r 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 2016 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is the policy of the State in the line with the principle that a public office is a 
public trust, that the Public Officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the 
people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence 
and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest 
over personal interest. 
. 
As reported, about 148 murderers and robbers remain at large after escaping from 
jail. The failure to recapture these escaped prisoners poses serious threats to the public and 
bolsters demands for the improvement of the country's penology system. Certainly, our 
Public Officials and employees fail to exercise utmost devotion and dedication to their 
duties, and worst, for personal interest or for consideration, thus, giving a general 
perception that they are fountain and source of undue patronage. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to increase the penalties on our Public Officials and 
employees in charge of custody of prisoners for their negligence, connivance with or 
consent to jail escape. 
Approval of this bill is strongly urged. 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 2016 
, i'" 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
• 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING STRICTER PENALTIES ON THE CRIME OF DELIVERING 
PRISONERS FROM JAIL AND INFIDELITY IN THE CUSTODY OF 
PRISONERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 156, 223 AND 224 
OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
REVISED PENAL CODE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Article 156, Chapter 5, Title 3, Book Two of Republic Act 3815, as 
2 
amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby amended to read as 
3 
follows: 
4 
"ART. 156. Delivering prisoners from jail. - The penalty of 
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[arresto mayor) PRISION MAYOR in its MEDIUM AND maximum 
6 
periods [to prision correctional in its minimum period] OR THE 
7 
PENALTY NEXT LOWER IN DEGREE THAN THAT IMPOSED 
8 
ON THE PRISONER IN ITS MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM PERIODS 
9 
shall be imposed upon any person who shall remove from any j ail or penal 
10 
establishment any person confined therein or shall help the escape of such 
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person, by means of violence, intimidation or bribery, WHICHEVER IS 
12 
HIGHER. If other means are used, the penalty of [arresto) PRISION 
13 
mayor IN ITS MINIMUM AND MEDIUM PERIODS OR TWO 
14 
DEGREES LOWER THAN THAT IMPOSED TO THE PRISONER 
15 
IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD shall be imposed [.]WHICHEVER IS 
16 
HIGHER. 
17 
If the escape of the prisoner shall take place outside of said 
• 
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establishments by taking the guards by surprise, the same penalties 
19 
PRESCRIBED 
IN 
THE 
IMMEDIATELY 
PRECEDING 
20 
PARAGRAPH shall be imposed in their minimum periods." 
21 
1 


I 
SEC. 2. Article 223, Section One, Chapter Five, Title Seven, Book Two of 
2 
Republic Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revise Penal Code, is 
3 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
4 
"ART. 223. Conniving with or consenting to evasion. - Any public 
5 
officer who shall consent to the escape of a CONVICT OR 
6 
DETENTION prisoner in his custody or charge, OR WHO SHALL 
7 
RELEASE SUCH CONVICT OR DETENTION PRISONER AND 
8 
ALLOW HIM TO RETURN TO PRISON OR DETENTION 
9 
WITHOUT 
ANY 
PROPER 
COURT 
ORDER 
OR 
10 
AUTFIORIZATION shall be punished: 
11 
(1) By prision [correccional] MAYOR in its medium and 
12 
maximnm periods OR THE PENALTY NEXT 
13 
LOWER IN DEGREE THAN THAT IMPOSED 
14 
ON THE PRISONER, IN ITS MEDIUM AND 
15 
MAXIMUM 
PERIODS, 
WHICHEVER 
IS 
16 
HIGHER and [temporary special disqualification in 
17 
its 
maximum 
period 
to 
perpetual 
special] 
18 
PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE disqualification, if the 
19 
fugitive shall have been sentenced by final judgment to 
20 
any penalty. 
21 
(2) By prision [correctional] MAYOR in its mllllmum 
22 
period OR THE PENALTY EQUIVALENT TO 
23 
THAT PRESCRIBED TO AN ACCESSORY 
24 
BASED ON THE CRIME IMPUTED UPON THE 
25 
PRISONER, 
IN 
ITS 
MAXIMUM 
PERIOD, 
26 
WHICHEVER is HIGHER and [temporary special] 
27 
PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE disqualification, in case 
28 
the Jhgitive shall not have been finally convicted but 
29 
only held as a detention prisoner for any cnme or 
30 
violation of law or municipal ordinance." 
31 
32 
SEC. 3. Article 224, Section One, Chapter Five, 'Title Seven, Book Two of 
33 
Republic Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is 
34 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
35 
"ART. 224. Evasion through negligence. - If the evasion of the 
36 
CONVICT OR DETENTION prisoner shall have taken place through 
37 
the negligence of the officer charged with the conveyance or custody of 
38 
the escaping prisoner? said officer shall suffer the penalties of [arresto 
2 


• 
mayor it its maximum period to prision correctional in its minimum 
2 
period] 
PRISION CORRECCIONAL 
IN 
ITS 
MEDIUM AND 
3 
MAXIMUM PERIODS OR THE PENALTY EQUIVALENT TO 
4 
THAT PRESCRIBED TO AN ACCESSORY BASED ON THE 
5 
CRIME IMPUTED UPON THE CONVICT OR DETENTION 
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PRISONER IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD, WHICHEVER IS 
7 
HIGHER and temporary [special] ABSOLUTE disqualification. 
S 
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE PUBLIC 
9 
OFFICER CHARGED WITH THE CUSTODY OR CONVEYANCE 
10 
OF THE CONVICT OR DETENTION PRISONER IS PRIMA 
II 
FACIE PRESUMED TO HAVE CONSENTED OR CONNIVED TO 
12 
THE EVASION." 
13 
14 
SEC. 4. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, and rules and 
IS 
regulations, and part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are 
16 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
17 
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SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
19 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
20 
21 
Approved, 
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