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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2568 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7080 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
"AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF PLUNDER" 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 1 I, Section I provides: 
Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and 
employees must, at alI times, be accountable to the people, serve them with 
utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism 
and justice, and lead modest lives. 
The Constitution provides the standard for the accountability of public officers and 
the high responsibility of public office. Public office is a public trust. It is no secret 
however, that despite the best efforts of honest citizens and public servants to curb the 
tide of corruption, this government remains astoundingly replete with public officials that 
are ready and willing to pocket money from the nation's coffers. 
Republic Act No. 7080 defines the crime of plunder as the accumulation of iII-
gotten wealth through a combination or series of overt criminal acts in the aggregate 
amount of 1'50,000,000.00 by a public official. The theft of such an amount from the 
nation is unforgivably criminal, and no person who is capable of such an act has a place 
in public office. 
It should then be unthinkable for a public servant, who was convicted by final 
judgement of the crime of plunder, to be allowed to hold office once more. Public office 
is not the venue to test the limits of one's ability to turn from his evil ways. Recent 
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developments have shown however, that it is possible, by some legal manoeuvrings, for 
one who has been convicted of the heinous crime of plunder to run and be re-elected into 
office. 
This Act seeks to make it impossible for one who has been convicted by final 
judgement of the crime of plunder to hold public office. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2588 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
"15 
JAN 13 P4:1O 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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AN ACT 
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AMENDING SECTION 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7080 OTHER WISE KNOWN AS 
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"AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF PLUNDER" 
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SECTION 1. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7080, otherwise known as the "An 
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Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder," is hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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Section 5. Suspension and Loss of Benefits. - Any public officer 
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against whom any criminal prosecution under a valid information under this 
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Act whatever stage of execution and mode of participation, is pending in 
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court, shall be suspended from office. Should he be convicted by final 
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judgment, he shall lose all retirement or gratuity benefits under any law 
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AND NO PARDON MAY EXTINGUISH THE ACCESSORY 
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PENALTY OF PERPETUAL ABSOLUTE DISQUALIFICATION. If 
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he is acquitted, he shall be entitled to reinstatement and to the salaries and 
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other benefits which he failed to receive during suspension, unless in the 
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meantime, administrative proceedings have been filed against him. 
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SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. -
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
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or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
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accordingly. 


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SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
laml 9jan20 15 
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