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 Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
2nd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives EDVIC G. YAP, JOCELYN P. TULFO, 
ERWIN T. TULFO and RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Among the declared principles of the State is maintaining peace and order and 
protecting its people’s life, liberty, and property. Despite this mandate, the country 
still suffered a remarkable number of 26,044 criminal cases from January to 
September 2023, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).  The PNP further 
reported that the crimes of theft, rape, and physical injury topped the most prevalent 
crimes in the country for two consecutive years, for 2022 and 2023 respectively, with 
theft having the highest number of incidents among the three—at an increasing rate 
across the years.  
Considering the progressive initiatives in the criminal justice system towards the 
deterrence of crimes, especially in policy-making, it is imperative for us to impose 
stiffer penalties related to theft, and all other crimes against property, to encourage 
the deterrence of these crimes against property.  
It is in this pursuit that this proposed measure seeks to amend certain provisions of 
the Revised Penal Code, particularly the removal of Article 332 of the Code, which 
expressly provides for the exemption from criminal liability in the crimes of theft, 
swindling, and malicious mischief of the following persons, namely: (1) spouses, 
ascendants, and descendants, or relatives by affinity in the same line, (2) the 
widowed spouse with respect to the property which belonged to the deceased 
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spouse before the same shall have passed into the possession of another; and (3) 
brothers and sisters and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, if living together.  
The crimes of theft, swindling, and malicious mischief are morally reprehensible acts 
that should not be justified by mere familial relations between the victims and the 
perpetrators. After all, some of the notable crimes committed against a loved one or 
relative, as defined in the Revised Penal Code, are even considered aggravating 
circumstances in the graduation of penalties. Hence, it is high time to persecute 
unscrupulous individuals who are hiding behind the cloak of familial relations in 
order to evade criminal liability. Once the said provision of law is removed, only 
then that the deterrence of crimes will be fully appreciated and incorporated in penal 
laws such as the proposed measure at hand. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this proposed measure is 
earnestly sought. 
HON. EDVIC G. YAP 
HON. JOCELYN P. TULFO 
HON. ERWIN T. TULFO 
HON. RALPH WENDEL P.  TULFO 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
2nd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives EDVIC G. YAP, JOCELYN P. TULFO, 
ERWIN T. TULFO and RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO 
AN ACT 
REMOVING THE EXEMPTION FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY OF RELATIVES 
FOR CRIMES OF THEFT, SWINDLING, AND MALICIOUS MISCHIEF, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 332 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. Article 332 of Act No. 3815 or the Revised Penal Code, is hereby 
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removed: 
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"Chapter Ten 
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EXEMPTION FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY IN CRIMES AGAINST 
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PROPERTY 
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Article-332. Persons exempt from criminal liability. - No criminal, but only 
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civil liability, shall result from the commission of the crime of theft, swindling 
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or malicious mischief committed or caused-mutually by the following 
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persons: 
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1. Spouses, ascendants and descendants, or relatives by affinity in some line.
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2. The widowed spouse with respect to the property which belonged to the
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deceased spouse before the same shall have passed into the possession of
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another; and
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3. Brothers and sisters and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, if living
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together
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The exemption established by this article shall not be applicable to-strangers 
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participating in the commission of the crime." 
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           SEC. 2. Separability Clause. - If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is 
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held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid. 
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           SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, issuances, rules and regulations 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
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accordingly. 
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           SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
 
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