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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
SENATE 
COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 
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hts and Constitutional 
flEt Hy"s"i=#Y 
Submitted jointly by the Committees on Justice 
Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws on 
Re: Senate Bill No. 
Recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 305, 601, 1305 and 1384. 
Sponsors: Senators Escudero and Gordon 
1 9 6 5. 
MR. PRESIDENT: 
The Committees on Justice and Human Rights and Constitutional Amendments, Revision of 
Codes and Laws to which were referred Senate Bill No. 305, introduced by Senator Ejercito- 
Estrada, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
DECRIMINALIZING 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" 
Senate Bill No. 601, introduced by Senator Ejercito-Estrada, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BY DECRIMINALIZING 
CERTAIN FELONIES UNDER THE REVISED PENAL CODE AND PROVIDING FOR 
THE IMPOSITION OF ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES SHORT OF DEPRIVATION OF 
LIBERTY AND FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES" 
Senate Bill No. 1305, introduced by Senator Escudero, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BY DECRIMINALIZING 
AND PROVIDING FOR THE IMPOSITION OF ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES 
SHORT OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES' 
Senate Bill No. 1384, introduced by Senator Legarda, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
DECRIMINALIZING CERTAIN ACTS OF VAGRANCY AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED TWO OF ACT NO. 3815 AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE" 


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have considered the same and have the honor to report them back to the Senate with the 
recommendation that the attached bill, Senate Bill No. ‘1 9 6 5 , prepared by the Committees, 
entitled: 
“AN ACT 
DECRIMINALIZING VAGRANCY AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLE 202 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL 
CODE” 
be approved in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 305, 601, 1305 and 1384, with Senators 
Ejercito-Estrada, Legarda, Escudero and Gordon as authors thereof. 
Respectfully Submitted: 
/’ ,57 
Chairmen: 
FRANCIS “CHIZ” G. ESCUDERO 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights / 
BENIGN0 
“NOYNOY” AQUlNO 1111 
and Human Rights 
Members: 
Committee on Constitufional Amendments, 
Revision of Codes and Laws 
Commitfee on Cckkfifutional Amendments, 
Revision of Codes and Laws 


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ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO 
Commiifee on Justice and Human Rights 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights 
Committee on Constitutional Amendments, 
Revision of Codes and Laws 
Committee on Constitutional Amendments, 
Revision of Codes and Laws 
Revision of Codes and Laws 
E
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k
h
 
Committee on Constitutional 
Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws 
Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws 
Committee on Constitutional Amendments, 
Revision of Codes and Laws 
, 
a/ Amendments, 
Revision of Codes and Laws 
f l o Q A D A  
Presi nt Pro-Tempore 
Ex-Officio Members 
z 
NGlLlNAN 
Hon. MANNY VILLAR 
Senate President 
Senate of the Philippines 
Pasay City 


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4;CNi4TE 
f.?:r:j;.: *’>$ 
,-::.-firfAF;V : 
Republic of the Philippines 
1 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 
1 
First Regular Session 
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Prepared jointly by the Committees on Justice and Human Rights and 
Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws with Senators 
Ejercito-Estrada, Legarda , Escudero and Gordon as authors thereof 
AN ACT 
DECRIMINALIZING 
VAGRANCY 
AMENDING 
FOR 
THIS 
PURPOSE ARTICLE 202 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3815, 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 p] 
Prostitutes; penalty. - [The 
following are vagrants: 
1. 
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 about public or semi-public 
buildings or places or tramping or wandering about the country or the 
streets without visible means of support; 
3. 
Any idle or dissolute person who lodges in houses of ill- 
fame; ruffians or pimps and those who habitually associate with 
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prostitutes; 


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4. 
Any person who, not being included in the provisions of 
other articles of this Code, shall be found loitering in any inhabited or 
uninhabited place belong to another without any lawful or justifiable 
purpose; 
5. 
prostitutes. ] 
For the purposes of this article, women who, for money or profit, 
habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are 
deemed to be prostitutes. 
Any person found guilty [of any] of the offense[s] covered by this 
article shall be punished by arresto menor or a fine not exceeding 200 
pesos, and in case of recidivism, by arresto mayor in its medium period to 
prision coweccional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from 200 to 
2,000 pesos, or both, in the discretion of the court. 
SEC. 2. Effect on Pending Cases. All pending cases under the provisions of 
Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code prior to its amendment by this Act 
shall be dismissed upon effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 3. Immediate Release of Convicted Persons. All persons serving 
sentence for violation of the provisions of Article 202 of the Revised 
Penal Code prior to its amendment by this Act shall be immediately 
released upon effectivity of this Act, provided that they are not serving 
sentence or detained for any other offense or felony. 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations, and other issuances, or any parts thereof, 
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
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SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
it publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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