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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill Not 794

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our public schools are some of the most important institutions in our country, the sole means
of access that many Filipino children have to the education necessary for their development as
people and citizens, to the education that provides opportunities for their financial stability and
individual fulfillment.

As such, the State must treat theft, robbery, and destruction of public school property seriously,
and create effective deterrents to such crimes. This bill, a re-filing of House Bill No. 3107 filed
by former DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Villar and a counterpart of Senate Bill
No. 724 of Senator Cynthia Villar, will increase the jail time and monetary penalties for felons
convicted of theft, robbery and destruction of public school property.

PERITO M. PICO
Representative, DIWA Party-list

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No, 8754

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

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 Act.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:
a. "School property” refers to all buildings, grounds and other property, real and
personal, which belong to a public school, whether the property is acquired through
public funds, loans, donations or lease.

b. “Public School” refers to all state-owned schools, colleges and universities.

SECTION 3. Penalty for Theft and Robbery of School Property. — Any person convicted of the
crime of theft or robbery as defined under Chapters One and Three of Title Ten of the Revised
Penal Code of any school property shall be punished by the penalty next higher in degree than
those respectively specified in the aforementioned articles of the Revised Penal Code:
Provided, That the additional penalty specified herein shall no longer be made applicable if the
imposable penalty is in its maximum period.

SECTION 4. Penalty for Destruction of School Property. ~ A public school building shall be
considered a building of public ownership devoted to the use of public in general under Article
320 of the Revised Penal Code. Any person who shall burn a public school building shall be
convicted of the crime of destructive arson as defined in Article 320 of the Revised Penal Code.

SECTION 5. Penalty for Special Case of Malicious Mischief. ~ Destruction to school property

not covered by the immediately preceding Sections shall be considered a special case of
malicious mischief under Chapter Nine of Title Ten of the Revised Penal Code. Any person

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who shall cause damage to school property shall be punished with the penalty next higher in
degree than those specified in Articles 328 and 329 of the Revised Penal Code.

SECTION 6. Penalty for Public Officials. ~ If the person convicted of the crimes referred in
this Act is a public official as defined in Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the additional penalty of perpetual
disqualification from public office shall be imposed. Conviction of a public officer under this
Act is without prejudice to criminal prosecution and/or administrative proceedings under
applicable Civil Service laws and regulations, Republic Act No. 6713, and Republic Act No.
3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other
issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect 15 days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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