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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES RtccivieD &
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
‘Quezon City I
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bil No. 9463

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The involvement of certain members of law enforcement agencies in criminal activities has
greatly diminished our faith and confidence to these people in government. Almost every day
wwe hear, read, or see in media the involvement of some of our law enforcers in petty crimes

to alleged attempt to cover-up heinous crimes.

‘There seems now a need to address the growing fear and distrust among our people to some
of these "villains" in uniform by treating those persons in authority, who cause or order the

destruction or concealment of evidence to a crime, as accomplices to the crime.
This proposed measure seeks to amend Article 19 of the Revised Penal Code by prescribing a
higher penalty for persons in authority as accessories who directly cause or order the

destruction or concealment of vital evidence for heinous crimes.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

SEI Rage
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5463

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING A HIGHER PENALTY FOR PERSONS IN AUTHORITY AS
ACCESSORIES, WHO DIRECTLY CAUSE OR ORDER THE DESTRUCTION OR
CONCEALMENT OF VITAL EVIDENCE FOR HEINOUS CRIMES, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 19 OF THE REVISED PENAL CODE

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

SECTION 1. Article 19 of the Penal Code is hereby amended by adding another

paragraph:

“Article 19. Accessories. - Accessories are those who, having knowledge of the
commission of the crime, and without having participated therein, either as principals
‘or accomplices, take part subsequent to its commission in any of the following

manners:

1. By profiting themselves or assisting the offender to profit by the effects of
the crime.

2. By concealing or destroying the body of the crime, or the effects or
instruments thereof, in order to prevent its discovery.

3. By harboring, concealing, or assisting in the escape of the principals of the
crime, provided the accessory acts with abuse of his public functions or
whenever the author of the crime is guilty of treason, parricide, murder, or
an attempt to take the life of the Chief Executive, or is known to be
habitually guilty of some other crime.


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WHERE THE OFFENSE IS A HEINOUS CRIME UNDER EXISTING
LAWS AND IS COMMITTED BY PERSONS IN AUTHORITY, THEY SHALL
SUFFER THE PENALTY ONE DEGREE HIGHER THAN THAT
PRESCRIBED BY LAW FOR THE CONSUMMATED FELONY.”

SEC. 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain

valid and subsisting
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly

SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afier its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,