THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHLIF'PINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Penal Code, Article 365, on imprudence and negligence is the law which governs 
vehicular accidents resulting in damage to persons and to property, or both. 
Due to the frequency of vehicular incidents, judges all over the country have voiced the 
need to increase the present p enalties for those acts which are outright malicious, intentional, 
grossly irresponsible or unlawful resulting in damage to property and physical injuries or death, 
or both. 
This bill increases the penalty from arresto mayor in its maximum period to prison 
covreccional in its maximum period as the minimum penalty and death as the maximum penalty. 
It also changes the presumption of negligence to one of malice or intent. Since this bill provides 
that the provisional remedy of attach&ent shall only be resorted to when both the offender and 
the person responsible for such offender are insolvent, the imposition of higher civil penalties 
thereof, is favored over the provisional remedy of attachment since victims are usually in need of 
immediate cash for hospitalization and medical expenses and it takes a long time for a victim to 
recover under the remedy of attachment. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
IMPOSING HIGHER PENALTIES FOR VEHICULAR ACCIDENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines ion 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Vehicle Accidents Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy. - The laws on transportation were enacted to 
promote public safety and to punish violators. Towards this end, when the laws are no longer 
adequate to protect the public, the State shall ensure through the imposition of stiffer penalties 
that vehicular drivers who are guilty of intentionally causing damage to persons and property or 
are guilty of grossly irresponsible and’unlawful behavior are punished accordingly. 
SECTION 3. Vehicular Incidents, Penalties. - Any person who shall commit any act 
resulting in physical injuries or death and/or damage to property on account of a vehicular 
incident, shall suffer the penalty ofprison mayor in its maximum period to death. 
Unless proven otherwise, it shall be presumed that any act which causes damage to 
person and/or property under this section was done maliciously and with intent. 
Prison mayor in its maximum shall be imposed upon the offender who fails to lend on the 
spot to the injured parties such help as may be in his hand to give. 
SECTION 4. Civil Indemnities. - When the execution of the Act covered by this article 
shall have only resulted in damage to the property of another, the offender shall be punished by a 
fine ranging from an amount equal to the value of said damages to three times such value, but 
which in no case shall be less than ten thousand pesos (P10, 000.00) 


The provisional remedy of attachment of vehicle shall only be imposed when the 
offender and/or the person who has supervision or control over the offender are insolvent. 
Section 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
Section 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the 
provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accord 
Section 7. Effectivity Clause. - Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved. 
/664