HaUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

RECEMWED

parr: 04 AUG 2:15
swe 2 OT

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

ons
HOUSE BILLNo._2597

Introduced by Rep. Winston “'

innie” Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘A.compeling article authored by Merlin M. Magallona entitled, “Options for Legislation” which
appeared in Policy Options, a journal published Integritas, Inc. in its November 2010 issue
prompted the draft of herein proposed measure.

In effect, the bill sees beyond Article 2 of the Revised Penal Code that defines the
application of the provisions of the Code as may have been now found to have been
overtaken by contemporary developments since Republic Act No. 3815 or ‘An Act Revising
the Penal Code and other Penal Laws" is signed into law since December 6, 1930.

Maybe, nothing by way of legislative action has yet been done that addresses possibly
fundamental limitation as it concerns extra-territorial criminal jurisdiction where it now
concerns an important sector of Philippine society whom the Philippine government has
tagged as ‘modern day heroes’ since they buoy up the national economy by their dollar
remittances.

This bill seeks to promote the best interests of Overseas Filipino Workers who now may
have become victims of various forms of criminal acts that may have been perpetuated by
their foreign-based employers or foreign nationals but which under our Revised Penal Code
may be punishable.

‘The author believes that the arrest of offenders in the persons of fogefGn nationals when they
are in Philippine territory is a great step for the Philippine cpfinal justice system ahd
communicates the government resolve to aid and help our OFWs who experience or eve
suffer a lot of indignities from foreign nationals as if with imput ‘on the part of the offendit
foreign national.

Itis in this light that his humble measure is seeking highest urgency.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 250’?

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

AN ACT
SPECIFYING ONE MORE EXCEPTION UNDER ARTICLE 2 OF THE REVISED PENAL
CODE ON EXTRA-TERRITORIAL CRIMINAL JURISDICTION THEREBY PROVIDING
ADDED PROTECTION TO OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Added Protection to Overseas Filipino
Workers Act of 2016.”

SEC. 2. In addition to five specified cases criminal jurisdiction extends beyond
Philippine territory under Article 2 of the Revised Penal Code, there shall be specified one
more exception on extra-territorial criminal jurisdiction, namely, that:

“In case a foreign national commits an act against an Overseas Filipino Worker in his
state of employment or anywhere else outside the Philippines, provided the act constitutes
an offense under the Revised Penal Code, the offender should be arrested when present in
Philippine territory and prosecuted under the Code” and provided further that:

“The legal process affecting the offender may reach into his/her assets which are
within Philippine territory.”

SEC. 3. All issuances, laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
not consistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,