FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
7 JLIL -4 
4837 
First Regular Session 
1 
S.B. No. 
SENAT#:! 5 
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Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to compensate a person wrongfully convicted of a crime in order 
to indemnify him or her for the loss, injury and damage brought about by such 
wrongful conviction. 
We must concede that no justice system is perfect. We have witnessed certain 
cases when the Supreme Court, upon review, reversed the decisions of the lower courts 
and decided to acquit the convict. The Supreme Court’s reversal of the ruling of the 
lower court consequently means that a person not otherwise guilty of the crime for 
which he or she was charged, had been incarcerated for a crime he or she did not 
commit. 
Under this proposed measure, a person wrongfully convicted of a crime, after 
being qualified as such as determined by the appropriate court, shall be entitled to the 
payment of compensation in an amount not exceeding twice the amount of the 
claimant’s income in the year prior to his incarceration or to one hundred thousand 
pesos for each year of incarceration, whichever is greater. 
As the State is the guardian of the rights of the people, it is incumbent upon the 
State to protect the rights of persons wrongfully convicted of a crime. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
requested. 
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
-7 
a - 4  nf3:37 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 925 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING COMPENSATION FOR PERSONS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF 
A CRIME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any person 
convicted and subsequently imprisoned for one or more crimes which he did not 
commit may, under the conditions hereinafter provided, bring an action for damages 
before any court of competent jurisdiction. 
Sec. 2. The person, hereinafter referred to as the ”claimant”, shall establish the 
following by clear and convincing evidence that: 
(1) 
He was convicted of a crime and subsequently sentenced to a term of 
imprisonment, and has served all or any part of his sentence; 
He did not commit the crime for which he was convicted; and 
(2) 
(3) 
he did not by his own conduct cause or bring about his conviction. 
Sec. 3. The action initiated by a verified petition containing statement of the facts 
concerning the claim for damages, shall be brought by the claimant within a period of 
two years after his release ftom imprisonment. 
Sec. 4. (1) 
Damages awarded pursuant to this section shall not exceed twice 
the amount of the claimant’s income in the year prior to his incarnation or one hundred 
thousand pesos for each year of incarceration, whichever is greater. 
(2) 
In addition to the damages awarded pursuant to subdivision (1) of 
this subsection, the claimant shall be entitle to receive reasonable 
attorney fees. 


Sec. 5. (1) 
A person serving a term of imprisonment for a crime other than a 
crime for which he was mistakenly convicted shall not be eligible to file a claim for 
damages pursuant to the provisions of this section. 
(2) 
A person shall not be eligible to file a claim for damages pursuant 
to the provisions of this section if the sentence for the crime of 
which the person was mistakenly convicted was served 
concurrently with the sentence for the conviction of another crime. 
Sec. 6. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of 
Justice, in coordination with the appropriate office, department or agency of the 
Supreme Court and the Department of Finance, shall promulgate 'the necessary rules 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
Sec. 7 -The provisions of this Act shall have retroactive effect, 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause.- 
All republic acts, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Republic Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause.- If for any reason or reasons, any part or provision 
of this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid other parts or 
provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,