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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

House Bill No._ 4894

Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP, JOCELYN PUA TULFO, and
ROWENA NINA TADURAN

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

The spirit of Republic Act No, 10592, which revised the computation of the
good conduct time allowance for the persons deprived of liberty, is justice with mercy.
However, it should only benefit those who deserve it - those who have been reformed
and are ready to be reintegrated into the society without posing a threat.

Recently, its implementation has been under public scrutiny after the reported
release of nearly 2,000 heinous-crime convicts benefitting from the re-computation of
Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) provision. This threatened the security of the
general public and breached the trust of the Filipino people to the law itself and to
institutions involved.

This bill directs the Secretary of Justice to formulate an objective and
quantitative criteria for the evaluation and credit of GCTA to be used by the Director
of the Bureau of Corrections, the Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology, and/or the Warden of a provincial, district, municipal, or city jail ion
granting allowances for good conduct. More importantly, this bill provides that those
convicted of heinous crimes are not entitled to the benefits of this Act.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ro ERIC GO YAP
JOCEL 1A YULFO ROWENA NVIHIA TADURAl



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
1 Regular Session
4894
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP, JOCELYN PUA TULFO, and
ROWENA NINA TADURAN

AN ACT
DEFINING GOOD CONDUCT AND PROVIDING CONDITIONS IN THE
GRANT OF GOOD CONDUCT TIME ALLOWANCE, FURTHER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 97 OF ACT NO. 3815,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “REVISED PENAL CODE,” AS AMENDED
BY REPUVLICT ACT NO. 10592

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Article 97 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the
“Revised Penal Code” is further amended to read as follows:

“ART.97. Allowance for food conduct. - GOOD CONDUCT
REFERS TO THE CONSPICIOUS AND SATISFACTORY
BEHAVIOR OF A DETENTION OR CONVICTED PRISONER
CONSISTING OF ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN REHABILITATION
PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE ADOPTION OF RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE AMONG OTHERS, PRODUCTIVE PARTICIPATION IN
AUTHORIZED WORK ACTIVITIES OR ACCOMPLISHMENT OF
EXAMPLARY DEEDS, OWNERSHIP OF THE CRIME AND
EARNEST EFFORTS TO SEEK FORGIVENESS FROM THE
VICTIMS AND THEIR’ FAMILIES, AND EXEMPLARY
COMPLIANCE WITH INSTITUTIONAL DISCIPLINARY RULES
AND REGULATIONS.”

“IN THE EVALUATION AND CREDIT OF GOOD CONDUCT
TIME ALLOWANCE, AN OBJECTIVE AND QUANTITATIVE
CRITERIA SHALL BE FORMULATED BY THE SECRETARY OF
JUSTICE WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM THE APPROVAL OF
THIS ACT. THE CRITERIA SHALL BE USED BY THE DIRECTOR OF


THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS, THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF
JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY AND/OR THE WARDEN
OF A PROVINCIAL, DISTRICT, MUNICIPAL OR CITY JAIL IN
GRANTING ALLOWANCES FOR GOOD CONDUCT.”

“The good conduct of any offender qualified for credit for
preventive imprisonment pursuant to Article 29 of this Code, or of any
convicted prisoner in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention
center or any other 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 twenty days for each month of good behavior
during detention;

“2. During the third to the fifth year, of his imprisonment, he
shall be allowed a deduction of 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 twenty-five days
for each month of good behavior during detention;

“4, During the eleventh and successive years of his
imprisonment, he shall be allowed a deduction of thirty days for each
month of good behavior during detention; and

“5. Atany 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 services time
rendered.

“An appeal by the accused shall not deprive him of entitlement to
the above allowances for good conduct.”

SEC. 2. PERSONS CONVICTED OF HEINOUS CRIMES AS
DEFINED IN REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7659, AS AMENDED, KNOWN AS THE
DEATH PENALTY LAW, ARE NOT ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF
THIS ACT.

SEC. 3. The Secretary of Justice shall, within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this Act, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Act.


SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,