THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLJC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
s 
labe 
Introduced by Senator S. Fi. OsmeAa 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Piracy as a scourge of humankind has continued to this day and even became 
more rampant and more violent, continuing to justify its historic characterization as 
“hostis humanis generis”. 
In the Philippines, piracy has been an endemic national scourge almost 
endowed with a culturalh-eligious element. It dates back to as early as the 15th 
Century, where the seafaring forebears of our Muslim brothers in the South developed 
a natural instinct to consider any ship that sailed as irresistible challenge to their wits 
and skills, Kidnapping expeditions, such as those that happened in recent times in 
Sipadan and Dos Palmas, were conducted with ease throughout the archipelago, to a 
point where coastal communities had to construct stone watchtowers for early warning 
against the marauders. During the Spanish regime in the Philippines, the Sultanate of 
Mindanao used the pirates of Sulu, who later gained the title “the amphibian warriors 
of the Pacific”, as a legitimate part of their organized resistance against foreign rule 
but also served as the local version of “privateers” enriching the Sultan’s coffers. Such 
nefarious practice went well into the 20th Century until the closing of the slave market 
in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and for a time it seemed that it had ceased altogether. 
In a 
regional/international scale, the Philippine experience with piracy was related to 
depredations against the Galleon trade. 
Today, the Philippines is experiencing a resurgence of the menace of piracy in 
its waters and in the region, brought about by region-wide economic difficulties, 
political upheavals and even the increase in the volume of international trade. 
Geography is also a historical factor contributing to the proliferation of piracy incidents 
in the Philippines. The country’s archipelagic configuration and strategic location 
renders sea-borne foreign and inter-island trade inherently vulnerable. The long 
stretches of coastlines and the outlying uninhabited islands in the country conduce to 
these activities as they make a perfect hideaway for pirates, either as a base for their 
activities or to hide loot. The narrow passages and channels of the archipelago render 
targeted vessels more vulnerable as they are forced to reduce speed. 
On account of the pernicious effects of piiacy on shipping in general, the 
definition of the crime is sought to be expanded to include armed robbery against 
ships at sea or anchored in a port and attacks made by pirates on a community upon 
descending from sea. 
Approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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SERGIO R. OSMENA Ill 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. Fi. OsmeAa Ill 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE DEFIldITION OF PIRACY AND INCREASING THE PENALTY 
FOR QUALIFIED PIRACY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 122 OF 
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 Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Article 122 of Act No. 381 5, as amended, otherwise known 
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as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
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“ARTICLE 122. 
Piracy in general and mutiny on the high seas or in 
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Philippine waters, - 
The penalty of reclusion perpetua shall be inflicted 
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upon any person who, on the high seas, or in Philippine waters, shall 
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attack or seize a vessel [or,] AT SEA OR ANCHORED IN A PORT not 
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being a member of its complement nor a passenger, shall seize the 
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whole or part of the cargo of said vessel, its equipment, or personal 
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belongings of its complement or passengers; OR DESCENDING FROM 
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THE SEA, SHALL ATTACK A COMMUNITY. 
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The same penalty shall be inflicted in case of mutiny on the high 
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seas or in Philippine waters. 
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SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or 
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parts hereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed, 
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amended or modified accordingly. 
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whichever comes earlier. 
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Approved, 
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
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