NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 2940
25 JAN 22 P 2 -58
o
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLES 29, 97, 99, 171, AND 174, AND CREATING A NEW 
ARTICLE 99-A UNDER ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS "THE REVISED PENAL CODE"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 10592, or the Good Conduct Time Aliowance (GCTA) Law, 
amended key provisions of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, 
specifically Articles 29 (Period of preventive imprisonment deducted from term of 
imprisonment) and 97 (Aiiowance for good conduct). This law introduced reforms 
ailowing detainees to earn and credit good conduct aiiowances even during preventive 
imprisonment and increased the aliowable deductions from the sentence of convicted 
persons. The primary purpose of this iaw was two-foid: first, to incentivize inmates 
who demonstrate good behavior while serving their sentence, and second, to promote 
rehabiiitation and reform for individuais wiliing to reintegrate into society.
To guide the implementation of the GCTA Law, the Department of Justice (DOJ) 
and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued the Uniform 
Manuai on Time Aiiowances and Service of Sentence. However, in practice, the law's 
broad discretion in determining what constitutes "good conduct" and how time 
aiiowances are operationalized has led to allegations of abuse. Reports have surfaced 
indicating that the law has been exploited to benefit undeserving individuals, including 
those convicted of heinous crimes.


There is a need to amend the guidelines governing the GCTA Law, resulting in 
a clearer prohibition against extending its benefits to convicts of heinous crimes. A list 
of offenses deemed heinous was also introduced. However, to fully institutionalize 
these exclusions and address remaining ambiguities, legislative action is necessary. 
This proposed measure seeks to safeguard the integrity of the GCTA Law by 
introducing the following key amendments:
1. Define Heinous Crimes: Clearly specify offenses that qualify as heinous 
crimes to ensure consistent application of exclusions under the law.
2. Explicit Exclusions: Prohibit recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees, and 
persons convicted of heinous crimes from availing of the GCTA, including 
allowances for preventive imprisonment under Article 29.
3. Mandatory Notice and Publication: Require mandatory notice to private 
offended parties and public disclosure of prisoners who are eligible for release 
under the GCTA Law.
4. Revocability of GCTA: Remove the provision making GCTA irrevocable once 
granted, ensuring that allowances can be revoked if warranted.
5. Forfeiture of GCTA: Introduce a provision for the forfeiture of GCTA for 
violations of prison rules or the commission of any offense while serving a 
sentence.
6. Increase Penalties for Fraud: Impose stiffer penalties for the issuance of 
false certifications of good conduct to deter abuse of the law.
While this measure recognizes the importance of rehabilitation and reform for 
convicted individuals, it also underscores the necessity of safeguarding the law from 
misuse. By ensuring that the GCTA benefits only those who genuinely deserve it, we 
can preserve the integrity of its rehabilitative intent while deterring its exploitation by 
individuals convicted of heinous crimes or those unworthy of the law's benefits.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
^alficGbY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. ^940
ot ii..’
^3 IAN 22 P2 59
\\\-£:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLES 29, 97, 99, 171, AND 174, AND CREATING A NEW 
ARTICLE 99-A UNDER ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS "THE REVISED PENAL CODE"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Article 29 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal
2 
Code", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
3 
"Art. 29. Period of preventive imprisonment deducted from
4 
term of imprisonment - x x x
5 
"x X X.
6 
"Whenever an accused has undergone preventive
7 
imprisonment for a period equal to or more the possible
8 
maximum imprisonment of the offense charged to which he
9 
may be sentenced and his case is not yet terminated, he shall
10 
be released immediately without prejudice to the continuation
11 
of the trial thereof or the proceeding on appeal, if the same is
12 
under review. COMPUTATION OF PREVENTIVE
13 
IMPRISONMENT FOR PURPOSES OF IMMEDIATE
14 
RELEASE UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE THE
15 
ACTUAL PERIOD OF DETENTION WITH GOOD
16 
CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCE: PROVIDED, HOWEVER,


1 
THAT IF THE ACCUSED IS ABSENT WITHOUT
2 
JUSTIFIABLE CAUSE AT ANY STAGE OF THE TRIAL, THE
3 
COURT MAY MOTU PROPRIO ORDER THE REARREST
4 
OF THE ACCUSED: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT
5 
RECIDIVISTS, HABITUAL DELINQUENTS, ESCAPEES
6 
AND PERSONS CHARGED WITH HEINOUS CRIMES ARE
7 
EXCLUDED FROM THE COVERAGE OF THIS ACT. In case
8 
the maximum penalty to which the accused may be sentenced
9 
is destierro, he shall be released after thirty (30) days of
10 
preventive imprisonment. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT,
11 
CRIMES ARE DEEMED HEINOUS FOR BEING
12 
GRIEVOUS, ODIOUS, AND HATEFUL OFFENSES, AND
13 
WHICH, BY REASON OF THEIR INHERENT OR
14 
MANIFEST WICKEDNESS, VICIOUSNESS, ATROCITY,
15 
AND PERVERSITY ARE REPUGNANT AND
16 
OUTRAGEOUS TO THE COMMON STANDARDS AND
17 
NORMS OF DECENCY AND MORALITY IN A JUST,
18 
CIVILIZED, AND ORDERED SOCIETY. "HEINOUS
19 
CRIMES" SHALL INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
20 
TREASON, PIRACY, QUALIFIED PIRACY, QUALIFIED
21 
BRIBERY, PARRICIDE, MURDER, INFANTICIDE,
22 
KIDNAPPING AND SERIOUS ILLEGAL DETENTION,
23 
ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST OR
24 
INTIMIDATION OF PERSONS, DESTRUCTIVE ARSON,
25 
RAPE, PLUNDER, CARNAPPING AND VIOLATIONS OF
26 
THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT AS PROVIDED UNDER
27 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7659."
28 
Sec. 2. Article 97 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby further amended to
29 
read as follows:
30 
"Art. 97. Allowance for Good Conduct. - The good
31 
conduct of any [prisonor] OFFENDER QUALIFIED FOR
32 
CREDIT FOR PREVENTIVE IMPRISONMENT


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
PURSUANT ARTICLE 29 OF THIS CODE, OR OF ANY 
CONVICTED in any penal institution, REHABILITATION 
OR DETENTION CENTER OR ANY OTHER LOCAL JAIL
shall entitle him to the following deductions from the period 
of his sentence:
"1. During the first two years of imprisonment, he shall 
be allowed a deduction of [five] TWENTY days for each 
month of good behavior DURING DETENTION;
"2. During the third to the fifth year, inclusive, of his 
imprisonment, he shall be allowed a [deduction] 
REDUCTION of [ei§bt] TWENTY THREE days for each 
month of good behavior DURING DETENTION;
"3. During the following years until the tenth year, 
inclusive, of his imprisonment, he shall be allowed a deduction 
of [tee] TWENTY-FIVE days for each month of good 
behavior DURING DETENTION; and
"4. During the eleventh and successive years of his 
imprisonment, he shall be allowed a deduction of [fiftcon] 
THIRTY days for each month of good behaviour DURING 
DETENTION [t];
"5. AT ANY TIME DURING THE PERIOD OF 
IMPRISONMENT, HE SHALL BE ALLOWED ANOTHER 
DEDUCTION OF FIFTEEN DAYS, IN ADDITION TO 
NUMBERS ONE TO FOUR HEREOF, FOR EACH MONTH 
OF STUDY, TEACHING OR MENTORING SERVICE TIME 
RENDERED.
"AN APPEAL BY THE ACCUSED SHALL NOT 
DEPRIVE HIM OF ENTITLEMENT TO THE ABOVE 
ALLOWANCES FOR GOOD CONDUCT: PROVIDED, 
HOWEVER, THAT RECIDIVISTS, HABITUAL 
DELINQUENTS, ESCAPEES, AND PERSONS


1 
CONVICTED OF HEINOUS CRIMES ARE EXCLUDED
2 
FROM THE COVERAGE OF THIS ACT.
3 
"THE PRISON AUTHORITIES SHALL PUBLISH
4 
THE LIST OF NAMES OF PRISONERS BEING
5 
CONSIDERED TO BE RELEASED BY VIRTUE OF ANY OF
6 
THE GOOD CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCES GRANTED
7 
UNDER ARTICLES 29, 97, AND 98 OF THIS CODE. ANY
8 
INTERESTED PARTY MAY SUBMIT WRITTEN
9 
OBJECTIONS, COMMENTS, OR INFORMATION
10 
RELEVANT TO THE CASE/S OF THE PRISONER/S NOT
11 
LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF
12 
PUBLICATION. "THE PRISON AUTHORITIES SHALL
13 
ALSO, IF APPLICABLE, NOTIFY THE PRIVATE
14 
OFFENDED PARTY OR IF THE LATTER IS UNAVAILABLE
15 
OR OTHERWISE CANNOT BE LOCATED, THEIR
16 
IMMEDIATE RELATIVES, AND GIVE THEM THIRTY (30)
17 
DAYS TO COMMENT FROM THE RECEIPT OF NOTICE."
18 
Sec. 3. Article 99 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby further amended to
19 
read as follows:
20 
"Art. 99. Who Grants Time Allowances. - Whenever lawfully
21 
justified, the Director of [Prisons] THE BUREAU OF
22 
CORRECTIONS, THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF JAIL
23 
MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY AND/OR THE WARDEN
24 
OF A PROVINCIAL, DISTRICT, MUNICIPAL OR CITY
25 
JAIL shall grant allowances for good conduct. [Sueh
26 
allowances once granted shall not bo rovokodr]"
27 
Sec. 4. A new Article 99-A shall be inserted to read as follows:
28 
"ART. 99-A. FORFEITURE OF TIME ALLOWANCES. - IF
29 
DURING THE TIME OF DETENTION OR
30 
IMPRISONMENT, A PRISONER VIOLATES PRISON
31 
RULES OR COMMITS ANY OFFENSE, ALL OR ANY PART
32 
OF THE GOOD CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCE EARNED


1 
MAY BE FORFEITED, UPON APPROVAL OF THE
2 
DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS, THE
3 
CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND
4 
PENOLOGY AND/OR THE WARDEN OF A PROVINCIAL,
5 
DISTRICT, MUNICIPAL OR CITY JAIL, AS THE CASE
6 
MAY BE: PROVIDED, THAT THE FORFEITURE SHALL
7 
NOT BE IMPOSED IN EXCESS OF THE GOOD CONDUCT
8 
ALLOWANCE ACTUALLY EARNED AT THE TIME OF
9 
FORFEITURE."
10 
Sec. 5. Article 171 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby further amended to
11 
read as foiiows:
12 
"Art. 171. Falsification by public officer, employee or
13 
notary or ecclesiastic minister. - The penaity of prision mayor
14 
a fine not to exceed [P5,000.00] ONE MILLION PESOS
15 
(P1,000,000) shaii be imposed upon any pubiic officer,
16 
empioyee, or notary who, taking advantage of his offidai
17 
position, shaii falsify a document by committing any of the
18 
foliowing acts:
19 
"1. Counterfeiting or imitating any handwriting, signature
20 
or rubric;
21 
"2. Causing it to appear that persons have participated in
22 
any act or proceeding when they did not in fact so participate;
23 
"3. Attributing to persons who have participated in an act
24 
or proceeding statements other than those in fact made by
25 
them;
26 
"4. Making untruthfui statements in a narration of facts;
27 
"5. Aitering true dates;
28 
"6. Making any alteration or intercaiation in a genuine
29 
document which changes its meaning;
30 
"7. Issuing in an authenticated form a document
31 
purporting to be a copy of an originai document when no such
32 
original exists, or inciuding 
in such a copy a statement


1 
contrary to, or different from, that of the genuine original;
2 
[Of]
3 
"8. Intercalating any instrument or note relative to the
4 
issuance thereof in a protocol, registry, or official book OR
5 
"9. ISSUING A FALSE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT OF
6 
SERVICE, GOOD CONDUCT OR SIMILAR
7 
CIRCUMSTANCES.
8 
"The same penalty shall be imposed upon any
9 
ecclesiastical minister who shall commit any of the offenses
10 
enumerated in the preceding paragraphs of this article, with
11 
respect to any record or document of such character that its
12 
falsification may affect the civil status of persons."
13 
Sec. 6. Article 174 of Act No. 3815, as amended, is hereby further amended as
14 
follows:
15 
"Art. 174. False Medical Certificates [False Certificates
16 
of Merit or Services and the like]. - The penalties of arresto
17 
mayor in its maximum period to prision correccionai in its
18 
minimum period and a fine not to exceed [PlyOOO] TWO
19 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P200/000) shall be
20 
imposed upon
21 
any physician or surgeon who, in connection,
22 
with the practice of his profession, shall issue a false
23 
certificate [aed]
24 
"[2. Any public officcr-who shall issue a falso
25 
cortificatG of merit of scrvico-or good conduct or similar
26 
circumstance.]
27 
"The penalty of arresto mayor s\\a\\ be imposed upon
28 
any private person who shall falsify a certificate falling within
29 
the classes mentioned in the two-preceding subdivision."
30 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Justice shall
31 
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days
32 
from, effectivity of this Act.


33 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
34 
subsequentiy deciared invaiid or unconstitutionai, other provisions hereof which are
35 
not affected thereby shaii remain in fuii force and effect.
36 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
37 
orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
38 
which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby
39 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
40 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
41 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,