THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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It is the policy of the State in the line with the principle that a public office 
is a public trust, that the Public Officials and employees shall at all times be 
accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost 
responsibility, integrity, competence and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, 
lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest. 
As reported, about 148 murderers and robbers remain at large after 
escaping from jail. The failure to recapture these escaped prisoners poses serious 
threats to the public and bolsters demands for the improvement of the country’s 
penology system. Certainly, our Public Officials and employees fail to exercise 
utmost devotion and dedication to their duties, and worst, for personal interest 
or for consideration, thus, giving a general perception that they are fountain and 
source of undue patronage. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to increase the penalties on our Public Officials 
1 and employees in charge of custody of prisoners for their negligence, connivance 
with or consent to jail escape. 
Approval of this bill is strongly urged. 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T  
s. No. 
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Introduced by Senator Edgardo 1. Angara 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING STRICTER PENALTIES ON THE CRIME OF DELIVERING 
PRISONERS FROM JAIL AND INFIDELITY IN THE CUSTODY OF 
PRISONERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 156,223 AND 224 
OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE REVISED PENAL CODE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
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" ART. 156. Delivering prisonevsfiom jail. - The penalty of [arresto 
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mayor] PRISION MAYOR in its MEDIUM AND maximum periods [to 
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prision correctional in its minimum period] OR THE PENALTY NEXT 
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LOWER IN DEGREE THAN THAT IMPOSED ON THE PRISONER IN 
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ITS MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM PERIODS shall be imposed upon any 
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person who shall remove from any jail or penal establishment any person 
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confined therein or shall help the escape of such person, by means of 
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violence, intimidation or bribery, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER. If other 
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means are used, the penalty of 
[arresto] PRISION mayor IN ITS 
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MINIMUM ANDMEDIUM PERIODS OR TWO DEGREES LOWER 
SECTION 1. Article 156, Chapter Five, Title 3, Book Two of Republic Act 
No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 


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TI-IAN TI-IAT IMPOSED TO THE PRISONER IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD 
shall be imposed[.], WHICIlEVER IS HIGHER. 
If the escape of the prisoner shall take place outside of said 
establishments by taking the guards by surprise, the same penalties 
PRESCRIBED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH shall 
be imposed in their minimum periods. 
SEC. 2. Article 223, Section One, Chapter Five, Title Seven, Book Two of 
Republic Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal 
Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"ART. 223. Co~zniving 7i1ith or consenting fo evasion. - Any puvic 
officer who shall consent to the escape of a CONVICT OR DETENTION 
prisoner in his custody or charge, OR WHO SHALL RELEASE SUCH 
CONVICT OR DETENTION PRISONER AND ALLOW HIM TO 
RETURN TO PRISON OR DETENTION WITHOUT ANY PROPER 
COURT ORDER OR AUTFIORIZATION shall be punished: 
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By prision [correctional] MAYOR in its medium and maximum 
periods OR THE PENALTY NEXT LOWER IN DEGREE THAN 
THAT IMPOSED ON THE PRISONER, IN ITS MEDIUM AND 
MAXIMUM PERIODS, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER and [temporary 
special disqualification in ibs maximum period to perpetual special] 
PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE disqualification, if the fugitive shall have 
been sentenced by final judgment to any penalty. 
By prision [correctionnl] MAYOR in its minimum period OR THE 
PENALTY EQUIVALENT TO THAT PRESCRIBED TO AN 
ACCESSORY BASED ON THE CRIME IMPUTED UPON THE 
PRISONER, IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD, WHICHEVER rs 
MIGI-IER and [teinporary special] PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE 
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disqualification, in case the fugitive sliall not have been filially 
convicted but only held as a detention prisoner for any crime or 
violation of law or municipal ordinance. 
SEC. 3. Article 224, Section One, Chapter Five, 'Title Seven, Uook Two of 
Republic Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise ltnown as the Revised Penal 
Code, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"ART. 224. Eziizsion flzroziglz rregligeiice. - If the evasion of the 
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CONVICT OR DETENTlON prisoner shall have taken place through the 
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negligence of the officer charged with the conveyance or custody ol the 
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escaping prisoner, said officer sliall suffer tlie penalties of hnrresfo ImyOj" in 
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its maximum period to prisioiz correctiorinl in its minilnuin period] 
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PRISION CORRI:CI'tOJ\IAL 1N ITS hlEDIUM AND MAXlMUM 
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PERIODS OR THE PENALTY EQUIVALENT TO THAT PRESCRIBED TO 
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AN ACCESSORY BASED ON TI-IE CRlME IMPUTED UPON TI-Ie 
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CONVICT OR DETENTION PRISONER 1N 1TS MAXIMUM PERIOD, 
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WHICHEVER 1s HIGHER and temporary [special] ABSOLUTE 
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disqualification. 
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FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE PUBLIC OFFICER 
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CI-IARGED WITH THE CUSTODY 017 CONVEYANCE OF THE 
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CONVICT OR DETENTION PRISONER IS PRIMA FACE PRESUMED 
TO HAVE CONSENTED OR CONNIVED TO THE EVASION. 
SEC. 4. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, and 
rules and regulations, and part thereof, which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, 31.e hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.