REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Pangasinan Fifth District Representative 
HON. RAMON N. GUICO JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There is hardly any day when one does not see in print or broadcast media any news which 
involves vehicular accidents. Most of these accidents happen, usually with fatal consequences, because 
the persons responsible therefor do not respect our traffic laws and regulations. One should see for 
himself the chaotic traffic conditions in our streets, where many motorists vie for road supremacy without 
regard for their safety and those of others. This is particularly true in the case of drivers of large vehicles, 
such as buses and trucks, who recklessly intimidate and impose their will on their fellow motorists 
because of the sheer size of their vehicles. 
 While much of these problems could be traced to the lack of strict enforcement of our traffic laws 
and regulations, our lenient and outdated penal laws which penalize criminal negligence could also be 
the reason for the surging cases of vehicular accidents during the last several decades. Under Article 365 
of the Revised Penal Code, the maximum penalty for criminal negligence in vehicular accidents (one 
which causes the death of a person) is only prision correcional in its maximum period. Thus, under the 
present range of penalties for these crimes, the offender may not be placed behind bars, even he has killed 
a person by his deliberate and willful action, albeit without malicious intent, as he can be entitled to apply 
for probation. 
Illustratively, on 12 February 2020, Crizalde Tamparong struck eight (8) students crossing a 
pedestrian lane on Barangay Poblacion, Makati City killing 14-year old student Jules Villapondo and 
injuring his seven companions. He also tested positive for methampehetamine use and is also guilty of 
driving without license. Likewise, in San Juan del Monte, Bulacan a mother and her infant child was 
killed, while 12 others were injured when Eliazar Lumawag rammed through three vehicles and a fruit 
stand with a truck. Authorities suspect that Lumawag is under the influence of drugs. 
As such, this bill shall seek to increase the penalties for criminal negligence involving motor 
vehicles and impose several special aggravating circumstances therefor in order to deter would-be 
offenders to recklessly disregard our traffic laws and regulations and consequently, pose a danger to 
themselves and other people.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Rep. Ramon N. Guico Jr. 
July 5, 2022
3:47 pm
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Pangasinan Fifth District Representative 
HON. RAMON N. GUICO JR. 
AN ACT 
INCREASING THE  PENALTIES FOR CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE INVOLVING MOTOR 
VEHICLES, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLE 365 OF THE REVISED PENAL 
CODE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled, 
SECTION 1. Article 365, Paragraph 6, Number 2 of the Revised Penal Code should now read as 
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follows: 
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“ART. 365. Imprudence and negligence. - Any person who, by reckless imprudence,  shall 
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commit any act,  which,  had  it  been intentional, would constitute a grave felony, shall 
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suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correcional in its 
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medium period, if it would have constituted a less grave felony, the penalty of arresto 
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mayor in its minimum period and medium periods shall be imposed; if it would have 
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constituted a light felony, the penalty of arresto menor in its maximum period shall be 
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imposed, 
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xxxxxxx 
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xxxxxxx 
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xxxxxxx 
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xxxxxxx 
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The provision contained in this article shall not be applicable: 
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1. When the penalty provided for the offense is equal to or lower than those provided
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in the first two paragraphs of this article, in which case the courts shall impose the penalty 
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next lower in degree than that which should be imposed, in the period which they may deem 
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proper to apply. 
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2. WHEN,   BY   RECKLESS   IMPRUDENCE   OR   GROSS NEGLIGENCE, A 
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MOTOR VEHICLE, AS DEFINED UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS, IS INVOLVED AND  
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DEATH OF OR PHYSICAL INJURY TO A PERSON IS CAUSED THEREBY, IN 
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WHICH CASE THE FOLLOWING PENALTIES SHALL BE IMPOSED: 
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A.  IN   CASE   OF   DEATH   OF   A   PERSON, THE DEFENDANT SHALL BE 
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PUNISHED BY PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM 
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PERIODS. 
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B. IN CASE OF PHYSICAL INJURIES, THE PENALTY SHALL BE ONE 
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DEGREE LOWER THAN THOSE IMPOSABLE UNDER CHAPTER TWO, 
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TITLE EIGHT OF THIS CODE IN ACCORDANCE WITH   THE DEGREE OF 
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SEVERITY OF INJURIES, WHENEVER APPLICABLE. PROVIDED THAT 
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THE MAXIMUM PENALTY SHALL BE IMPOSED IN CASES OF THE 
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FOLLOWING: 
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1. WHEN A PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED; 
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2. WHEN THE DEFENDANT IS INTOXICATED WITH ALCOHOLIC  
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SUBSTANCES OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF PROHIBITED   
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DRUGS; 
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3. WHEN THE DEFENDANT HAS VIOLATED TRAFFIC LAWS, RULES 
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AND REGULATIONS, OR ORDINANCES; AND 
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4. WHEN THE DEFENDANT IS DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A 
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GROSS WEIGHT OF 4500 KILOGRAMS OR HIGHER. 
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SEC. 2. Repealing Clause.--All laws, decrees, orders and other issuances contrary to or 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 3. Effectivity.--This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) 
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newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,