guidelines and the necessary requirements for the grant of the medical parole.' 
J., 
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;IRIAM DE 
SOR S 
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• This bill was originally filed in the third regular session of the 14th Congress. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT -2 All :27 
SENA)ll. 
S.No. 
1755 
ImCEIVEU HY:--f-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR MEDICAL PAROLE TO QUALIFIED PRISONERS 
AND SETTING RULES ON THE GRANT THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Medical Parole Act. " 
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SECTION 2. Medical Parole Applicability. - Except for prisoners who are sentenced to 
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death or reclusion perpetua, the Board of Pardons and Parole may release a prisoner on medical 
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parole if the prisoner has been examined by a licensed Government Physician and has received a 
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written diagnosis that includes all of the following: 
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1. A determination that the prisoner suffers from an incapacitating 
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physical condition, disease or syndrome. 
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2. A description of the physical condition, disease or syndrome and a 
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detailed description of the prisoner's physical incapacity. 
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3. A prognosis addressing the likelihood of the prisoner's recovery from 
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the physical condition, disease or syndrome and the extent of any potential 
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recovery. 
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SECTION 3. Review of the Bureau of Corrections. - Except for prisoners who are 
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sentenced to death, life, or reclusion perpetua, the Board of Pardons and Parole may release a 
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prisoner on medical parole if the prisoner has been examined by a licensed Government 
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Physician and has received a written diagnosis that includes all of the following: 
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1. A determination that the prisoner suffers from an incapacitating 
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physical condition, disease or syndrome; 
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2. A description of the physical condition, disease or syndrome and a 
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detailed description of the prisoner's physical incapacity; 
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3. A prognosis addressing the likelihood of the prisoner's recovery from 
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the physical condition, disease or syndrome and the extent of any potential 
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recovery; 
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SECTION 4. Periodic Examinations. - The Board of Pardons and Parole may require as a 
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condition of medical parole that the prisoner agree to periodic examinations and diagnoses at the 
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prisoner's expense. The examining physician shall submit reports of each examination and 
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diagnosis to the board and the Bureau of Corrections. If the Board of Pardons and Parole or the 
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Bureau of Corrections determines that the prisoner's incapacitating physical condition, disease or 
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syndrome has improved to the extent that the prisoner is likely to pose a possible danger to the 
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public, the board may revoke medical parole and return the prisoner to the custody of the 
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department. 
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SECTION 5. Release Credit Limit. - The Board of Pardons and Parole shall not grant 
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medical parole sooner than one year before the prisoner's parole or earned' release credit date 
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unless, based on medical information furnished to it, the Board determines that the physical 
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condition of the prisoner is so serious that the prisoner would not be reasonably expected to live 
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for more than one year. 
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SECTION 6. Request. - The Board of Pardons and Parole, The Bureau of Corrections, a 
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prisoner or a prisoner's parent, grandparent, child or sibling may request medical parole by 
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submitting the request in writing to the director of the Bureau of Corrections. 
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SECTION 7. Eligibility. - A prisoner is eligible for medical parole only if both of the 
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following apply: 
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I. The board determines, based on the prisoner's medical condition and 
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the written diagnosis, that the prisoner does not constitute a threat to public 
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safety and is not likely to commit an offense while on medical parole; and 
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2. The board prepares a medical parole plan that ensures appropriate 
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supervision and placement of the prisoner; 
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SECTION 8. Additional Requirement. - Notwithstanding any other law, a prisoner who 
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has served ten consecutive years or more in prison shall not be paroled pursuant to this section 
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until the Board first receives a report as to the prisoner's mental condition and ability to adjust to 
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life outside the prison from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist of the National Center for 
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Mental Health (NCMH). 
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SECTION 9. Non-disqualification. - A grant or denial of medical parole does not affect a 
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prisoner's eligibility for non-medical parole. 
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SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION II. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (I5) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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