Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __ 
_ 
Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE FACILITY FOR PRISONERS CONVICTED OF 
HEINOUS CRIMES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
One of the mandates of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in safekeeping 
of prisoners or inmates is to classify them into reasonable categories for 
rehabilitation, treatment and protection of society, especially high value 
offenders involved in illegal drugs and heinous crimes while serving their 
sentences. 
In line with such mandate and in view of repetitive record of instances 
probing the failure of the current treatment program and security measures of 
the BuCor in containing and preventing high level inmates, particular]y those 
convicted of illegal-drug related crimes, from continuing illegal activities such 
as possession, trading and trafficking of illegal drugs while under detention, this 
measures is hereby proposed to establish a separate facility for prisoners 
convicted of heinous crimes (as defined by Republic Act No. 7659). 
The bill aims to create the Heinous Crimes Facility for the custody and 
safekeeping of offenders convicted of heinous crimes under the operation of the 
Bureau of Prisons. 
The facility shall be built in a suitable location to be 
determined by the Secretary of Justice, preferably within a 
military 
establishment or in an island separate in the mainland. The facility shall be 
located in a secured and isolated place ensuring that there is no unwarranted 
contact or communication with those outside of the penal facilities. There shall 
be three (3) Heinous Crimes Facility for heinous crimes starting in Luzon, then 
in Visayas and in Mindanao. 
July 28, 2022
12:58 am
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The proposed measure will strengthen the country's fight against drug 
crimes and other heinous crimes. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
2 
GLORIAi:::.AGAL ARROYO 
2nd District, Pampanga 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
lfllfETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __ 
_ 
Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 
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Alf ACT 
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ESTABLISHilfG A SEPARATE FACILITY FOR PRISONERS CONVICTED OF 
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HEINOUS CRIMES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and Hause of Representatives of the 
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Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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Section I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Separate Facility for 
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Heinous Crimes Inmates Act'. 
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Poli.cg. -
It is the policy of the State to promote the 
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general welfare and safeguard the basic rights of every prisoner incarcerated in 
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the national penitentiary. Furthermore, the State adheres to the basic principle 
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that the different categories of prisoners shall be kept in separate institutions or 
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parts of institutions, taking account of their sex, age, criminal record, the legal 
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reason for their detention and the necessities of their treatment. 
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. -
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(a) 
High-level Offenders - shall refer to offenders convicted of 
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heinous crimes and are convicted of reclusion perpetual or life 
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imprisonment shall be considered as high-level offenders. Heinous crimes 
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are those crimes which are heinous for being grievous, odious, and hateful 
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offenses and which by reason of their inherent or manifest wickedness, 
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viciousness, atrocity, and perversity or repugnant and outrageous to the 
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common standards and norms of decency and morality in a just, civilized, 
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and orderly society. 
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(b) 
Inmates - shall refer to an inmate sentenced by a court to 
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serve a term of imprisonment for more than three (3) years or to a fine of 
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more than One thousand pesos (P 1,000); or regardless of the length of 
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sentence imposed by the court, to one (1) sentenced for violation of 
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customs law or other laws within the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Customs 
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or enforceable by it; or for violation of immigration and election laws; or to 
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one (1) sentenced to 2 serve two (2) or more prison sentences in the 
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aggregate 3 exceeding the period of three (3) years, whether or not he has 
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appealed. It shall also include a person committed to the Bureau of 
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Corrections (BuCor) by a court or competent authority for temporary 
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confinement for similar purpose. 
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(c) Secure and isolated place -
shall refer to a safe and remote place 
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that has minimal contact with civilian communities that would ensure the 
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safety and security of the former and prevent the facility from possible 
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intrusion or intruders. 
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(d) Heinous Crimes - shall refer to crimes defined under Republic 
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Act No. 7659, which are considered as heinous for being grievous, odious 
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and hateful offenses and which, by reason of their inherent or manifest 
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wickedness, viciousness, atrocity and perversity are repugnant and 
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outrageous to the common standards and norms of decency and morality 
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in a just, civilized and ordered society. Heinous crimes shall include the 
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following: treason; piracy in general and mutiny on the high seas in 
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Philippine waters; qualified piracy; qualified bribery; parricide; murder; 
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infanticide; kidnapping and serious illegal detention, robbery with violence 
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against or intimidation of persons; destructive arson; and rape. 
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Sec. 4. Creation of Heinous Crimes Facility. - There shall be established 
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and maintained a secure, clean, adequately equipped and sanitary national 
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penitentiary for the custody and safekeeping of offenders convicted of heinous 
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crimes under the operation of the Bureau of Prisons. 
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Sec. 5. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all high level heinous crimes 
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offenders kept at the prison facilities of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). 
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Sec. 6. Transfer of Heinous Crimes Offenders to the Heinous Crimes 
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Facilities. - The transfer of inmates shall be headed by the BuCor. The BuCor 
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may seek the assistance of the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
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(DILG), through the Philippine National Police (PNP), when the means of 
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transporting the inmates will be done through the use of an aircraft vessel. The 
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expenses in relation to the said transfer shall be charged against the budget of 
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the BuCor. During the transfer of inmates from the prison facilities of the BuCor 
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to the Heinous Crimes Facility, they shall be exposed to public view as little as 
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possible, and proper safeguards shall be adopted to protect them from insult, 
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curiousity and publicity in any form. Moreover, any inconvenience or 
unnecessary physical hardships on th inmates while they are being transferred 
shall be prohibited. Separate vehicles should be used for male and female 
prisoners: Provided, That women inmates and minors between fifteen (15) and 
seventeen ( 1 7) years of age shall be transferred and kept in a separate building 
inside the heinous crime facility. When the transfer has been fully executed, a 
report jointly prepared by the PNP and the BuCor shall be submitted to the 
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The 
transfer of inmates shall be made within a period of thirty (30) days from the 
completion of the construction of the Heinous Crimes Facility. 
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Sec. 7. Location of the Heinous Crimes Facility. -
The Heinous Crimes 
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Facility shall be built in a suitable location to be determined by the Secretary of 
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Justice, preferably within a military establishment or in an island separate in 
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the mainland. The Heinous Crime Facility shall be located in a secured and 
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isolated place ensuring that there is no unwarranted contact or communication 
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with those outside of the penal facilities. There shall be three (3) Heinous Crimes 
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Facility for heinous crimes starting in Luzon, then in Visayas and Mindanao. 
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Sec. 8. The Facility. -The Heinous Crimes Facility shall be a state-of-the-
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art facility with sUIVeillance cameras, latest information and security system 
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capable of 24/7 monitoring of prisoners, and with enhanced and extensive 
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security features on locks, doors, and its perimeters. The facility shall be 
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maintained clean and habitable at all times. Sanitary and hygienic comfort 
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rooms shall be provided and maintained. Due regard shall be given to the mental 
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health issues and needs of inmates. Prisoners shall have access to necessary 
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health care services without discrimination on the grounds of their legal status. 
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Sec. 9. Vzsitation. -
Family and immediate relatives are allowed to visit 
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the inmates, subject to further rules and regulations imposed. 
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Sec.10 Conduct of Inspection. - An internal inspection by the prison 
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administration, and an external inspection by the Department of Justice (DOJ), 
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shall be conducted on a regular basis to ensure that the facility is administered 
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in accordance with existing laws and regulations and to bring about the 
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attainment of the objectives of the penal system. 
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Sec. 11. Conduct of Random Drug Testing. -
There shall be conducted a 
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regular random drug testing among the inmates in the Heinous Crimes Facility. 
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The random drug testing shall be done by any forensic laboratories or by any of 
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the drug testing laboratories accredited and monitored by the Department of 
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Health (DOH) to safeguard the quality of test results. 
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Sec. 12. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Separate Facility for 
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Heinous Crimes Inmates Act. - There is hereby created a Joint Congressional 
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Oversight Committee composed of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on 
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Justice and Human Rights and the Chairman of the House Committee on 
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us ce, with four (4) members each from both Houses. The said members shall 
be duly appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives from the members of the respective committee based on the 
proportional representation of the parties or coalition therein. The Joint 
Oversight Committee shall review and monitor its proper implementation. 
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Sec. 13. Information Technology Systems. -
The BuCor shall make sure 
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that there will be an effective and efficient information technology systems to be 
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used in the build-up, maintenance and transmittal of necessary inmate records 
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to all the prison and penal farms of the BuCor and other authorized government 
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agencies. 
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Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The Secretary of 
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Justice shall promulgate the IRR of this Act within ninety (90) days upon its 
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effectivity. 
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Sec. 15. Reporlori.al Requirement. - The BuCor shall submit a biannual 
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report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
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Representatives starting from the commencement of the construction of the 
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heinous crimes facility until its completion. Prior to the completion of the 
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construction of the heinous crimes facility, the report shall include the progress 
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of the construction and the information on the application of the budget in 
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relation to the aforesaid construction. When the premises of the heinous crimes 
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facility has been completed and occupied and occupied by the high-level drug 
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offenders, the report on the status of the implementation of this Act shall be 
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submitted annually. 
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Sec. 16. Funding Source. -
The funds required for the implementation of 
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this Act shall be taken from the budget of the Department of Justice for the 
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current fiscal year. Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary to implement 
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this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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Sec. 17. Separability Clause. -
If any portion or provision of this Act is 
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declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected 
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thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
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Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
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portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are 
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hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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Sec. 19. E.ffectiuity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a 
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newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
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Approved, 
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