FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLtC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 JUL -2 
I (i 
The emtion and repeal of laws are IarQely dictated by the tall of the 
times. The changing world order oecz&htes 
th+ rwkw of ewi&ir&,.pt?i&es that 
may have ofice proven effectke, but now simply serve to oppress the very 
people that they sought to benefit.. an& pmk& Om such pdiq is t4rcs. !aw OK 
vagrancy. 
Historically, vagrancy lawxwers w&d 
bearing &e mmpt of eriminallty.. 
As a r#su!! of the breakdown of feudalism, vagrancy laws were passed to 
discourage the idleness of- the poputati~n. @E!' timer vagm!?t. hemme regarded. 
as public nuisances. 
The Revised Penal Code, under c\hi!% %E, OeGr?es w~m.m.y 3% a 
criminal act. This law carries the same concept of criminality that has been 
challenged by human rights advocates an over the wortd, as it violates certam 
cherished freedoms such as the right to move freely and to travel. In the United 
States, vagrancy laws have atready been stricken down on constitutionat 
grounds. 
Moreover, there are numerous reports of arbitrary arrests by the police as 
a result of the wide discretion afforded to law enforcers by the vagrancy law. 
Police have rounded up the poor, accusing them of vagrancy, and holding them 
in prison cells. Most of these vagrants are detained for long periods because they 
have no access to lawyers. 
Numerous cases of street children arbitrarily arrested by the police have 
likewise been documented, particularly during international conferences, when 
national and international attention is focused on a locality. 
The law on vagrancy blurs the line between poverty and criminality, As the 
economic crisis persists, the poor will continue to suffer from oppressive laws 
such as the law on vagrancy. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is 
earnestly sought. 
NGGO\( 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
7 JUL -2 C?: (1 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 3 0 5 
~ 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
DECRlMlNALZlNG CERTAIN ACTS OF VAGRANCY AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED TWO OF ACT NO. 315 AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
"Article 202. Vagrants and prostitutes, Penalty. - The 
following are vagrant: 
[I. Any person having no apparent means of 
subsistence, who has the physical ability to work and who 
neglects to apply himself or herself to some lawful calling; 
[2. Any person found loitering around public or semi- 
public buildings or places or tramping or wondering around the 
country or the streets without visible means or support]; 
[3. Any idle or dissolute person who lodges in houses of 
ill-fame; ruffians or] p] Pimps [and those who habitually 
associate with prostitutes]; 
14. Any person who, not being included in the provisions 
of other articles of this Code, shall be found loitering in any 
inhabited or uninhabited or place belong to another without any 
lawful or justifiable purpose]; 
[5] 2. Prostitutes 
For [the] purposes of this article, [women] PERSONS, 
who, for money or profit, habitually indulge in sexual 
intercourse o lascivious conduct, are deemed t be prostitutes. 
Any person found guilty of any of the offense covered by 
this article shall punished by arresto menor or a fine not 
exceeding [200] 2,000 pesos, and in case of recidivism, by 
arresto mayor in its medium period to prison correctional in its 


minimum period or a fine ranging from [200] 2,000 to to 2,000 
pesos, or both in the discretion of the court. 
SEC 2. Effect on Pending Cases. All pending cases tinder the repeated 
provisions of Article of the Revised Penal Code as amended by this Act shall be 
dismissed upon the activity of this measure. 
SEC 3. lmmediate Release of Convicted Persons. All persons serving 
sentence for violation of the repealed provisions of Article 202 of the Revised 
Penal Code as amended by this Act, shall be immediately released provided that 
they are not serving or detained for any case. 
SEC 4. 
Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules, and regulations and other issuance or parts thereof inconsistent 
with this Act, are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC 5. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
it publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved)