THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILPPNES 
Second Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Carnapping has become a very rampant occurrence. 
According to the Philippine 
National Police, in the first two months of 2005 alone, 266 vehicles were stolen, 25 percent more 
than the 213 car thefts in the same period last year. The PNP has even created a special unit to 
go after car thieves. 
It is depressing to note, however, that police and military men are themselves involved in 
carnapping. Based on a report submitted by the Quezon City Police District, one of the three 
major carnapping syndicates in Quezon City is believed to be composed of police and military 
men. The police even described the carnapping group composed of police and military men as 
“more aggressive” because they take the cars away from their owners at gunpoint, 
Republic Act No. 6539, also known as the “Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972,” Section 14 
already provides for the penalty for carnapping. It states: 
Penalty for Carnapping. Any person who is found guilty of carnapping, as 
this term is defined in Section two of this Act, shall, irrespective of the value of 
motor vehicle taken, be punished by imprisonment for not less than fourteen years 
and eight months and not more than seventeen years and four months, when the 
carnapping is committed without violence or intimidation of persons, or force 
upon things; and by imprisonment for not less than seventeen years and four 
months and not more than thirty years, when the carnapping is committed by 
means of violence against or intimidation of any person, or force upon things; and 
the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death shall be imposed when the owner, 
driver or occupant of the carnapped motor vehicle is killed or raped in the course 
of the commission of the carnapping or on the occasion thereof. 
The law, however, did not distinguish as to whether the offenders are civilians or police 
and/or military personnel. In view of the trust reposed in police and military personnel as 
guardians of civilians, and the subsequent breach of said trust when police and military personnel 


commit the crimes that they swore to combat, this bill aims to impose a harsher penalty on 
carnappers who are members and/ or former members of the police and the military. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6539, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ANTI-CARNAPPING 
ACT OF 1972, SECTION 14 ON THE PENALTIES FOR CARNAPPING 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 6539, also known as the Anti-Camapping 
Act of 1972, is hereby mended to read as follows: 
Section 14. Penalty for Carnapping. Any person who is found guilty of 
camapping, as this term is defined in Section two of this Act, shall, irrespective of 
the value of motor vehicle taken, be punished by imprisonment for not less than 
fourteen years and eight months and not more than seventeen years and four 
months, when the carnapping is committed without violence or intimidation of 
persons, or force upon things; and by imprisonment for not less than seventeen 
years and four months and not more than thirty years, when the camapping is 
committed by means of violence against or intimidation of any person, or force 
upon things; and the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death shall be imposed 
when the owner, driver or occupant of the camapped motor vehicle is killed or 
raped in the course of the commission of the carnapping or on the occasion 
thereof, OR WHEN THE OFFENDER IS A MEMBER OR FORMER MEMBER 
OF THE MILITARY OR THE POLICE FORCE. 
SECTION 2. 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. 


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