Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article III provides: 
Section 19. 
(1) Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading, or inhuman
punishment inflicted.  Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for
compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter
provides for it.  Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to
reclusion perpetua.
(2) The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment
against any prisoner or detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate
penal facilities under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.
This constitutional provision does not imply that the punishment or penalties imposed 
on the convict may be lightened by allowing prisoners to live luxuriously inside the 
prison.  The Penal Code, on the other hand, reminds us of the five underlying theories 
justifying penalty – (1) prevention of crime; (2) self-defense for the protection of 
society; (3) reformation of the criminal; (4) exemplarity to deter others from committing 
crimes; and (5) justice (Reyes, Luis B. The Revised Penal Code, Criminal Law, Book 
One, Revised 1998 Ed.) 
The very purpose of imposing penalty or punishment on a convict or any violator of 
law would be ineffective if we allow this situation to continue. Thus, this bill aims to 
prevent luxurious conditions in prisons particularly for selected prisoners. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
August 3, 2023
2:05 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
TO PREVENT LUXURIOUS CONDITIONS IN PRISONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “No Frills Prison Act.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is a policy of the State to prevent the imposition of 
excessive, cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment.  This policy should, however, be 
balanced with the duty of the State to protect its citizens from criminals. 
Sec. 3. Elimination of Luxurious Prison Conditions. – Prison officials shall provide 
living conditions and opportunities to prisoners within its prison that are not more 
luxurious than those conditions and opportunities the average prisoner would have 
experienced if such prisoner were not incarcerated, and should not provide to any 
such prisoner –  
(A)
Who earned good behavior credits:
(1)
Less than forty (40) hours a week of work that either offsets or reduces
the expenses of keeping a prisoner or provides resources toward
restitution of victims;
(2)
Unmonitored phone calls, except when between the prisoner and
prisoner’s immediate family or legal counsel;
(3)
In-cell television viewing;
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(4) 
The viewing of R, X, or similarly rated movies, through whatever medium 
presented; 
(5) 
Possession of any pornographic materials; 
(6) 
Any instruction, live broadcast, or training equipment for boxing, 
wrestling, judo, karate, or other material art, or any bodybuilding or 
weightlifting equipment of any sort; 
(7) 
Except for use during required work, the use or possession of any 
electric or electronic musical instrument, or practice on any musical 
instrument for more than one hour a day;  
(8) 
Use of personally owned computers or modems;  
(9) 
Possessions of in-cell coffee pots, hot plates, or heating elements;  
(10)  Any living or work quarters into which the outside view is obstructed; 
(11)  Food exceeding in quality or quantity that which is available to the 
average prisoners;  
(12)  Dress or hygiene, grooming or appearance other than those allowed as 
a uniform or standard in the prison; or  
(13)  Equipment or facilities at public expense for publishing or broadcasting 
content not previously approved by prison officials as consistent with 
prison order and prisoner discipline; and 
(B) 
Who is serving a sentence for a crime of violence which resulted in serious 
bodily injury to another –  
(1) 
Housing other than in separate cell blocks extended for violent prisoners 
and designed to emphasize punishment rather than rehabilitation;  
(2) 
Less than 9 hours a day of physical labor, with confinement to cell for 
any refusing to engage in that labor, but a prisoner not physically able to 
do physical labor may be assigned to alternate labor;  
(3) 
Any temporary furlough, leave, excursion, or other release from the 
prison for any purpose, unless the prisoner remains at all times under 
physical or mechanical restraints, such as handcuffs, and under 
constant escort and immediate supervision of at least one-armed 
correctional officer;  
(4) 
Any viewing of television;  
(5) 
Any inter-prison travel for competitive sports, whether as participant or 
spectator;  


 
(6) 
More than one hour a day spent for sports or exercise; or  
(7) 
Possession of personal property exceeding seventy-five (75) pounds in 
total weight or that cannot be stored in a standard size bag.  
 
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of the Department 
of Justice shall, within ninety (90) days after approval of this Act, after consultation 
with the appropriate government agencies concerned in the administration of justice, 
promulgate rules and regulations for the effective and efficient implementation of the 
provision of this Act. 
 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
Sec. 6. 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. 7. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,