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

Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo._7159

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proliferation of staged kidnappings, also known as “kidnap-me” schemes, in the country has
been observed over the past several years, where the supposed kidnap victim fakes or
orchestrates his or her own kidnapping and detention for the purpose of extorting ransom or
other things from his or her own family or other persons

Staging one’s own kidnapping is not specifically defined and penalized as a crime under our
laws. When such schemes are discovered by law enforcement agencies, it has been reported that
the supposed kidnap victim and others involved are charged for violating Article 318, which
punishes “other deceits” with arresto mayor (imprisonment of one month and one day to six
months) and a fine of not less than the amount of the damage caused and not more than twice
such amount, or Article 287, which punishes “other coercions or unjust vexations” with arresto
‘menor (imprisonment of one day to 30 days) or a fine from P1,000.00 to not more than
40,000.00, or both, of the Revised Penal Code

This measures seeks to make the commission of staged kidnapping and detention a specific and
distinct crime, which shall be penalized more severely, under the Revised Penal Code. If this
measure is enacted into law, those who stage their own kidnapping or detention in order to extort
ransom or coerce others to do something against their will shall be penalized with prision
correccional (imprisonment of six months and one day to six years) and a fine of P100,000.00 to
P1,200,000.00. Without a doubt, staged kidnappings cause great anguish, distress, and pain to
their true victims. But such schemes are even more odious to the State because they take away
precious time and resources that ought to be utilized by our law enforcement agencies against
actual kidnappings and other criminal activities.

‘Accordingly, the support of the Members of Congress for the prompt passage of this measure is
camestly requested.

K— Pee

XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO


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

Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7159

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE XAVIER JESUS D. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF STAGED KIDNAPPING AND
DETENTION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Article 267 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal

Code, is hereby renumbered as Article 267-A and a new Article 267-B is hereby inserted after

Article 267-A to read, as follows:
ART. 267-B. STAGED KIDNAPPING AND DETENTION. - THE PENALTY OF
PRISON CORRECCIONAL AND A FINE OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
PESOS (P100,000.00) TO ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND.
PESOS (P1,200,000.00) SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON ANY PERSON WHO
STAGES HIS OR HER OWN KIDNAPPING OR DETENTION FOR THE
PURPOSE OF EXTORTING RANSOM FROM ANOTHER OR COERCING
ANOTHER TO DO SOMETHING AGAINST HIS OR HER WILL.

SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that

are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified

accordingly.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or

in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,