NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article III, section 1 of the Constitution states that no person shall be deprived of life, 
liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal 
protection of the laws.  Further, section 14 (1) provides that no person shall be held to answer 
for a criminal offense without due process of law.  
However, there are numerous cases when the Supreme Court, upon review, reversed 
the decisions of the lower courts and decided to acquit the convict. The Supreme Court’s 
reversal of the ruling of the lower court consequently means that a person not otherwise guilty 
of the crime for which he or she was charged, had been incarcerated for a crime he or she did 
not commit. 
This bill seeks to compensate a person wrongfully convicted of a crime in order to 
indemnify him or her for the loss, injury and damage brought about by such wrongful 
conviction.  Under this bill, a person wrongfully convicted of a crime, after being qualified as 
such as determined by the appropriate court, shall be entitled to the payment of compensation 
in an amount not exceeding twice the amount of the claimant’s income in the year prior to his 
incarceration or to one hundred thousand pesos for each year of incarceration, whichever is 
greater. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
January 11, 2023
6:18 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING COMPENSATION FOR PERSONS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF A CRIME 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any person convicted and 
subsequently imprisoned for one or more crimes which he did not commit may, under the 
conditions hereinafter provided, bring an action for damages before any court of competent 
jurisdiction. 
SEC. 2. The person, hereinafter referred to as the “claimant”, shall establish the following by 
clear and convincing evidence that: 
(1) He was convicted of a crime and subsequently sentenced to a term of
imprisonment, and has served all or any part of his sentence;
(2) He did not commit the crime for which he was convicted; and
(3) He did not by his own conduct cause or bring about his conviction.
SEC. 3. The action initiated by a verified petition containing statement of the facts concerning 
the claim for damages, shall be brought by the claimant within a period of two years after his 
release from imprisonment. 
SEC. 4. (1) Damages awarded pursuant to this section shall not exceed twice the amount of 
the claimant’s income in the year prior to his incarnation or one hundred thousand pesos for 
each year of incarceration, whichever is greater. 
(2) In addition to the damages awarded pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection,
the claimant shall be entitled to receive reasonable attorney fees. 
SEC. 5. (1) A person serving a term of imprisonment for a crime other than a crime for which 
he was mistakenly convicted shall not be eligible to file a claim for damages pursuant to the 
provisions of this section. 
(2) A person shall not be eligible to file a claim for damages pursuant to the provisions
of this section if the sentence for the crime of which the person was mistakenly convicted was 
served concurrently with the sentence for the conviction of another crime. 
SEC. 6. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Justice, in 
coordination with the appropriate office, department or agency of the Supreme Court and the 
Department of Finance, shall promulgate 'the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause.- All republic acts, executive orders, rules and regulations, and 
other issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Republic Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 8. Separability Clause.- If for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act 
shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid other parts or provisions hereof, 
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,