FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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MeOical Parole is defined as the release of a person from prison prior to the end of 
his sentence due to medical considerations. It is usually considered a gesture of mercy or 
compassion. Medical Parole may however also be considered to save tax payer's money 
from prisoner's expenses. This is because caring for inmates cost taxpayers nearly twice 
as much as it does to lock up healthy inmate because they can end up needing high-level 
care in expensive nursing homes. 
The statistics on deaths due to medical conditions while in custody are 
overwhelming. The grant of Medical Parole by the Board of Pardons and Parole should 
be allowed since all persons must be treated as human beings, whether in or out of prison, 
and irrespective ofthe crimes they had committed. 
The proposed bill seeks to authorize the Board of Pardons and Parole to grant 
qualified prisoners a medical parole based on medical considerations. The proposed bill 
also seeks to provide the guidelines and the necessary requirements for the grant of the 
medical parole. l 
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,QIIY' MIRIAM DEFE~SOR SA~IA~ 
, This bill was originally filed in the third regular session of the 14'h Congress. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
. ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MEDICAL PAROLE TO QUALIFIED PRISONERS 
AND SETTING RULES ON THE GRANT THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title. '. This Act shall be known as the "Medical Parole Act." 
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SECTION 2. Medical Parole Applicability. - Except for prisoners who are 
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. sentenced to death or reclusion perpetua, the Board of Pardons and Parole may release a 
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prisoner on medical parole if the prisoner has been examined by a licensed Government 
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Physician and has received a written diagnosis that includes all of the following: 
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1. A determination that the prisoner suffers from an incapacitating 
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physical condition, disease or syndrome. 
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2. A description of the physical condition, disease or syndrome 
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and a detailed description of the prisoner's physical incapacity. 
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3. A prognosis addressing the likelihood of the prisoner's recovery 
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from the physical condition, disease or syndrome and the extent of any 
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potential recovery. 
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SECTION 3. Review of the Bureau of Corrections. - Except for prisoners who are 
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sentenced to death, life, or reclusion perpetua, the Board of Pardons and Parole may 
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release a prisoner on medical parole if the prisoner has been examined by a licensed 
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Government Physician and has received a written diagnosis that includes all of the 
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following: 
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1. A determination that the prisoner suffers from an incapacitating 
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physical condition, disease or syndrome; 
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2. A description of the physical condition, disease or syndrome 
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and a detailed description of the prisoner's physical incapacity; 
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3. 
A prognosis addressing the likelihood of the prisoner's 
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recovery from the physical condition, disease or syndrome and the extent 
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of any potential recovery; 
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SECTION 4. Periodic Examinations. - The Board of Pardons and Parole may 
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require as a condition of medical parole that the prisoner agree to periodic examinations 
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and diagnoses at the prisoner's expense. The examining physician shall submit reports of 
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each examination and diagnosis to the board and the Bureau of Corrections. If the Board 
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of Pardons and Parole or the Bureau of Corrections determines that the prisoner's 
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incapacitating physical condition, disease or syndrome has improved to the extent that the 
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prisoner is likely to pose a possible danger to the public, the board may revoke medical 
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parole and return the prisoner to the custody of the department. 
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SECTION 5. Release Credit Limit. - The Board of Pardons and Parole shall not 
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grant medical parole sooner than one year before the prisoner's. parole or earned release 
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credit date unless, based on medical information furnished to it, the Board determines 
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that the physical condition of the prisoner is so serious that the prisoner would not be 
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reasonably expected to live for more than one year. 
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SECTION 6. Request. - The Board of Pardons and Parole, The Bureau of 
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Corrections, a prisoner or a prisoner's parent, grandparent, child or sibling may request 
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medical parole by submitting the request in writing to the director of the Bureau of 
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Corrections. 
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SECTION 7. Eligibility. - A prisoner is eligible for medical parole only if both of 
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the following apply; 
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I. The board determines, based on the prisoner's medical 
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condition and the written diagnosis, that the prisoner does not constitute a 
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threat to public safety and is not likely to commit an offense while on 
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medical parole; and 
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2. The board prepares a medical parole plan that ensures 
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appropriate supervision and placement of the prisoner; 
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SECTION 8. Additional Requirement. - Notwithstanding any other law, a prisoner 
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who has served ten consecutive years or more in prison shall not be paroled puvsuant to 
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this section until the Board first receives a report as to the prisoner's mental condition and 
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ability to adjust to life outside the prison from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist of 
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the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). 
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SECTION 9. Non-disqualification. - A grant or denial of medical parole does not 
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affect a prisoner's eligibility for non-medical parole. 
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SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or Issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
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or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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