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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1280

Introduced by Rep. Pablo P. Garcia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend Article 152 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the
Revised Penal Code, by including security guards of duly accredited security agencies
while on official duty in the term “Agents of Persons in Authority’.

Security guards are tasked with the duty of protecting and securing the life and
property not only of their employers, but also, of all persons who may happen to be in
their area of responsibility. In a real sense, their duty is similar to that of a policeman or
a close-in bodyguard of high-ranking public officials. The role of a security guard is so
important that one can almost be certain of his presence in all vital installations or
property, be it public or private. In fact, during the spate of bank and van robberies that
hit Metro Manila recently, security guards were invariably the primary targets of the
robbers.

And since under Article 152 of the Revised Penal Code, an agent of persons in
authority is defined as “one who is charged with the maintenance of public order, and
the protection and security of life and property’, it is therefore proper, if not imperative,
to include security guards on official duty among the “Agents of Persons in Authority’.

In view of the foregoing considerations approval of this bill is earnestly urged.



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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

No.__1280

House

Introduced by Rep. Pablo P. Garcia

AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLE 152 OF ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
REVISED PENAL CODE, BY INCLUDING SECURITY GUARDS OF DULY
ACCREDITED SECURITY AGENCIES WHILE ON OFFICIAL DUTY AS AGENTS OF
PERSONS IN AUTHORITY

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

SECTION 1. Article 152 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal
Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Art. 152. Persons in authority and agents of persons in authority — who
shall be deemed as such — In applying the provision of the preceding and other
articles of this Code, any person directly vested with jurisdiction, whether as an
individual or as a member of some court or government-owned or controlled
corporation, board, or commission, shall be deemed a person in authority.

Any person who, by direct provision of law or by election or by
appointment by competent authority, is charged with the maintenance of public
order and the protection and security of life and property, such as a barangay
councilman, barangay policemen, barangay leader, officers and members of the
Barangay Community Brigades, SECURITY GUARDS OF DULY ACCREDITED
SECURITY AGENCIES WHILE ON OFFICIAL DUTY, and any person who
comes to the aid of persons in authority, shall be deemed an agent of a person in
authority. A barangay chairman shall also be deemed a person in authority.

In applying the provisions of Articles 148 and 151 of this Code, teachers,
professors, and persons charged with schools, colleges and universities, shall be
deemed persons in authority.”

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval

Approved,