Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __ 
Introduced by Representatives JOCELYN P. TULFO, RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO, and 
EDVIC G. YAP 
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 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 332 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) currently exempts spouses, 
ascendants, descendants, and relatives by affinity in the same line from criminal liability 
for the crimes of theft, swindling (estafa), and malicious mischief when committed 
against one another. 
The existing exemption under Article 332 reflects an outdated paternalistic view 
of family relations that is no longer appropriate in contemporary Philippine society. While 
originally intended to preserve family harmony, this provision has instead become a tool 
for abuse, particularly in cases involving inheritance disputes, financial exploitation of 
elderly relatives, and fraudulent transactions between family members. The law 
currently prevents the prosecution of spouses, ascendants, descendants, and relatives 
by affinity in the same line for these specific property crimes, regardless of the severity 
or malicious intent involved. 
This amendment is necessary to address several critical issues. First, it will close 
a legal loophole that enables family members to commit economic crimes with impunity. 
Numerous cases have been documented where relatives have taken advantage of this 
exemption to defraud their own family members, particularly in situations involving 
vulnerable individuals such as senior citizens or minors. Second, the proposed change 
aligns with our constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law, as it removes 
an arbitrary exemption based solely on familial relationships. Third, it complements 
existing laws that protect against intra-family abuse, such as RA 9262 (Anti-Violence 
Against Women and Their Children Act), by addressing economic crimes that currently 
fall outside their scope. 
The removal of this exemption will have several important benefits. It will serve 
as a deterrent against intra-family financial abuse, provide proper legal recourse for 
July 31, 2025
3:24 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.____ 
Introduced by Representatives JOCELYN P. TULFO, RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO, and 
EDVIC G. YAP 
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.  
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Article 332 of Act No. 3815 or the Revised Penal Code is hereby removed: 
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Chapter Ten EXEMPTION FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY IN CRIMES AGAINST 
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PROPERTY Article 332. Persons exempt from criminal liability. No criminal, but 
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only civil liability, shall result from the commission of the crime of theft, swindling or 
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malicious mischief committed or caused mutually by the following persons: 
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1. Spouses, ascendants and descendants, or relatives by affinity in the same
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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 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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SECTION 2. Separability Clause 
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If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is held invalid, all other provisions not 
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affected thereby shall remain valid. 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause 
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All laws, decrees, issuances, rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions 
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of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause 
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This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in at least 
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two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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