”

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Quezon City, Metro Manila

| House Bill No. 3157

Introdu¢ed by HON. JOSEPHINE VERONIQUE “Jaye” R. LACSON - NOEL.
| HON. FLORENCIO GABRIEL G. NOEL

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, in one of its State policies, declares that it “recognizes the role of women in
nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and
men”. This ica seems to be lacking in our otherwise archaic Revised Penal Code (RPC),
evident in the distinction in the penalties between adultery and concubinage.

Adultery under Article 333 of the RPC “is committed by any married woman who shall have
sexual intercourse with a man not her husband and by the man who has carnal knowledge of her
knowing bet to be married, even if the marriage be subsequently declared void". It shall be
punished by prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods. Meanwhile,
concubinage| under Article 334 of the RPC is committed by “any husband who shall keep a
mistress the conjugal dwelling, or shall have sexual intercourse, under scandalous
circumstanegs, with a woman who is not his wife, or shall cohabit with her in any other place,
shal be punished by piston correcefona nit minimum and medium periods.”

While both are crimes against chastity and are relatively one version of the other, there is blatant
inequality between the crime committed by the married woman (adultery) and that of the married
man (concubinage). This bill seeks to equalize the footing between the two by lowering the
penalty of the crime of adultery at par with the penalty for the crime of concubinage.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

JOSEPHINE VERONIQU: Ne R. LACSON - NOEL

Lone Districl, Malabon City

| FLORENCIO GABRIEL iOEL

| An Waray Party-list



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

| House Bill No.__ 3157

Introduced by HON. JOSEPHINE VERONIQUE “Jaye” R. LACSON - NOEL,

HON. FLORENCIO GABRIEL G. NOEL.

LOWER! Nt

ARTICLE

|
AN ACT
THE PENALTY FOR ADULTERY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
33 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE

REVISED PENAL CODE

Be it enact
assembled:

|
d by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

SECTION 1. Article 333 of Act No. 3815 (Revised Penal Code), is hereby amended to read as

follows:

“Article 333, Who are guilty of adultery. - Adultery is committed by any married woman

who
carn

‘hall have sexual intercourse with a man not her husband and by the man who has
1 knowledge of her knowing her to be married, even if the marriage be subsequently

declared void.

|
Adultery shall be punished by prision correccional in its minimum and medium

peri

If the

justi
in th

SECTION

ids,

$ person guilty of adultery committed this offense while being abandoned without

ication by the offended spouse, the penalty next lower in degree than that provided
next preceding paragraph shall be imposed.”

. Separability Clause. - If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is held

invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid

SECTION
inconsistent

SECTION
publication

Approved,

|
3. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, issuances, rules and regulations
‘with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

|. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation