Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No.__ 748

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure seeks to define and penalize the act of staging one’s own kidnapping—
commonly referred to as “kidnap-me" schemes—as a distinct and specific crime under the
Revised Penal Code.

Over the past several years, law enforcement agencies have observed the alarming rise of
cases where individuals falsely claim to have been kidnapped, or deliberately orchestrate their
own abduction, with the intent to extort ransom or exert emotional and financial pressure on
their families or other persons. These staged incidents waste valuable government resources
and undermine the credibility of genuine criminal investigations.

At present, our legal system does not expressly classify staged kidnappings as a separate
offense. When such schemes are uncovered, those responsible are typically charged under
general provisions of the Revised Penal Code, such as:

+ Article 318 (Other Deceits), which imposes the penalty of arresto mayor
(imprisonment of one month and one day to six months) and a fine not less than the
amount defrauded and not more than twice such amount; or

+ Article 287 (Other Coercions or Unjust Vexation), which is punishable by arresto
menor (imprisonment of one day to 30 days) or a fine ranging from 1,000.00 to
40,000.00, or both.

These penalties are clearly inadequate given the serious consequences of staged
kidnappings—not only to the families emotionally manipulated and financially defrauded, but
to the State whose law enforcement agencies are diverted from responding to legitimate
emergencies and criminal activities.

This bill proposes to penalize any person who deliberately fakes or arranges his or her own
kidnapping or detention, with the intent of obtaining ransom or compelling others to act against
their will, with the penalty of prisién correccional (six months and one day to six years) and a
fine ranging from 100,000.00 to 1,200,000.00.

Originally introduced in the previous Congress by Hon. Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo of the Lone
District of Camiguin, this bill addresses a clear gap in our penal laws. It affirms the State's duty
to protect the integrity of public safety efforts and to hold accountable those who exploit
legitimate fears of kidnapping for personal gain.

This bill is therefore submitted for the favorable consideratiqy6f this August Chamber.

JUR BSUS M. ROMUALDO


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _748

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF STAGED KIDNAPPING AND
DETENTION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE

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

assembled:

SECTION 1. Article 267 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised
Penal Code, is hereby renumbered as Article 267-A and a new Article 267-B is hereby inserted

after Article 267-A to read, as follows:

ART. 267-B. STAGED KIDNAPPING AND DETENTION. - THE PENALTY OF
PRISON CORRECCIONAL AND A FINE OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
PESOS (P100,000.00) TO ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS
(P1,200,000.00) SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON ANY PERSON WHO STAGES HIS
OR HER OWN KIDNAPPING OR DETENTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF
EXTORTING RANSOM FROM ANOTHER OR COERCING ANOTHER TO DO
SOMETHING AGAINST HIS OR HER WILL.

SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts
thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or

modified accordingly.


SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,