FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 2694 
'11 
FEB 14 
p J :1 5 
Introduced by: SEN. RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
I firmly uphold our State's policy for justice and reform with the end in 
view of the rehabilitated individual's eventual reintegration into society. Our 
justice system punishes criminals by imprisonnlcnt, the period of which is based 
on what the court feels is proportional to the crime committed. It is with this in 
mind that I have crafted this Bill which seeks t9 require Community Service in 
lieu of imprisonment for the penalty of Arresto Menor. 
Community Service would be more appropriate and ideal punishment for 
criminals who have committed what the State considers as a minor offense. Since 
the aim is for reintegration into society, nothing could be more apt than having the 
individual dinictly serve the community. This shall not only reform but also help 
to alleviate the criminal's conscience by letting,him feel he has rectified himself 
by giving back to the society he has wronged. 
'. 
This shall also help to minimize the already overcrowded prisons. At 
present, the New Bilibid Prison which only has the capacity for 8,700 prisoners is 
housing more than 21,000. I believe that we cim help lessen the burden of the 
prison system by making the punishment for Arresto Menor Community Service 
instead of housing them in a penal facility. 
Hence, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REVILLA, JR. 


Fll'TEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE. 
, 
S.B.No 2694 
• 
Introduced by Honorable Ramo~ Bong Revilla, Jr. 
" 
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COURT TO REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE IN 
LIEU OF IMPRISONMENT FOR THE PENALTY OF ARRESTO MENOR, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE CHAPTER FIVE, TITLE THREE, BOOK ONE OF 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. Chapter 5, Title 3, Book 1 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known 
as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby further amended to include an additional article to read as 
follows: 
"ART. 88-A. COMMUNITY SERVICE. - THE COURT MAY, IN LIEU OF 
SERVICJ~ IN JAIL, MOTU PROPRIO, REQUIRE THAT THE PENALTIES OF 
ARRESTO MENOR BE SERVED BY THE DEFENDANT BY RENDERING 
COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE PLACE WHERE THE CRIME WAS 
COMMITTED, UNDER SUCH TERMS AS THE COURT SHALL DETERMINE 
AND UNDER THE SURVEILLANCE OF THE BARANGAY CAPTAIN OF THE 
COMMUNITY 
OR 
A 
PROBATION, 
OFFICER. 
FURTHER, 
THE 
ABOVEMENTIONED 
DEFENDANT 
SHALL 
BE 
SUBJECTED 
TO 
REHABILITATIVE COUNSELING. 
"IN REQUIRING COMMUNITY SERVICE, THE COURT SHALL 
CONSIDER THE WELFARE OF THE SOCIETY AND THE REASONABLE 
PROBABll,ITY THAT THE PERSON SENTENCED SHALL REMAIN AT 
LIBERTY WITHOUT VIOLATING THE LAW . 
• 
"COMMUNITY SERVICE SHALL CONSIST OF ANY ACTUAL 
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WHICH INCULCATES CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS, 
AND IS INTENDED TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT OF A PUBLIC WORK 
OR PROMOTION OF A PUBLIC SERVICE. " 
• 
"SHOULD THE PERSON SENTENCED VIOLATE THE TERMS FOR 
RENDERING COMMUNITY SERVICE, THE COURT SHALL ORDER HIS RE-
ARREST AND THE PENALTY SHALL BE, SERVED IN JAIL. SHOULD THE 
PERSON SENTENCED COMPLY WITH ,THE TERMS FOR RENDERING 
COMMUNITY SERVICE, THE COURT SHALL RENDER AN ORDER THAT 
SENTENCE HAS BEEN .FULL Y SERVED. 
.: 
"THE PRIVILEGE OF RENDERING COMMUNITY SERVICE IN LIEU 
OF SERVICE IN JAIL SHALL BE AVAILED OF ONLY ONCE. II 
1 


" 
SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The Department of Justice and the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development shall issue the rules and regulations for the 
implementation of the provisions of this Act within nine,ty (90) days from its effectivity. 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause - Chapter 5, Title 3, Book 1 of the Revised Penal Code is 
hereby amended and any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of 
instruction, administrative order, rule on regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall', take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
" 
2