EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E
S.B. No. 
1004
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SEP-3  
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RQC
Introduced by Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE PRISON FACILITY FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF
HEINOUS CRIMES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The recent controversy on the possible release from prison of former Mayor 
Antonio Sanchez by virtue of the Good Conduct Time Allowance Law has opened our eyes 
on the vulnerability and the corrupt practices in our prison facilities and penitentiary 
system. The well-off prisoners and leaders of syndicates continue to live a luxurious life 
within the confines of our prison system. Worse, others continue their nefarious and 
illegal activities such as drug dealing inside the prison cell, in cahoots with prison 
personnel. It perpetuates the belief that there are two faces of justice in the country, 
justice for the poor and justice for the rich.
It is our submission that heinous crimes convicts and high-level offenders shall be 
kept in prison facilities with maximum security and located in an isolated or uninhabited 
location or in island to prevent them from escaping and have unwarranted contact with 
the civilian population outside of the prison facility, and become threat to society. This 
shall also cause possible perpetrators of heinous crimes to think twice before committing 
such heinous crime, as life in the heinous crime penitentiary could be worse than death. 
This will also prevent the heinous crimes convicts to "infect" or spread their heinous crime 
mentality to other prisoners convicted of lower offenses.
The establishment of the Heinous Crimes Penitentiary will solve this prevailing 
situation in our prison facilities and serve justice to all the victims of heinous crimes.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
s.B. No. 1004
‘in*':
•19 SEP-3 PI ;00
Introduced by Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubin
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE PRISON FACILITY FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF
HEINOUS CRIMES
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in Congress
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assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as "Heinous Crimes Penitentiary Act 
o f 2019."
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  Section 4 Article II of the Constitution provides that "[t]he 
prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people." Furthermore, Section 
5 of the same Article provides that"[t]he maintenance of peace and order, the protection 
of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for 
the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy." Consistent with these 
provisions in the Constitution is to protect the general public from possible harm from 
criminals convicted of heinous crimes by establishing a separate and isolated prison 
facility for them to prevent them from escaping and conducting their illegal and criminal 
activities.
SEC. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act, the following terms are defined as 
follows:
a. ) Heinous Crimes -  are crimes which are described as very evil, wicked, hateful,
odious, abominable and totally reprehensible. These are crimes such as murder, 
rape, robbery with violence or intimidation, kidnapping with serious illegal 
detention, parricide, destructive arson and other heinous crimes as defined under 
Republic Act No. 7659, and/or crimes which are punishable with capital 
punishment, and violations of Republic Act No. 9165 or the "Comprehensive 
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002";
b. ) Heinous Crimes Convicts -  are persons convicted of heinous crimes or are those
considered as high-risk prisoners;
c. ) Heinous Crimes Penitentiary -  is a special prison facility of the Bureau of
Corrections for heinous crimes convicts, which shall be situated in an isolated or 
uninhabited area, preferably in an island, which shall have maximum security to 
prevent the prisoners from escaping or have unwarranted contact with the civilian 
population;


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SEC. 4. Establishment o f the Heinous Crimes Penitentiary. -  There shall be established
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a Heinous Crimes Penitentiary or prison facility under the Bureau of Corrections. It shall
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be built in an isolated or uninhabited area or in an island to be determined by the
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Secretary of Justice. 
The Heinous Crimes Penitentiary shall be gated, shall have
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maximum security, manned with sufficient prison guards and personnel of the Bureau of
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Corrections and preferably, the prisoners are in solitary confinement. Heinous Crimes
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Penitentiary may be established in several areas or regions of the country.
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SEC 5. Coverage. -  This Act shall apply to all heinous crimes convicts and high-risk
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prisoners imprisoned at the prison facilities of the Bureau of Corrections.
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SEC. 6. Transfer o f Heinous Crimes Convicts. -  Within one (1) year from the
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establishment of the Heinous Crimes Penitentiary, all heinous crimes convicts and high-
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risk prisoners currently serving their prison terms in the National Bilibid Prison or any
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prison facility of the Bureau of Corrections shall be transferred to the Heinous Crimes
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Penitentiary.
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SEC. 7. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall
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be taken from the current budget of the Department of Justice. Thereafter, such amounts
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as may be necessary to implement this act shall be included in the annual General
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Appropriations Act.
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SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Secretary of Justice shall promulgate
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the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days upon its
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effectivity.
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SEC. 9. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected shall remain in
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force and in effect.
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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions
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thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed,
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amended or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 11. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
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circulation.
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Approved,