1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Kidnapping is a heinous crime that brings mental and emotional torture to the victims, on 
top of the resulting physical harm inflicted to the latter, in the course thereof. Unfortunately, 
despite penalties as intense as life imprisonment to death, the crime continues to be committed. 
This bill seeks to further strengthen the penalty of kidnapping by decreasing the number of 
detention days from more than five (5) to more than two (2) days, for the event to be considered a 
kidnapping or serious illegal detention, even if none of the other conditions in Article 267 of the 
Revised Penal Code are present. 
Moreover, this bill identifies and penalizes Hoax Kidnapping—a willfully-orchestrated 
detention for the purpose of demanding ransom, as a separate crime all together. Despite the fact 
that no real detention may occur, the deception and illusion of an authentic kidnapping still exacts 
mental, emotional, and financial damages on concerned persons. This bill seeks a penalty of prison 
temporal or a fine of P100,000 to P1,000,000 or both, depending on the court’s discretion.  
In view of the foregoing, the early approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA
July 22, 2025
3:30 pm
2189


2 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill NO. 2189 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
AN ACT EXTENDING THE COVERAGE OF THE LAW ON KIDNAPPING AND 
PENALIZING HOAX KIDNAPPING AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE NO. 
267 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 18, 
AND FURTHER AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6127, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“Art. 267. Kidnapping and serious illegal detention.—Any private individual who shall 
kidnap or detain another, or in any other manner deprive him of his liberty, shall suffer the 
penalty of RECLUSION TEMPORAL IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD TO reclusion perpetua.: 
“1. If the kidnapping or detention shall have lasted TWO days or more. 
“2. If it shall have been committed simulating public authority.  
“3. If any serious physical injuries shall have been inflicted upon the person kidnapped or 
detained, or if threats to kill him or her shall have been made.  
“4. If the person kidnapped or detained shall be a minor, female or a public officer. 
“The penalty shall be RECLUSION PERPETUA where the kidnapping or detention was 
committed for the purpose of extorting ransom from the victim or any other person, even if none 
of the circumstances mentioned above were present in the commission of the offense.” 


3 
 
SEC. 2. A new provision, Article 267-A, is hereby inserted after Article 267 of the Revised 
Penal Code, as amended, to read as follows: 
 
“Art. 267-A. HOAX KIDNAPPING OR HOAX ILLEGAL DETENTION; PENALTIES.—
HOAX KIDNAPPING OR HOAX ILLEGAL DETENTION OCCURS WHEN THE 
KIDNAPPING IS WILLFULLY FAKED, ORCHESTRATED OR STAGED BY THE 
VICTIM OR HIS FAMILY OR BOTH, IN CONSPIRACY WITH THE PUTATIVE 
KIDNAPERS, TO EXTORT RANSOM FROM THE VICTIM’S FAMILY OR OTHER 
ENTITIES, OR COERCE THE LATTER TO DO OR NOT TO DO AN ACT. ANY 
PERSON WHO IS FOUND GUILTY OF HOAX KIDNAPPING SHALL SUFFER THE 
PENALTY OF PRISION CORRECCIONAL IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD TO RECLUSION 
TEMPORAL IN ITS MINIMUM PERIOD.” 
 
 SEC. 3. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared to be 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
 SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees,  executive orders, rules and regulations, and 
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly.  
 
 SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. – The Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 Approved,