Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

577

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The proliferation of staged kidnappings, also known as “kidnap-me” schemes, in the country has
been observed over the past several years, where the supposed kidnap victim fakes or orchestrates
his or her own kidnapping and detention for the purpose of extorting ransom or other things from
his or her own family or other persons.

Staging one’s own kidnapping is not specifically defined and penaiized as a crime under our laws.
When such schemes are discovered by law enforcement agencies, it has been reported that the
supposed kidnap victim and others involved are charged for violating Article 318, which punishes
“other deceits” with arrest mayor (imprisonment of one month and one day to six months) and a
fine of not less than the amount of the damage caused and not more than twice such amount, or
Article 287, which punishes “other coercions or unjust vexations” with arresto menor
(imprisonment of one day to 30 days) or a fine from P1,000.00 to not more than P40,000.00, or
both, of the Revised Penal Code

This measure seeks to make the commission of staged kidnapping and detention a specitic and
distinet crime, which shall be penalized more severely, under the Revised Penal Code. If this
measure is enacted into law, those who stage their own kidnapping or detention in order to extort
ransom or coerce others to do something against their will shall be penalized with prision
correccional (imprisonment of six months and one day to six years) and a fine of P100,000.00 to
PI.200,000.00, Without a doubt, staged kidnappings cause great anguish. distress, and pain to their
true victims. But such schemes are even more odious to the State because they take away precious
time and resources that ought to be utilized by our law enforcement agencies against actual
kidnappings and other criminal activities,

With the laudable intent of this bill which was originally filed last Congress by Hon. Xavier Jesus
D. Romualdo of the Lone District of Camiguin, it was worth refiling.

The support of the Members of Congress for the prompt passage of this meusure is earnestly
requested. Y

JURD SUS M. ROMUALDO


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS.

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,__577

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF STAGED KIDNAPPING AND.
DETENTION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE

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

SECTION 1. Article 267 of Act No. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the Revised

Penal Code, is hereby renumbered as Article 267-A and a new Article 267-B is hereby inserted
afier Article 267-A to read, as follows:

ART. 267-B, STAGED KIDNAPPING AND DETENTI

~ THE PENALTY
OF PRISON CORRECCIONAL AND A FINE OF ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00) TO ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED
THOUSAND PESOS (P1,200,000.00) SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON ANY
PERSON WHO STAGES HIS OR HER OWN KIDNAPPING OR

DETENTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTORTING RANSOM FROM


I ANOTHER OR COERCING ANOTHER TO DO SOMETHING AGAINST

HIS OR HER WILL.

4 SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof
5 that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified

6 — accordingly.

8 SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
9 orina newspaper of general circulation.

10 Approved,